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Five Things to Know about ��ӽ紫ý’s First Space Mission

Colleen Rich — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 18:11:44 +0000

Five Things to Know about ��ӽ紫ý’s First Space Mission Colleen Rich Thu, 08/29/2024 - 14:11

Scientists know the universe is expanding, which is measured by calculating the brightness of numerous stars and by the number of photons-per-second they emit. But the next breakthroughs will require more accurate measurements, and that’s where ��ӽ紫ý is stepping in. The university is leading Landolt, a $19.5 million NASA space mission that will put an artificial “star” in orbit around Earth.

Here’s what’s to come:

Led by astronomy professor Peter Plavchan, faculty members and students from the College of Science and the College of Engineering and Computing will work together with staff from NASA, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and nine other organizations on a first-of-its-kind project for a university in the Washington, D.C., area.
The artificial star will allow scientists to calibrate telescopes and more accurately measure the brightness of a wide range of stars—from those nearby to the distant explosions of supernovae in far-off galaxies. By establishing absolute flux calibration, the mission will begin to address several open challenges in astrophysics including the speed and acceleration of the universe’s expansion.
The mission is named for late astronomer Arlo Landolt, who compiled the widely used catalogs of stellar brightness through the 1990s.
The payload, which is the size of a proverbial bread box, will be built in partnership with NIST, a world leader in measuring photon emissions. “This calibration under known laser wavelength and power will remove effects of atmosphere filtration of light and allow scientists to significantly improve measurements,” says electrical engineering professor Piotr Pachowicz, who is leading this component of the mission.
The artificial star, expected to launch in 2029, will orbit 22,236 miles above Earth, far enough away to look like a real star to telescopes back on the ground. This orbit also allows the star to move at the same speed as the Earth’s rotation, keeping it in place over the United States during its first year in space. “This is what is considered an infrastructure mission for NASA, supporting the science in a way that we’ve known we needed to do but with a transformative change in how we do it,” says Plavchan.

"This mission marks another first for ��ӽ紫ý, a milestone that proves our impact as a major public research university that truly knows no bounds,” says President Gregory Washington.

Visit the mission's website

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By the Numbers: Costello College of Business

Lynn Tierney — Mon, 06 May 2024 13:05:48 +0000

By the Numbers: Costello College of Business Lynn Tierney Mon, 05/06/2024 - 09:05

��ӽ紫ý's Donald G. Costello College of Business (CCB) officially launched on November 1, 2023. Much has chaned in the college since its humble beginnings in 1977 as the Department of Business Administration offering classes on the university's North Campus. Let's take a look.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE CONCENTRATIONS in accounting, business analytics, finance, financial planning and wealth management, management, management information systems, marketing, and operations and supply chain management

OF STUDENTS participated in at least one experiential learning opportunity last year

OF CCB ALUMNI live and work within a 50-mile radius of Fairfax

EMPLOYERS engage with students through industry panels, networking events, and career and internship fairs

STUDENTS participate in on-campus interviews with employers each year

Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting
Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship
Center for Retail Transformation

CCB's Rankings and Accreditations

Explore CCB Programs

This content appears in the Spring 2024 print edition of the Mason Spirit Magazine.

Faur paves the way for exchange student-athletes

Colleen Rich — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 19:44:39 +0000

Faur paves the way for exchange student-athletes Colleen Rich Tue, 04/23/2024 - 15:44

When ��ӽ紫ý tennis coach Steve Curtis got an email from Maïlys Faur asking to join his team as an exchange student, he didn't think it was possible but he was eager to check into it with our academic and compliance offices.

Maïlys Faur is an exchange student from Toulouse, France, here at ��ӽ紫ý for just one year. Photo by Rafael Suanes/Mason Athletics

"The initial thought was she may not be eligible because she's not working toward a degree at Mason, and there are all these complex NCAA rules," said Curtis. "Deputy Athletic Directors Nena Rogers and Malcolm Grace started looking into it because we hadn't had this situation before. But then we figured out that it was possible because she is working toward a degree at her university [in France] so it applied."

Faur is an exchange student from Toulouse, France, here for just one year as she finishes her degrees at her home university. She's currently finishing up two degrees, in political science and literature, and will return to France to graduate in May.

