Graduate Division History

Overview

In October 2022, Mason announced the launch of the Graduate Division within the Office of the Provost whose mission is to elevate graduate education and improve the experience of all graduate students at Mason.

The launch of the Graduate Division was preceded by months of hard work from a dedicated team of stakeholders across the University. In February 2021, President Washington created the Graduate Reimagine Initiative to explore, develop, and reimagine what graduate education might look like at George Mason University. The Graduate Division is following a phased implementation plan based on the recommendations of the Phase I Task Force and the Phase II Advisory Groups. 

The mission of the Graduate Division is to elevate graduate education at Mason by increasing the global impact of its graduate students and programs, fostering a collaborative culture of academic excellence, and contributing to the research productivity and the workforce development appropriate to a world-class research institution.

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Phase I: Graduate Education Reimagine Task Force (February to December, 2021)

Phase I of the initiative was an exploration and development phase led by the Graduate Education Reimagine Task Force, which resulted in a comprehensive set of recommendations. The task force met bi-weekly and was composed of representatives from each college and school, the Faculty Senate, Graduate Council, graduate students, and a variety of other stakeholders.

Task Force Members

Laurence Bray (Chair)

Associate Provost for Graduate Education

Representing: Grad. Ed.

Akitta Robertson (Ex Officio)

Graduate Education Manager

Representing: Grad. Ed.

Andy Hoefer

Assistant Dean, Honors College

Representing: Honors College

Aurali Dade

Associate VP for Research & Deputy Chief Research Officer

Representing: Research

Carey Drews-Botsch

Professor, Chair in Global & Community Health

Representing: CHHS

Cristiana Stan

Professor, Atmospheric, Oceanic & Earth Sc. (COS)

Representing: Faculty Senate

Dawn Anderson Kelley

Assistant Director, Grad. Admissions (CVPA)

Representing: OGAL

Deborah Goodings

Professor and Associate Dean

Representing: CEC

Ellen Drogin Rodgers

Associate Dean, Student & Acad. Affairs (CEHD)

Representing: Grad. Council

Iosif Vaisman

Director, School of Systems Biology

Representing: COS

Jenna Strahm

Senior Marketing Associate (CEHD)*

Representing: GRAC

Jill Deering

Assistant Dean, Student Affairs (Schar)

Representing: GAGAA

Julie Choe Kim

Director, Graduate Student Life

Representing: Graduate Life

Kevin Connor

Master’s student, Business Administration (SBUS)

Representing: GAPSA

Kim MacVaugh

Policy and Government Librarian

Representing: Libraries

Laurence Chalip

Professor, Director, School of Sport, Recreation and Tourism Management

Representing: CEHD

Lisa Kahn

Associate Dean, Research & Graduate Studies

Representing: CVPA

Marguerite Rippy

Associate Dean, Graduate Academic Affairs

Representing: CHSS

Nuno Garoupa

Associate Dean, Research and Faculty, Director of Graduate Studies, Professor of Law

Representing: Law

Paige Wolf

Associate Dean, Graduate Programs

Representing: SBUS

Pallavi Rai Gullo (Ex Officio)

Director, Grad. Academic & Std. Affairs

Representing: Grad. Ed.

Parag Chitnis (Ex Officio)

Associate Professor, Bioengineering, Provost Faculty Fellow (CEC)

Representing: Grad. Ed.

Steven Zhou

Doctoral student, Psychology (CHSS)

Representing: GAPSA

Susan Woodruff

Coordinator, Academic Program Development

Representing: SCHEV

Thomas Flores

Associate Professor, Director of Graduate Programs

Representing: Carter

Thys Van Schaik

Associate Dean, Academic Affairs*

Representing: Schar

Task Force Charge

The charge for this task force was to consider the current context for and state of graduate education at Mason. The group was also asked—among other critical issues—to consider the benefits and challenges of the prospective creation of a Graduate School at our university that could facilitate consistent and equitable expectations, opportunities both within and across academic units and enhance structures that support graduate students.

