Do you know a colleague whose contributions deserve to be celebrated? Nominations are now open for the 2026 CHSS Staff & A/P Faculty Recognition Awards, including the Mary Roper Award. Share your nomination by October 29.

CHSS faculty are encouraged to fill out a survey on the role of AI in teaching and research. The Dean's Office will use this feedback to build a more thorough “landscape of AI” in the college to understand we’re at and the potential directions for us to move toward.

On October 28, Jonathan Holloway, president and CEO of the Henry Luce Foundation, will visit CHSS for a series of meetings and conversations. RSVP to attend the session at the Center for the Arts.

Tote vibes only! This year, make a gift of $25 or more to George Mason University between October 15 and November 15 and receive a tote-ally trendy George Mason mini tote bag!

The Faculty Affairs and Research Development Service offices are offering a pair of virtual workshops this fall that will address preparing an impact statement and navigating politics in academia. Learn more and register.

Azure AI Foundry gives George Mason units access to a range of AI models and tools for instructional, research, and other university-related activities. ITS provides a subscription and foundational configuration, while units manage their own AI model deployments, applications, usage, and costs. Submit a request to get started with Azure AI Foundry and build AI-powered solutions within a university-supported environment.

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.

CHSS Pre-Award will host an in-person Grand Challenge Initiative (GCI) Catalyst Grant application workshop on November 5, 11 a.m.–1 p.m., in the Johnson Center.

Building on the momentum of GCI Exchange Day, the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact (ORIEI) will host the Grand Challenge Exchange Lightning Talks and Mixer on November 10, 1–4 p.m., in Merten Hall, room 1204. This event is open to all George Mason faculty and potential partners interested in exploring innovative research across the university, connecting with collaborators, or preparing to submit a proposal.

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is pleased to announce an opportunity for faculty to seek nomination to participate in the NHC's Summer Residency Program or Scholarly Writing Institute that will be held during the summer of 2027. Interested scholars must submit required information to CHSS by November 16 to be considered for nomination.

George Mason’s Institutional Review Board has shared several updates and reminders, including information about virtual office hours and the retirement of MTurk.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced three new parent funding opportunities under the NIH Research Education Program (R25). The new programs address development of research skills, mentoring, and research experiences. The agency plans a webinar for 2 p.m. on November 5 to discuss the programs.

Three George Mason alumni reflected on turning their experiences as military veterans into art during a panel discussion at the 2026 International Writers Festival, presented by George Mason’s Alan Cheuse International Writers Center.

Through its partnership with institutional sponsors, the National Humanities Center delivers a variety of opportunities for humanities faculty and students to grow professionally and personally, sharpen their skills, and connect with others who share their passion for exploring the depths of human experience.

Fall for the Book, Northern Virginia’s largest literary festival, returned for the 28th year with bestselling authors Celeste Ng and Stephen Graham Jones as headliners.

The 2026 CHSS Community and Catalysts awardees will be celebrated on November 7 Horizon Hall. Faculty and staff are invited to attend and are encouraged to RSVP.

Psychology major and senior Mehmood Shajih has interned with Prince William County Schools—assisting with college and career fairs, helping develop school-based college and career clubs, and creating systems to support long-term program success.

For Elaine Cardenas, MBA ‘88, PhD Cultural Studies ’11, the Cultural Studies Program transformed how she views the world. Her experiences inspired her to establish the Elaine Hanson Cardenas Endowment through a planned gift, which is designed to support both students and programming.

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

Unruh says getting better results from AI requires context of relationship, mutual understanding, and iterative clarification.

Reynolds spoke about practical teaching ideas she took away from this year’s Innovations in Teaching and Learning Conference.

Tucker chats with Chelsea Henderson of RepublicEN about his research on communicating climate as security and talking with his grandpa about climate change.

Caplan discusses Horowitz Andreessen Academy in San Francisco for recent high school graduates.

Alam discusses Sufism and earlier mystical traditions and debates about its origins and authenticity.

Kuykendall discusses the psychology behind why some employees don't use all their vacation leave.