Her love of tennis started by accident, confusing badminton and tennis at a young age. "When I was little, I played a lot of badminton with my family in the garden," said Faur, who attends Sorbonne Université in Paris. "So when my mom asked if I wanted to play a sport, I said 'yes I want to play tennis,' but I meant badminton. I ended up on the tennis courts, and I just never quit after that."

She played with the same tennis club through high school, but there are no collegiate tennis programs outside of the United States. So when she went to school in Paris, she found a tennis club where she could play casually, but couldn't compete the same way she used to. One of the requirements at her college is an exchange year at another school, so when Faur was picking where she wanted to go, she knew she wanted it to be in the United States so she could play tennis.

Faur says her favorite memory this season was their trip to Hilton Head, South Carolina, for PTR Springfest where they beat Saint Francis University, 4-3: "That was our first big win against a D1 team and so the energy on the court was nice,” said Faur. “We were screaming during all the points. That was the point where we really came together as a team."

Since joining, Curtis says Faur's been nothing but a positive impact. "She's one of those people that you can't not like. Everyone on the team thinks she's wonderful. She's been a great addition to the team."

Faur has paved a new path with her addition to Mason's women's tennis team: never before has there been an exchange student on a varsity team at ��ӽ紫ý. With this new knowledge of the possibilities, Faur's advice to future exchange student-athletes is: "Try to do it. It was such a great experience, I loved it. If I wasn't on the tennis team, my whole year would have been very different so I'm very grateful. I'm going to miss it so much."

Faur and team travel to Orlando, Florida, to compete at the 2024 Atlantic 10 Tennis Championships, April 24-27.

"I just want to thank Coach Curtis and all my teammates who were so welcoming.," said Faur. "I have so many good memories, and I'm really grateful for everything that happened to me."

Check out ��ӽ紫ý's Women's Tennis Team

Interested in becoming an exchange student?

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Exchange Students

international students

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Mason's new MARC focuses on autonomy, robotics, and responsible AI

Nathan Kahl — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 14:30:37 +0000

Mason's new MARC focuses on autonomy, robotics, and responsible AI Nathan Kahl Tue, 04/16/2024 - 10:30

Industry executives, campus leaders, faculty, donors and alumni attended the official opening of ��ӽ紫ý’s College of Engineering and Computing’s Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center (MARC), but the star of the show was a Boston Dynamics quadruped. As the bright yellow doglike robot held one end of the green ribbon, ��ӽ紫ý President Gregory Washington, MARC co-directors Professors Missy Cummings and Jesse Kirkpatrick cut. Afterward, the quadruped roamed the event, opening doors for attendees and demonstrating its capabilities.

The event showcased Mason’s strength in important, emerging fields. In his welcoming remarks, Dean Ken Ball said, “MARC is the focal point for our research in autonomy, robotics, and AI. Mason truly is a pace-setter in these areas.”

Attendees explored the new facility in Mason’s Research Hall on the Fairfax Campus. The space includes a 1,649-square-foot, two-story aviary for testing drones, areas for lab experiments, faculty offices, collaboration and study areas, and a student lounge.

Mason President Gregory Washington and MARC co-directors Missy Cummings and Jesse Kirkpatrick are aided by a Boston Dynamics "dog" in cutting the ribbon to open the center officially. Photo by John Boal Photography.

During her remarks, Cummings addressed the evolving role of robots in society. “People don’t want autonomy to do their creative jobs,” she said. “They want to do their art, they want to write their stories…what they want is the robot maid. Once we hit world peak population in 55 years, we won’t have enough people to do the jobs we need. The dull, dirty, dangerous jobs are a great place for robots.”

Both Ball and Washington noted that in addition to being a leader in artificial intelligence (AI), the university is focusing on responsible AI, with a graduate certificate in that field launching in fall 2024.

“We’ve been at the forefront of a whole host of outcomes and technologies that have benefited this state and this region," said Washington. "Right here in engineering, we established the first-in-the-country cybersecurity engineering program, so there’s a real lineage of innovation here. Mason will be the only Virginia university to join more than 200 of the nation’s leading AI stakeholders to participate in the Department of Commerce’s initiative to support the development of trustworthy and safe AI.”