Specifically, the following areas were considered:

  • Identify and review Mason’s current graduate education opportunities and associated challenges;
  • Utilizing R1 institutions’ models and best practices, review and consider strategic solutions to could help to overcome these challenges;
  • Suggest operational and structural enhancements that could facilitate the implementation of the proposed solutions;
  • Provide recommendations on what graduate education structure would best align with the University’s mission, vision, overall structure, strategic objectives, and funding allocations, including the prospective forming of a Graduate School at Mason.

Final Recommendations

The Mason Community had the opportunity to help shape the future of Mason's graduate education by providing the Task Force with feedback on a draft report. Two town hall meetings were held to engage the community on October 29 and November 1, 2021. 

In December 2021, the Graduate Reimagine Task Force Final Recommendations white paper was presented to the Provost and the President. 

 

Phase II: Graduate Division Implementation (January to August, 2022) 

Based on the Phase I recommendations, Mason Senior Leadership initiated an implementation planning process leading to the creation of a Graduate Division. The overall goal was to develop an iterative implementation plan that would enable the Graduate Division to elevate Mason graduate education programs and support Mason’s graduate faculty and graduate students.

Guided by specific strategic goals, four advisory teams were formed to help Dr. Laurence Bray, Associate Provost for Graduate Education, formulate the most effective implementation strategy. 

Implementation Team

Laurence Bray (Chair)

Associate Provost for Graduate Education, Office of the Provost 

Stephen McWilliams

Executive Director of Finance and Planning, Office of the Provost

Representing: Administration, Finance and Planning

Susan Woodruff

Director of Academic Program Development, Office of the Provost

Representing: Academic Affairs, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia Liaison

Molli Herth

Program Manager for Faculty Affairs & Development, Office of the Provost

Representing: Project Management

Blue Advisory Group Members and Goals

Debra Isaacs-Kasemi

Solutions Analyst, Information Technology Services         

Representing: Information Technology Services, Systems Integration

Elijah Earl

Assistant Director, Data Management, Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning  

Representing: Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning, Data Access & Reporting

Jason McKnight

Associate Director for Graduate Academic Success, Office of the Provost

Representing: Graduate Education, Graduate Student Success

Juliet Blank-Godlove

Dean of Students, University Life             

Representing: University Life, Graduate Student Life and Services

Kimberly Macvaugh*

Policy and Government Librarian, Arlington Campus Library, University Libraries 

Representing: University Libraries, University Dissertation and Thesis Services

Marguerite Rippy*

Associate Dean of Graduate Academic Affairs, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Representing: Graduate Council

Natalie Burls

Graduate Program Director, Climate Dynamics and Associate Professor, Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences, College of Science    

Representing: Graduate Program Director and Faculty

Patricia Appiah

Research Analyst, Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning

Representing: Data Access and Reporting

Rebecca Sutter

Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, College of Health and Human Services

Representing: Faculty Senate

Saskia Campbell (Chair)

Executive Director, University Career Services

Representing: University Life, University Career Services

Steven Zhou*

Doctoral Student, Psychology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Representing: Graduate and Professional Student Assembly

*Graduate Education Reimagine Task Force member

 

Guided by specific strategic goals, this group worked together to help Dr. Laurence Bray, Associate Provost for Graduate Education, formulate the most effective implementation strategy to:

  • Increase the number of graduate degrees conferred, with a priority at the doctoral level  
  • Improve graduate time-to-degree, with a focus on full-time doctoral students  
  • Improve graduate retention, with an emphasis on first-generation and underserved students  
  • Increase the participation in and equalize the access to career and professional development opportunities offered across graduate programs  
  • Optimize the graduate student experience and engagement across graduate programs   

Green Advisory Group Members and Goals

Chris DiTeresi (Chair)

Associate Director for Research Integrity and University Affiliate Faculty of Philosophy, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Representing: Research Conduct and Integrity

James Parrish

Assistant Vice President, Corporate and Foundation Relations, Office of University Advancement and Alumni Relations

Representing: Alumni, External Relations and Advancement

Jeremy Campbell

Assistant Director of Strategic Engagement and Affiliate Faculty, Sociology and Anthropology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Representing: Research and External Partnerships

JP Singh

Professor, Schar School of Policy and Government

Representing: Faculty and Graduate Programs

Kimberly Maze

Reporting and Systems Administrator, Office of Sponsored Programs

Representing: Research

Parag Chitnis*

Associate Professor, Bioengineering, Volgenau School of Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing

