College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Alumni

Cowen named to inaugural TIME100 Philanthropy List

Colleen Rich — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 14:51:41 +0000

Cowen named to inaugural TIME100 Philanthropy List Colleen Rich Fri, 06/06/2025 - 10:51

�� economics professor and alumnus Tyler Cowen, BS Economics ’83, has been named one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in philanthropy.

Cowen is being recognized for his leadership of Emergent Ventures, a fellowship and grant program, housed at George Mason’s Mercatus Center, that backs entrepreneurial thinkers and doers with extraordinary potential. Since its launch, Emergent Ventures has funded more than 1,000 individuals around the world who are advancing work across a wide array of fields, including science, policy, and journalism.

“I’ve focused on trying to mobilize talent that otherwise is not discovered or inspired,” Cowen told TIME, explaining that he screens most of the applications himself.

Emergent Ventures’ successes include funding one of the first COVID-19 saliva tests via its Fast Grants program and a prison reform startup that used data analysis to identify more than 150,000 safe candidates for early release.

“Tyler's vision for Emergent Ventures is to do philanthropy differently,” said Economics Department chair Daniel Houser. “He created a highly effective and influential approach to broad-based giving that includes rapid decisions and taking an occasional risk. Tyler supports leading established scholars and also helps to develop prodigies at earlier stages of their career, sometimes as early as high school.”

Cowen, who has led Emergent Ventures since 2018, is the director of the Mercatus Center and a faculty member of the Economics Department’s The Center for Study of Public Choice. A nationally renowned economist, he is a columnist for The Free Press and contributes daily to the Marginal Revolution blog.

Responding to the honor, Cowen wrote on the blog, “It is the Emergent Ventures winners who deserve the real credit, thanks to them!”

The inaugural TIME100 Philanthropy list recognizes 100 individuals who are reimagining the ways giving can drive meaningful change. Philanthropists from 28 countries made the list, including Warren Buffet, Michael Bloomberg, and Oprah Winfrey. Cowen was recognized in the innovators category along with Catherine, Princess of Wales; skateboarder Tony Hawk; and actor Michael Sheen.

The full list is available at here. Read more about Cowen’s work with Emergent Ventures here.

Tyler Cowen joined University President Gregory Washington on the Access to Excellence podcast to discuss Emergent Ventures. Listen to the episode.

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Alumni

Mercatus Center

George Mason researchers look at low-cost solutions to increase solved cases and boost public trust in police

Katarina Benson — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 19:04:38 +0000

George Mason researchers look at low-cost solutions to increase solved cases and boost public trust in police Katarina Benson Thu, 06/05/2025 - 15:04

It’s a sought-after “sweet spot,” where effective police response to combatting nonviolent crimes earns public approval and builds community goodwill—all within tight budget constraints.

Cynthia Lum. Photo by Office of University Branding

Reaching that intersection is no easy task. That’s why �� researchers Cynthia Lum and Christopher Koper are testing solutions to help local police departments balance limited resources while strengthening public trust.

Lum, director of the Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy (CEBCP) within the Department of Criminology, Law and Society in George Mason’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Koper, a nationally recognized expert on firearms policy and policing and CEBCP’s Principal Fellow, are leading a new initiative supported by an $839,000 grant from Arnold Ventures. The Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit supports evidence-based policy, research, and advocacy to address systemic challenges where traditional approaches have fallen short, funding initiatives that aim to drive long-term, bipartisan reform.

The project emphasizes practical scalable steps police departments can take, especially when it comes to serious property crime cases, such as burglaries and auto thefts, which sometimes get low priority due to lack of investigative leads, high caseloads, and limited police resources.

“We are testing whether low-cost actions will help victim satisfaction and will possibly help police solve more crimes,” said Lum, a former Baltimore police officer. “If this works, then I think many police agencies across the country, especially those who don’t have a lot of resources, but who want to try to do something, will have an accessible approach that can lead to real improvements.”

Most crimes in the United States go unsolved. Violent crimes have higher rates of clearance, with homicide cases ranking highest at 58%. Nonviolent crimes—which are much greater in number—are solved at much lower rates, frustrating many victims and eroding trust in law enforcement.

Christopher Koper. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

To address that, the agencies participating in the George Mason three-year pilot will send officers to personally follow-up on stalled, low-priority cases that would not normally receive extensive investigation. If this uncovers potential new leads, it may increase the likelihood of solving these cases. Further, by demonstrating continued engagement, it is hoped that the follow-ups will improve victim satisfaction with police services and boost community views of the police. Lum and Koper will be measuring both outcomes.