“We do autonomy, we robotics, we do AI…but we do it responsibly and that’s in our core,” said Kirkpatrick. “It’s in our principles, policies, practice, and people. It’s across the research enterprise, and it’s in our teaching. The leaders of today, tomorrow, and the day after have to get this right because it’s so absolutely critical.”

Students demonstrate their claw game-like device, named Skygripper, to be used in the upcoming Defend the Republic competition. Photo by John Boal Photography.

Attendees explored the facility and talked to students about projects. Filling the MARC aviary for the event were student-designed “blimps.” These lighter-than-air creations will soon compete in Defend the Republic, an annual event in EagleBank Arena where the autonomous flying devices compete in a Harry Potter quidditch-like game to move a ball into a target hanging from the ceiling.

"Not just for engineering, MARC will be used by numerous colleges and departments across the university for many multidisciplinary projects. This is a collaborative space for our students to work,” said Ball. “And it’s really important they have the opportunity to work in close proximity to our faculty.”

MARC’s opening is another demonstration of Mason’s strength in STEM, which attracts numerous corporate partners. Venkat Potapragada of 22nd Century Technologies attended the event and said, “I’m here because this is a strategic relationship for us and a key component of our overall growth strategy. We depend on talent, and Mason will help us achieve our growth goals. In the D.C. region, Mason is a name to be reckoned with.”

In This Story

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robotics and autonomous systems

lighter-than-air robotics

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Tech Talent Investment Pipeline (TTIP)

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At Mason

A native food forest takes root on Mason’s Fairfax Campus

Colleen Rich — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 16:16:51 +0000

A native food forest takes root on Mason’s Fairfax Campus Colleen Rich Mon, 04/15/2024 - 12:16

There is a Chinese proverb that says “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” But what about a forest? Last fall, volunteers planted the beginnings of a “food forest” on ��ӽ紫ý’s Fairfax Campus.

Mason graduate student Sarah Roth gives a tour of the Foragers' Forest. Photo by Ayman Rashid/Office of University Branding

In November 2023, Mason students, faculty, and staff gathered to help transplant 1,700 plants of more than 50 native species into two groves near the stream behind Student Union Building I between Aquia Creek Lane and Patriot Circle, on what used to be the site of the Student Apartments, which were razed in 2018.

“We are planting America’s first campus-based native food forest dedicated to feeding both human and animal foragers,” said Mason professor Dann Sklarew of what has been aptly named the Foragers’ Forest.

And like most things in the university’s Living Lab, science helped drive many of the decisions, according to Mason graduate student and lead forest maker Sarah Roth.

Roth, who will graduate in May with an MS in environmental science and policy, is leading the project with Sklarew, a professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy, and University Sustainability Program Manager Doni Nolan, and with administrative support from Mason’s College of Science, Mason Facilities, and University Sustainability. The forest was also made possible with a grant from Amazon Web Services, which the university matched.

An artist's rendering of the Foragers' Forest. Image provided

Roth’s designs for the Foragers’ Forest are based on the work of Japanese botanist and forest ecologist Akira Miyawaki. Designed to create forest cover quickly on degraded land that has been used for such purposes as construction, Miyawaki’s method emphasizes using native plants and trying to reconstruct natural plant communities.

Roth said the Miyawaki method also emphasizes mixing the species in the planting and planting very densely—around three trees/shrubs per square meter—to mimic natural patterns of forest regeneration. The Foragers' Forest adheres to these principles by having a high diversity of plant species and mixed dense planting.

“We were surprised to see how many edible or food-producing plants are native to Fairfax County—strawberries, blueberries, black raspberries, hazelnuts, persimmons, oaks, hickories, and even American chestnuts,” said Roth. “We surrounded our tree clusters with a native meadow that will support pollinators and other meadow-dependent wildlife.”

Sklarew said the site also will serve as a new Living Lab space where students can experiment and “act local” to promote food security, wildlife conservation, climate resilience, and other opportunities to advance sustainability.

Faculty from the College of Science and other colleges are collaborating to identify both curricular and Mason Impact projects to use the space.

Pathways, seating, and signage will lead visitors to forage, learn about the site’s principles and propagation, and enjoy the scenery.

“We're excited to highlight Virginia's natural heritage and indigenous foods in this space,” said Roth, who saw Miyawaki’s forests firsthand during a recent trip to Japan.

The Foragers’ Forest joins a prestigious group: More than 3,000 Miyawaki forests have been successfully planted globally.