Representing: Graduate Program Director, Graduate Education and Faculty

Paula Sorrell

Associate Vice President, Innovation and Economic Development, Office of Research

Representing: Research, Commercialization and Economic Impact

Siddhartha Sikdar

Professor, Bioengineering, Volgenau School of Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing

Representing: Faculty and Trans-disciplinary Centers

*Graduate Education Reimagine Task Force member

 

Guided by specific strategic goals, this group worked together to help Dr. Laurence Bray, Associate Provost for Graduate Education, formulate the most effective implementation strategy to:

  • Increase multi-year and competitive graduate assistantships and scholarships, especially from sponsored research   
  • Increase student and fellow access to inter- and trans-disciplinary education and research opportunities  
  • Increase student and fellow engagement with external partners and the community  
  • Increase funding from philanthropic and advancement initiatives   

Orange Advisory Group Members and Goals

Anastasia Kitsantas

Director, PhD in Education Program and Professor, School of Education, College of Education and Human Development

Representing: Graduate Program Director and Faculty

Debra Isaacs-Kasemi

Solutions Analyst, Information Technology Services

Representing: Information Technology Services, Systems Integration

Doug McKenna

University Registrar, Office of the University Registrar

Representing: Academic Affairs, University Registrar

Jennifer Bazaz Gettys (Chair)

Director, Enrollment, and Curriculum Management, College of Science

Representing: Curriculum Management

Matt Smith

Director of Accreditation, Office of the Provost

Representing: Academic Affairs, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Matthew DeSantis

Executive Director for Institutional Effectiveness , Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning

Representing: Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning, Academic Program Review and Data Reporting

Michael Bloom

Associate Professor, Global and Community Health, College of Health and Human Services

Representing: Faculty and Graduate Programs

Paige Wolf*

Associate Dean, Graduate Programs, School of Business

Representing: Faculty and Graduate Council

Pallavi Rai Gullo

Director, Graduate Academic and Student Affairs, Office of the Provost

Representing: Graduate Education, Graduate Policies & Procedures

*Graduate Education Reimagine Task Force member

 

Guided by specific strategic goals, this group worked together to help Dr. Laurence Bray, Associate Provost for Graduate Education, formulate the most effective implementation strategy to:

  • Improve graduate programs’ quality and rigor  
  • Elevate graduate programs’ ranking and reputation  
  • Maintain academic standards and ensure consistency and compliance 

Red Advisory Group Members and Goals

Caitlin Shear

Senior Director, Integrated Enrollment Marketing Communications, Office of the Provost

Representing: Enrollment Management, Marketing

Dawn Anderson Kelley*

Graduate Admissions and Recruitment, College of Visual and Performing Arts

Representing: Graduate Admissions Operations Liaisons

Jeff Offutt

Associate Chair, Volgenau School of Engineering College of Engineering and Computing

Representing: Graduate Program Director and Faculty

Jenny Chism (Chair)

Director of Admissions Operations, Enrollment Management

Representing: Enrollment Management, Admissions and Enrollment

Kevin Connor*

Admissions Counselor, Graduate Programs and Master's Student, School of Business

Representing: Graduate and Professional Student Assembly

Purshara Church

Associate Director, Technology  Admissions

Representing: Enrollment Management, Target X

Reeti Bibhuti

Salesforce Technical Administrator, Information Technology Services

Representing: Information Technology Services, Salesforce

Thomas Flores*

Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Programs, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution    

Representing: Graduate Program Director and Faculty

*Graduate Education Reimagine Task Force member

 

Guided by specific strategic goals, this group worked together to help Dr. Laurence Bray, Associate Provost for Graduate Education, formulate the most effective implementation strategy to:

  • Increase full-time doctoral enrollment in current doctoral programs (Full-time classification: 9 enrolled credits per semester (or 6 + GA)  
  • Increase master’s and graduate certificate enrollment in current programs  
  • Improve yield rates at both the master’s and doctoral level (Yield rate: Percentage of number of enrolled graduate students from number of admitted graduate students)