“At the minimum, it gets officers back into the community, visibly showing their commitment to solving crimes and positively engaging with people,” Lum said, adding that this project will provide graduate students on the research team opportunity to learn how to carry out program evaluations and field experiments.

Lum and Koper are currently partnering with two police departments, one in Northern Virginia and the other in Maryland. While setting up logistics, such as data sharing and officer training, they are both optimistic about the possibilities.

“We’re trying to move the needle with a modest, low-cost change to investigative procedures,” Koper said. “That additional follow-up by an officer could make a difference.”

Should their research prove effective, they plan to disseminate the model and findings to law enforcement agencies nationwide.

“I think of it as helping police agencies balance the realities they face,” Koper said. “They want to solve more cases and earn a higher level of public confidence and trust. But they also face limits on how intensively they can investigate all cases.”

Study Criminology, Law and Society at George Mason

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Research

George Mason undergrad overcomes health challenges to walk across the stage and accept her degree

Katarina Benson — Thu, 22 May 2025 14:25:23 +0000

George Mason undergrad overcomes health challenges to walk across the stage and accept her degree Katarina Benson Thu, 05/22/2025 - 10:25

Sporting green and gold Air Jordan sneakers, �� student Samantha Lewis rose from her wheelchair and put one foot in front of the other. 

Less than four months after complications from medical treatments left her without feeling in her legs, Lewis walked across the stage to receive her bachelor’s degree in psychology at the 2025 College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) Degree Celebration on May 16. 

“It is a surreal moment,” said Lewis, who is from Ashburn, Virginia. “The ability to be able to walk across the stage when in January I was lying in a hospital bed with no feeling in my legs and I had no idea if I’d ever be able to walk again.” 

Heavy on Lewis’ mind at that moment was her late father, Matthew, who 36 years and three days prior also graduated inside EagleBank Arena with a bachelor’s degree in decision science from George Mason in 1989. 

“He was my best friend,” said Lewis, who was 16 when her father died of skin cancer. “I know my dad is watching over me, and I know he is very proud of me. I wanted to go to Mason because that’s where he went.” 

Psychology grad Samantha Lewis with the cap she created for graduation. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Last fall, Lewis was diagnosed with and underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, which occurs due to the compression of blood vessels or nerves, causing shoulder and neck pain.

Following treatment in late January, she suddenly lost feeling in her legs. Lewis had suffered functional neurological disorder, a condition that can cause paralysis and kept her in the hospital for more than 10 days. 

After several falls at home, she was admitted to the hospital again for five days followed by two weeks of acute rehabilitation. Lewis finished up an 18-credit hour courseload to stay on track to graduate in three years while receiving physical therapy twice a week along with visiting a neuropsychologist and therapist several times a month. 

“What I learned in my major, particularly in cognitive psychology, helped me navigate those changes,” she said. “Understanding things like resilience, coping mechanisms, cognitive distortions, and the power of mindset gave me practical tools to work through some of my darkest moments.” 

Lewis’ fascination with human behavior drew her to psychology as she desired to learn more about “how and why we, think, feel, and act the way we do.” Instructor Sam Neff, who taught PSYC 317 Cognitive Psychology, recalls Lewis always sitting in the front row and their conversations before class as he set up his presentations. 

“She is intelligent, inquisitive, and was always looking to apply the concepts we talked about to her personal life,” Neff said. “On numerous occasions she had mentioned that the course was giving her information that was causing her to have ‘light-bulb’ moments about herself and the way that her cognitive processes worked.” 

Lewis made the CHSS Dean’s List her last four semesters despite a heavy courseload, which included 26 credit hours over 10 weeks in summer of 2024 while she was also working at George Mason Recreation as a fitness program assistant.  

Samantha Lewis with her family. Photo provided

Prior to the 2024-25 school year, she shifted all her courses online. She credits George Mason’s Disability Services for helping and communicating with professors when she needed more time to complete coursework. 

“That kind of advocacy was really important,” she said.  

When her name was called, Lewis—with mother Kristine, stepmother Megan, and three grandparents in the audience—proudly walked across the platform, receiving a huge embrace from CHSS Dean Ann Ardis and a thunderous standing ovation from the thousands inside EagleBank Arena. 