“What I love about this project is that it blends everything I’m passionate about: native plants, ecological restoration, and bringing people closer to nature,” said Roth. “Our future depends on us building spaces that serve people and wildlife, and we hope this offers a blueprint others can take and improve on.”

Roth began working as a landscape architect for Fairfax County's stormwater planning division this year. “I’m working to restore healthy forests as part of stream restoration projects. The Foragers' Forest project was integral to me making those connections with county staff.”

Laura Powers and Tracy Mason contributed to this story.

Did you know?

Sarah Roth received a Dean's Award from the College of Science for her efforts in building the food forest.

Get involved with the Forager's Forest

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Mason as a Living Lab

Mason Vision Day: More than a million!

Colleen Rich — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 16:57:34 +0000

Mason Vision Day: More than a million! Colleen Rich Wed, 04/10/2024 - 12:57

2024 Statistics

* Includes the ��ӽ紫ý Alumni Association and alumni chapters, ADVANCE, and EIP programs

Show your support

Mason Vision Day nets a record wave of support for the university.

Once a year, ��ӽ紫ý invites its community—alumni, faculty, staff, students, and their families–to unite in philanthropy on Mason Vision Day. This year, on April 4, they did so enthusiastically, raising $1,309,345 for the university’s students, research, and programs.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

“Mason Vision Day broke the record!” said Trishana Bowden, president of the ��ӽ紫ý Foundation and Mason’s vice president for advancement and alumni relations. “Mason Nation came together, and the impact of the generosity of alumni and donors is truly inspirational.”

For 2024, Mason’s Office of Annual Giving announced that Mason Vision Day would be structured to encourage donors to support the causes that mattered most to them at Mason. This empowered the community to connect with the causes that resonated with their own priorities, from academic disciplines to student scholarship, from athletics to the arts.

On the day of the event, Mason’s University Life division was thrilled to announce an exceptional gift. A longtime friend of the university gave $500,000 to support Mason’s Early Identification Program, or EIP, which supports access to higher education for first-generation students.

“This gift is a game-changer,” said Rose Pascarell, MA ’92, vice president for University Life. “One of the university’s goals is to double the number of students served by EIP, and this incredible gift truly sets us on our way.

“EIP has been serving students in the seven school districts surrounding Mason since 1987, and this gift is a recognition of the work we are doing. It’s a real vote of confidence that this donor believes in our students and our efforts to support their success,” Pascarell added.

Participation in Mason Vision Day was particularly strong among Mason alumni, who accounted for 34% of the gifts. Jenn Robinson, JM ’02, associate vice president for alumni relations, was pleased with the way alumni engaged with the event.

“Our alumni are a very special group,” she said. “They show their Patriot Pride from coast to coast, and around the world, and this enthusiastic support is what we see everywhere we have traveled this year with our Mason Nation Tour.”

“It's the engagement that is absolutely vital,” said Bowden. “It’s that coming together that allows us to make a huge difference. Every individual who joined in to give on Mason Vision Day played a role in creating a wave of support that will be felt now and into the future. We are so very grateful.”

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CACI Scholars get a head start on success

Colleen Rich — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 19:25:42 +0000

CACI Scholars get a head start on success Colleen Rich Fri, 04/05/2024 - 15:25

CACI International Inc is once again supporting Mason students through a $200,000 gift to establish the CACI Scholars Program. The program helps selected scholars secure science, technology, engineering, or mathematics-related positions upon graduation.

Mason students participate in a career prep lab with CACI employees. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The company has previously been a generous sponsor of Mason’s College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) and welcomes many Mason students as interns each year. CACI also employs hundreds of Mason graduates.

The CACI Scholars Program, which kicked off in fall 2023, supports 10 Mason students who are alumni of Mason’s Early Identification Program (EIP) and pursuing degrees in computer science, electrical engineering, or mechanical engineering. These scholars are identified by EIP in their senior year of high school and are welcomed into a cohort designed to support their long-term academic and career success.

Each CACI Scholar receives an annual scholarship to reduce the cost of tuition and related fees if the full need is not met through the student’s financial aid package or through a Mason Virginia Promise Grant. Scholars also receive a stipend to assist with the cost of at least one career readiness practice, such as attending a conference or completing a certification.

