CHSS Digest

September 17, 2026

CHSS Digest September 17, 2026

Welcome to the College of Humanities and Social Sciences bi-weekly newsletter!

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The next issue of CHSS Digest will be published on October 1. View the full CHSS Digest schedule

CHSS research aims to tackle human rights issues with help of AI

School of Integrative Studies Professor Cher Weixia Chen is leading an interdisciplinary team for a Grand Challenge Initiative catalyst research project. The team is developing an AI-driven virtual human rights classroom prototype that will reach a wide audience of students, educators, NGOs, and business, government, and technological leaders.

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Announcements & Resources
CHSS Staff and Administrative Faculty Council holding virtual town hall

CHSS Staff and Administrative Faculty Council holding virtual town hall

Join us at the town hall on September 29 to review results from the recent Faculty Staff Engagement Survey and participate in a Q&A discussion.

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Explore the new CHSS Faculty Affairs Resources site

Explore the new CHSS Faculty Affairs Resources site

CHSS is excited to introduce the new Faculty Affairs landing page and centralized resource site—a one-stop location designed to help faculty and academic unit leaders quickly find information.

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Updated CHSS PowerPoint templates

Updated CHSS PowerPoint templates

Refresh your presentations with the latest CHSS PowerPoint templates! Available in the CHSS-Branded Templates section of the CHSS Creative Resources site, these templates include the most up-to-date logos, colors, fonts, and brand graphics.

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Open call for faculty and staff headshots

Open call for faculty and staff headshots

George Mason's Creative Services Photography will be holding a free open photo session for new faculty, staff, and administrators on September 29 in Merten Hall. As a reminder, students are not eligible. This photo session is your opportunity to obtain a professional George Mason head shot for use on George Mason-affiliated websites and publications. Please sign up to reserve your slot.

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2026 CHSS Community and Catalysts announced

2026 CHSS Community and Catalysts announced

CHSS is proud to announce our 2026 Community and Catalysts awardees. These awards celebrate distinguished alumni, faculty, staff, and students whose leadership, research, and service, have made outstanding contributions to their fields, their communities, and to the university.

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Submit your CHSS story ideas

Submit your CHSS story ideas

Let us know what's happening in your department and what moments or milestones deserve a spotlight. We welcome news about research, high-impact classroom initiatives, student and faculty achievements, career-readiness opportunities, and more! We'd love to hear from every department and program.

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Research, Scholarship & Creative Activity
Interested in applying for a Grand Challenge Initiative grant this year?

Interested in applying for a Grand Challenge Initiative grant this year?

CHSS Pre-Award invites faculty interested in applying for Grand Challenge Initiative (GCI) funding to join us in early October for an in-person networking and application workshop.

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AY27–28 study leave for tenured instructional faculty

AY27–28 study leave for tenured instructional faculty

Study leave for tenured instructional faculty, funded by the provost, provides paid leave during one semester or academic year to support scholarly research, teaching, and/or creative activity during the faculty study leave. Applications for study leave for the 2027–28 academic year must be submitted by 5 p.m. on October 9.

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Funding opportunity for CHSS faculty working to transform research to impact

Funding opportunity for CHSS faculty working to transform research to impact

ORIEI is inviting all George Mason faculty looking to transform their research into societal impact to submit their proposals to the Seed Translational Research Project (STRP) Program. Concept papers are due by September 30.

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CHSS Research Centers and Institutes

CHSS Research Centers and Institutes

CHSS research took center stage on September 1 as leaders from the college’s chartered research centers and institutes showcased their work and achievements in three-minute, single-slide presentations for Provost and Executive Vice President Marion Underwood during her visit to the college.

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George Mason’s first Grand Challenge Exchange Day builds connections across disciplines

George Mason’s first Grand Challenge Exchange Day builds connections across disciplines

George Mason held its first Grand Challenge Initiative (GCI) Exchange Day on September 15, bringing together more than 200 faculty members from across the university to talk about the GCI-related work being done and invite collaboration as the call for proposals in second year of funding launches.

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Students examine the global impact of the 9/11 attacks in history course

Students examine the global impact of the 9/11 attacks in history course

As the nation marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, history associate professor Meredith Lair is teaching a course that provides students with a chance to examine the event, not just as a turning point in U.S. history, but through the lenses of public memory, media literacy, commemoration, and civic responsibility.