“I heard the cheering, but I obviously was focused on making sure I didn’t fall,” Lewis said with a laugh. “I’m just overwhelmed by the support and response.” 

“It is giving me chills even now,” Kristine Lewis said. “To watch her actually walk across the stage and then see the reaction from her professors and her dean, who just embraced her with such a strong hug... and then to see the student body do it, there are no words. That was such a moment of support for her and us. I was not expecting that.” 

Lewis says she plans to take a break before considering her next steps. Her focus remains on making a full recovery as she has already gained sensation in most of her right leg.  

“It kind of scares me what I am going to do when I’m healthy,” she said. “You really can do anything when you set your mind to it. You just have to believe in yourself.”

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Disability Services

Economics grad leaves their mark and legacy on forensics team

Katarina Benson — Thu, 15 May 2025 15:11:27 +0000

Economics grad leaves their mark and legacy on forensics team Katarina Benson Thu, 05/15/2025 - 11:11

When Dawn Lowry, the director of ��’s forensics team, recruits prospective students to join the university’s intercollegiate speech team, she reviews videos of high school competitions.

A competitive speech coach for more than 30 years, Lowry remembers being blown away the first time she watched footage of now economics major Prem Ganesan in action.

Prem Ganesan. Photo provided

“They reminded me of a hurricane—all power, all energy,” Lowry recalls. “It was like if we can figure out how to harness that and control that energy, then they would be a real force.”

Four years later, Ganesan left their mark and legacy on a George Mason program already rich in history.

Ganesan, who is graduating this spring with a bachelor’s degree in economics, won individual national championships during their career in a record six different categories—the most by a student in the 75-year history of intercollegiate competitive speech.

They captured seven national titles in six different categories at national tournaments recognized by the American Forensic Association and the National Forensic Association: After Dinner Speaking, Communication Analysis, Duo Interpretation, Informative Speaking, Poetry Interpretation, and Program Oral Interpretation.

“They are a wonderful mix of artistry and analysis,” said Lowry, who is also an instructor in the Department of Communication. “They have a wonderful ability to find the story that hasn’t been told and show a complete diaspora of human experiences. They give performances that make people cry, but if you look at them closely, they are also technically beautiful.

While still in high school in Minnesota, Ganesan was drawn to George Mason due to its economics program and the forensics team. The competitive speech program, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, has ranked in the top five nationally since 2007.

Ganesan has added to that reputation, helping George Mason finish as national champion runners-up three of the last four years. They often delve into LGBTQ+ issues; the Indian diaspora; and issues pertaining to diversity, economic development, and racial injustice.

“There are not a lot of people who look like me,” Ganesan said. “Or who believe what I believe in, who are in this field advocating for what I want to see the world moving toward.”

As a sophomore, their championship-winning speech in the After Dinning Speaking category focused on economics’ diversity problem.

The category, “persuasive in nature,” Ganesan said, requires competitors to present a societal problem, explain why that issue persists and then offer a solution—all within 10 minutes. Ganesan utilized humor, a device they turn to often in their speeches, to address the problem and finish atop a category with more than 100 participants.

“I don’t like aiming for results; I like chasing the process of speech,” Ganesan said. “How can we take new risks? How can we push the bar on performance choices? How can we write cool lines that the audience hasn’t heard before?”

Ganesan speaking. Photo by Eduardo Macedo.

Ganesan has emerged as a leader, serving as a co-captain of the forensics team and teaching at high school speech camps during the summer both at George Mason and Illinois State University, along with coaching part-time at a high school back home in Minnesota.

They were also the senior student representative on the National Council for the National Forensic Association, serving as the voice of the students and pushing for accessibility for all participants at competitions.

“[Prem] is always at the other end of the phone if you need advice,” freshman Emma Schaible said. “They are probably one of the upperclassmen that has been there the most for me and the rest of the first years (on the team).”

Added Lowry: “They are a powerful advocate in making sure everyone has the resources they need.”

After graduation, Ganesan plans to attend Illinois State—Lowry’s alma mater—to pursue a master’s degree in communication. They will also work as a graduate teaching assistant for the university’s forensics team.

Reflecting on their time at George Mason, Ganesan said their interactions with students, faculty, and staff in the Department of Economics and on the forensics team sparked “countless relationships, friendships, and mentors.”