Scholars also work with dedicated success coaches and peer mentors at Mason, who provide tailored support for first-generation student success. Each scholar is also connected with a CACI mentor who can provide firsthand knowledge of the industry and company. The scholars are also eligible for a paid internship experience at CACI.

CACI’s Chief Technology Officer Glenn Kurowski understands the importance of widening the pipeline for skilled technology workers. “Experiential learning is the key to developing passion and engagement around your area of study—and that leads to a highly successful career,” says Kurowski. “I love working with students on their technical learning path and love getting others in our company engaged with the next generation of talent.”

Mason students in particular are well suited to fill that need for talent. “A partnership like this truly complements the students’ educational experience,” says EIP director Khaseem Davis, PhD Education ’23. “Our EIP students have worked hard to get to this point, to enrolling at Mason. This opportunity to work with CACI helps them to imagine what’s possible on the other side of their university experience.”

Jeana Plews, CACI’s vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion, agrees. “We realize that many of these students face obstacles in their pursuit of a college education, and we want to help remove some of these barriers.”

Since 1987, EIP has provided academic enrichment, personal and social development, civic engagement, and leadership training opportunities to middle and high school students who will be the first in their families to attend college. In one of the most successful demonstrations of Mason’s commitment to access, the university partners with seven public school districts in Virginia and works with more than 750 students in grades 8 to 12 and their families, taking a holistic approach to successfully navigate the path to postsecondary education.

Study at the College of Engineering and Computing

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Happy Anniversary, Mason Korea!

Colleen Rich — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 19:15:41 +0000

Happy Anniversary, Mason Korea! Colleen Rich Fri, 04/05/2024 - 15:15

Did you know that the Washington, D.C., area is home to the third largest Korean population among all metropolitan areas in the United States? Or that Fairfax County is home to the fifth largest Korean population among all U.S. counties? Indeed, ��ӽ紫ý is in the heart of a region that more than 80,000 ethnic Koreans call home.

Mason is also the only higher education institution in Virginia that operates a campus in South Korea. Mason Korea reaches its 10th anniversary this year, and we are celebrating Mason Nation’s success across the Pacific Ocean and Korean culture here in Virginia. Not only do more than 100 Korean students travel from Songdo, South Korea, to Fairfax to take classes each semester, Mason offers the only Korean language undergraduate major in Virginia. The degree demonstrates Mason’s commitment to develop nonethnic Korean speakers so that they might succeed in their respective global careers.

This June 12 to 15, Mason Korea celebrates its first decade with a series of events that culminates with the campus’s eighth graduation ceremony. So far, more than 400 Mason alumni have graduated from Mason Korea. This graduation is the last for Mason Korea dean Robert Matz, who returns to Virginia this summer after serving for five years in Songdo.

“The great success of Mason Korea testifies to the Mason belief in diversity and connection to our global community,” says Matz. “Our students have not only proven to be bilingual and bicultural but also have shown the world that a diverse and inclusive environment met with grit and audacity is the key to success.”

Celebrate Mason Korea's Anniversary

On Mason Vision Day, donors decide

Colleen Rich — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 16:17:21 +0000

On Mason Vision Day, donors decide Colleen Rich Fri, 03/29/2024 - 12:17

��ӽ紫ý is following a philanthropic tradition, designating the first Thursday of April for donors to come together to support the university. On April 4, 2024, Mason Vision Day celebrates the power of making a difference through philanthropy.

This year, each school, college, and unit is urging its community to lean into the programs that reflect Mason’s strategic plan and the interests of donors.

“This is an opportunity for our community members to support what matters most to them at Mason,” said Zavin Smith, BA Integrative Studies ’00, CERB Leadership Studies ’02, MA Telecommunications ’03, director of development, annual giving strategic initiatives. “We want to combine the energy of all of our units and programs on campus and present to our donors a catalog where they can choose the causes that resonate with their own priorities, from athletics to the arts, from science and the humanities to health and law.”

While Mason Vision Day is largely carried out through digital communication and direct mail, Smith said this year’s event is “a hybrid model.” On the Fairfax Campus and at Mason Korea, pop-up kiosks and drop-by experiences offer gratitude stations, giveaways, and social media engagement areas as a visual display of giving throughout the day, and the event includes digital interaction driven by the schools and units.