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Faculty, Staff, Student & Alumni Recognition
Erin Eife named First-Year Faculty Fellow for CHSS Residential Learning Community

Erin Eife named First-Year Faculty Fellow for CHSS Residential Learning Community

Erin Eife, an assistant professor in the Department of Criminology, Law and Society, will lead academic programming for CHSS' First-Year Residential Learning Community students.

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Ideas on Tap connects CHSS experts with community members at Commonwealth Brewing

Ideas on Tap connects CHSS experts with community members at Commonwealth Brewing

The first Ideas on Tap, presented by the George Mason Alumni Association in partnership with the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, featured Robyn Mehlenbeck from the Department of Psychology and Kevin Wright and Richard Craig from the Department of Communication as they addressed everyday topics during an evening of conversation at Commonwealth Brewing in Fairfax.

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Shout Outs, September 2026

Shout Outs, September 2026

Welcome to our monthly compilation of good news, gathered from the college's faculty and staff!

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Events

Fall 2026 Cultural Studies Colloquium: Ida Susser

The Enigma of the Yellow Vests and what they might tell us about the U.S.

Clock Icon for Thursday, September 17, 2026  4:30 PM EDTThursday, September 17, 2026 4:30 PM EDT

Map Icon for The event will be livestreamed by GMU-TVThe event will be livestreamed by GMU-TV

Ida Susser, distinguished professor of anthropology at Hunter College and the CUNY Graduate Center, has conducted ethnographic research in the U.S., Southern Africa, Puerto Rico, Spain, and France, with a focus on urban social movements and the urban commons, gender, the global AIDS epidemic, and environmental movements. Her latest book is “The Yellow Vests and the Battle for Democracy” (2026).

Details

Constitution Day Forum: Immigration and the Constitution

Free panel talk with experts from the fields of history, politics and law.

Clock Icon for Thursday, September 17, 2026  6:00 PM to  8:00 PM EDTThursday, September 17, 2026 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM EDT

Map Icon for Fenwick Library, 1014Fenwick Library, 1014

Constitution Day features a thought-provoking discussion by an expert panel on immigration in the United States, an important topic in civic life and public debate, examined through constitutional, historical, legal, and public policy perspectives. Audience Q&A to follow.

Details

The Mormon Giant: a live documentary about religion and wrestling

Clock Icon for Thursday, September 17, 2026  7:30 PM EDTThursday, September 17, 2026 7:30 PM EDT

Map Icon for Johnson Center, GeorgeJohnson Center, George's, 3rd Floor

Demystifying Fundraising at George Mason

Clock Icon for Monday, September 21, 2026 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM EDTMonday, September 21, 2026 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM EDT

Map Icon for Horizon Hall, 6000Horizon Hall, 6000

Learn about fundraising at George Mason, CHSS priorities in the Mason Now campaign, and how to plan for conversations with donors.

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International Writers Festival: Translating America

This event listing comprises all events for the 2026 International Writers Festival

Clock Icon for September 28, 2026,  5:30 PM to September 29, 2026,  7:30 PM EDTSeptember 28, 2026, 5:30 PM to September 29, 2026, 7:30 PM EDT

Formerly Day of Translation, the Alan Cheuse Center's International Writers Festival will this year explore Translating America: Language, Witness, Interrogation, & Idealism. With an evening event in D.C. on September 28 and a full day of panels featuring international writers and translators on September 29 on the Fairfax campus, this year's festival will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of America by focusing on seeing America from the outside in and the inside out.

Details

2026 Community and Catalysts

Acheivements, Awards, and Innovations

Clock Icon for Saturday, November  7, 2026  3:00 PM to  6:00 PM ESTSaturday, November 7, 2026 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM EST

Map Icon for Horizon Hall, AtriumHorizon Hall, Atrium

CHSS faculty and staff are invited to join us as we celebrate the newest cohort of our college’s change makers at our annual Community and Catalysts event.

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CHSS in the Media

Welcome to CHSS in the Media! Some articles may be behind a paywall. University Libraries provides direct access to current news sources. For more information, go to InfoGuides: Current News: Direct Subscriptions

History of 9/11 class taught by Meredith Lair, Department of History and Art History, featured on ABC News' This Week broadcast

Lair and students in her HIST 387 "Topics in Global History: 9/11 in History & Memory" course discussed what they remember or know about the day on the cusp of the 25th anniversary of the attacks.

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Research from David Weisburd, Department of Criminology, Law and Society, about prison-based drug treatment programs featured in Scienmag

Weisburd co-authored research with Badi Hasisi of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem evaluated the four main incarceration-based drug and alcohol treatment programs operated by the Israel Prison Service.

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