Outstanding Graduate Student Honorees - Winter 2022

MA in Foreign Languages

Melanie Baca-Ortiz graduated with an MA in Foreign Languages with a concentration in Spanish and was the first student to earn the graduate certificate in Spanish Heritage Language Education.

MA in Economics

Nic was awarded a Mercatus Center MA Fellowship and worked at a financial sector consultancy while completing his graduate studies. His research interests include regulatory studies, specializing in financial regulations, and plans to pursue a career with the federal government or a public policy research institution.

PhD in Economics

Anne was selected for the college’s 3-Minute Thesis Competition (April 2022) and presented on "Monopoly and Sharecropper Suppression after the U.S. Civil War." Anne recently began teaching at one of the U.S. intelligence schools.

MA in Communication

Ieva came to Mason COMM by way of the Air Force training program. She consistently came into the classroom ready and prepared to grow and learn, even adapting her program to dig deeper into race, gender and violence, and facilitation to help her upon returning to her service as a public affairs officer after graduation.

PhD in Communication

In her time at Mason, Rochelle won awards for her teaching and served as a mentor and board member for first gen MA students and the black grad student association. Her research focuses on reducing health inequities due to racism and intersecting forms of oppression through applied health communication science.

PhD in Criminology, Law and Society

William D Johnson is a triple Mason grad (2012 BS in criminology, law and society, magna cum laude with honors in major; 2017 MA in criminology, law and society; 2022 PhD in criminology, law and society 2022). He has authored multiple academic journal articles, many grant reports, and several translational publications, as well as presenting at national academic conferences.

MS in Criminal Justice

Kathryn (Kitty) Piccione is a double Mason graduate (2018 BA in CLS, cum laude; Fall 2022 MS in Criminal Justice). She has conducted original research with the George Mason University Police Department, where she works as a dispatcher, examining perceptions of burnout among sworn and civilian police personnel.

MAIS in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Social Justice and Human Rights

Lakshmi's thesis, involving much more significant research than is standard for MAIS students, is a nuanced and thoughtful look at Asian Indian women adoptees and the construction of racial(ized) identity.

MA in English Literature

Natalie has completed an MA in Literature and a graduate certificate in Professional and Technical Writing (PTW). According to faculty, she is always looking for ways to incorporate the work of English studies and literature into the workplace-focused work of PTW, by examining the linkages between literary analysis and the analysis of technical documents, exploring the role of storytelling in writing for professional environments, and working to use common ideas like audience and genre across different texts.

MA in Global Affairs

While performing highly within the program, Sara was actively involved with the Iranian-American community and plans to apply to a Ph.D. program in the future.

MA in Sociology

Matt works at the Center for Economic and Policy Research as a data and policy analyst on topics such as blue-collar jobs, climate change, and housing. He also hosts the podcast "Sociology Ruins Everything," which examines a variety of topics from a sociological perspective.