“Vision Day features challenges and matches throughout the day,” said Smith. “It’s going to be an exciting opportunity for our friends to see their gifts go even farther toward supporting the causes they love.”

Donors may consider making a gift to the fund on Mason Vision Day, April 4, 2024, when friends of ��ӽ紫ý are invited to support the cause at Mason that speaks to them.

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See What Your Support Benefits

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August 29, 2024
Historic gift speaks volumes about ��ӽ紫ý’s Forensics Team
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June 25, 2024
Machour’s gift expands support for student scholarships in Mason Korea
June 18, 2024
Annual Scholarship Dinner recognizes donors and students in an evening of gratitude
May 16, 2024

This content appears in the Spring 2024 print edition of the Mason Spirit Magazine.

Alumni Association launches book scholarship in honor of esteemed colleague and alumna

Colleen Rich — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 14:55:38 +0000

Alumni Association launches book scholarship in honor of esteemed colleague and alumna Colleen Rich Fri, 03/29/2024 - 10:55

In summer 2023, the Mason Nation mourned the loss of one of its most steadfast friends. Amy Takayama-Perez, BA Sociology ’96, MEd ’02, worked for many years to welcome students to ��ӽ紫ý—first as a director of recruitment and later as a leader in Mason’s Admissions Office, culminating in her role as dean of admissions, a position she held for nearly eight years.

Amy Takayama-Perez and Rick Perez. Photo provided

In July, she passed away following a two-year battle with triple-negative breast cancer.

"She just loved Mason,” said Rick Perez, Amy's husband. “And she loved the students she was working with.”

Speaking about the early days of Amy’s Mason career, when she arrived as a transfer student from the University of Connecticut, Rick related that her relationship with Mason’s Admissions Office formed quickly. “Talk about getting thrown into the fire!” he recalled. “She knew nobody here, and started working in the office, taking phone calls, as a student worker.”

That position led to Amy’s first job following graduation. “She applied for and was offered a job as what they called a roadrunner.... She would go and recruit on the road, in the fall, up in the Northeast. And so, she really kind of built out the New England space for ��ӽ紫ý,” said Rick. “She was like: I grew up in New Hampshire, I went to the University of Connecticut, I know that area, I can make this work.

“She did such a great job, building that out, she was offered a counselor role and she just sort of kept going,” said Rick.

Mason’s mission of inclusion was one that drove Amy, as well. “Her motto was, ‘Let’s build a bigger table,’” said Rick. “Let’s find a place for first-generation students, for kids who just need to be given an opportunity.” During meetings with family members of students in Mason’s Early Identification Program, Amy would bring Rick, fluent in Spanish, to translate when necessary.

“Amy was a bright light for students and for her colleagues; she never wavered from a commitment to either group’s well-being,” said David Burge, Mason’s vice president for enrollment management. “She was legitimately inspirational in the way she approached her work and made everyone around her better for having known her.”

Amy was also an enthusiastic Mason alum. When their son chose to attend Mason himself, he told Rick: “That’s where our family goes to school. I’ve been going to this place since I was a kid, a literal baby watching basketball games.”

Beyond enjoying Mason basketball, Amy’s dedication to her alma mater took the form of her service as a faithful member of the board of the ��ӽ紫ý Alumni Association (GMUAA). It is in her honor that the GMUAA board has established the Amy Takayama-Perez Memorial Student Book Award.

“This is a tribute befitting a double alum who was passionate about all things Mason, a former board member who meant so much to the university,” said Jenn Robinson, JM ‘02, associate vice president of alumni relations and GMUAA executive director.

A book scholarship helps to defray the expenses involved in students’ purchases of books and supplies, which can present a considerable burden each semester. “The goal of the award is to help as many students as possible, just as Amy worked to do in her time at Mason,” added Robinson.

“Amy was an incredible leader and friend,” said Elena Johnson, director of outreach and partnerships in Mason’s Office of Admissions. “She worked diligently to ensure higher education was accessible and available for everyone, and I am so glad that students will benefit from a scholarship in her memory.”

Donations to the Amy Takayama-Perez Memorial Student Book Award may be made here. Donors may consider making a gift to the fund on Mason Vision Day, April 4, 2024, when friends of ��ӽ紫ý are invited to support the cause at Mason that speaks to them most compellingly.