GMU names new business school dean
George Mason University has named a new dean to lead its business school. Ajay Vinzé will start July 1. He served as dean of the University of Missouri’s Trulaske College of Business from 2017 until recently, after he decided to step down to return to teaching and research, according to the university’s website. He currently […]
Remembering John T. ‘Til’ Hazel Jr.: 1930-2022
John T. “Til” Hazel Jr., a major force behind the development of Tysons Corner and several Fairfax County planned communities, died March 16 at age 91. An Arlington native, Hazel also was an attorney who graduated from Harvard University and Harvard Law School. In the 1950s, Hazel began promoting commercial and residential growth in then-rural […]
Rising in the Southwest
Through decades of owning her own beauty salon and later a gift shop in downtown Abingdon, Cathy Lowe developed an interest in economic development. In 2006, she decided to run for town council and won — ultimately serving for 12 years, including six as vice mayor and two as mayor. Throughout her career, Lowe, who […]
GMU’s Arlington campus renamed ‘Mason Square’
George Mason University’s Arlington campus is being renamed Mason Square. The university announced the rebranding Thursday, also naming its new $168 million technology-forward building designed to support digital innovation and collaboration and serve as the anchor for the Rosslyn-Ballston’s developing innovation district. The 345,000-square-foot Fuse at Mason Square will be a LEED Pla[...]
GMU establishes health workforce center
George Mason University has established the Mason Center for the Health Workforce, the university announced Monday. The new center, directed by PJ Maddox and Caroline Sutter, will address the shortage and immediate need for health care workers in Virginia. It will serve as a technical assistance center for health workforce research, program evaluation, planning and […]
Quick change
Jackie Juergens wanted to move from Altria Group Inc.’s strategy division to its fast-growing advanced analytics division, but she needed to brush up on her tech skills. Although she had an MBA, the mother of three and senior manager opted for William & Mary’s business school’s online master’s degree in business analytics, which she completed […]
GMU hires first university ombudsperson
George Mason University has hired Kimberly Davidson as its first ombudsperson, and she will start in February, the university announced Friday. Davidson comes to the university from Ohio’s Oberlin College, where she worked for two decades, including the past five years as the college’s ombudsperson, who is charged with listening to faculty members in confidence […]
George Mason University launches Race, Politics, and Policy Center
George Mason University’s Race, Politics, and Policy Center launched Monday. American philosopher, author and political activist Cornel West will be its inaugural spring lecturer on April 14. GMU’s Schar School of Policy and Government professor Michael Fauntroy founded the center after returning to GMU from Howard University this year. The center will advance student learning, […]
43 Va. schools make U.S. News and World Report’s 2022 list
Forty-three Virginia schools ranked on the U.S. News and World Report’s 2022 best lists of more than 600 universities and liberal arts colleges in the country, released Monday. The University of Virginia ranked No. 25 in national universities, tying with Carnegie Mellon University and moving one spot up from its rank in 2021. U.Va. ranked […]
Education
MAKOLA M. ABDULLAH PRESIDENT, VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY, ETTRICK While many college presidents enjoy basketball, few have Abdullah’s moves. In March, a video of him tying up an opponent went viral, receiving millions of views and appearing on ESPN’s “SportsCenter.” Abdullah has overseen dramatic turnarounds at Virginia State University since he became its 14th president in […]
Law
FARHAD AGHDAMI MANAGING PARTNER, RICHMOND OFFICE, WILLIAMS MULLEN, RICHMOND In his 22-year career with Williams Mullen, the state’s third-largest law firm, Aghdami has focused on high-net-worth individuals and families, middle-market business owners, institutional fiduciaries and charitable entities. An expert in wealth transfer tax and business succession, he has published numerous articles on [...]
George Mason hires chief diversity officer
Sharnnia Artis will be George Mason University’s vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer, beginning Sept. 1. Artis currently serves as the assistant dean for access and inclusion in the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences and Samueli School of Engineering at the University of California, Irvine. George Mason […]