“Diversity is such a cornerstone of my college experience,” Ganesan said. “Interacting with a variety of human beings has been so transformational. I am a lifelong student, so learning from as many different people as possible and then taking their experiences and trying to adapt them into my own little pedagogy has been super cool to do. And speech has taught me how to do that. To take in, not to just communicate, but to listen to other people and learn from them.”

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Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Senior of the Year champions kindness

Katarina Benson — Tue, 13 May 2025 18:36:17 +0000

Senior of the Year champions kindness Katarina Benson Tue, 05/13/2025 - 14:36

Senior of the Year Haley White said double majoring in business and art history was one of the best decisions she made during her time at ��. Her second best decision was joining the Mason Chooses Kindness initiative.

White, who is from Lynchburg, Virginia, has been a driving force behind Mason Chooses Kindness since 2023. “The idea behind the initiative really spoke to me,” she said. “I was raised to be polite, give back, and be kind, and I feel like we can always benefit from more kindness to ourselves and others. It’s not always about giving a compliment or holding a door—though those things are great, sometimes it’s about doing hard things, and Mason Chooses Kindness really seemed to understand this.”

Haley White. Photo provided.

For her dedication to kindness in both her personal and professional life, White was named Senior of the Year by the �� Alumni Association. She will be recognized at the association’s annual Celebration of Distinction this fall.

During her four years at George Mason, White has been very active with the Costello College of Business, where she works as a business engagement assistant. She was one of the main contributors and design lead on Costello's 47-page handbook on implementing well-being projects and co-authored an article on Costello’s introduction of kindness into their course curriculum.

“We do not know what we will do without her [when she graduates],” said Gretchen Hendricks, term instructor at Costello. “Haley has been an instrumental part of the ‘goodwill team’ within the Costello College of Business.”

In November 2024, White led 75 students, faculty, staff, and alumni volunteers and helped organize the largest Day of Service event in Costello’s history, resulting in 3,000 lbs. of food packed to support the Patriot Pantry.

“Haley embodies the best of George Mason students,” said Christine Landoll, BS Accounting ’89, MS Taxation ’92, director of business engagement at Costello and White’s mentor. “She is strong academically, strong civically, strong philanthropically, and a kind and compassionate human.”

White said she fell in love with art history when she enrolled in ARTH 101 Introduction to Visual Arts to meet a Mason Core requirement. First, she added art history to her coursework as a minor and then realized she needed to just add it as a second major.

Looking forward to where the road after graduation takes her, White said she hopes to travel more and “be happy with what I am doing. I have a lot more to learn, and I hope in 10 years I can look back and be proud of myself for all it took to get me there.”

And of course, kindness will be a part of that future. “I have become more intentional and more aware of what kindness looks like, and it is something that I am going to take into my future work and continue being an ‘ambassador’ for in my personal life,” she said.

Being kind to oneself is a core piece of White’s advice for incoming freshmen.

“It can be easy to beat yourself up when you get a question wrong or feel like you are behind others or not doing ‘enough,’” she said. “You don't have to be perfect every day or even do as much as you did yesterday—focus on being kind to yourself, doing the best you can each day, and even if you are afraid, reach out for help when you need it. Extending yourself kindness every day is a worthwhile practice.”

In This Story

Christine Landoll

Learn about Mason Chooses Kindness

George Mason alumna makes a career of bringing talent into the spotlight

Colleen Rich — Mon, 12 May 2025 20:34:39 +0000

George Mason alumna makes a career of bringing talent into the spotlight Colleen Rich Mon, 05/12/2025 - 16:34

From her small hometown of Ruther Glen, Virginia, to the bright lights of New York City, Gilda Squire, BA Communication ’95, has forged a career that defies convention. It is a journey that has led Squire from the federal government through Wall Street, into book publishing, and finally landing as a powerhouse publicist and talent manager for some of entertainment’s brightest stars, including Angela Bassett, Bebe Neuwirth, and ballet icon Misty Copeland.

Gilda Squire with one of her clients Wendell Pierce. Photo provided

With a larger-than-life career requiring confidence and flexibility to thrive, Squire credits �� for providing the bold foundation for a dynamic life—right next to the spotlight.

For Squire, George Mason was a strategic choice that aligned with her plans to work in an industry with culture and creativity at its core. “I liked the idea that it was just outside of D.C., and I really loved that there was such an international population of students there,” Squire said. “I felt like that was an introduction to the world without leaving the D.C. area.”

Her path into the university was anything but traditional. Postponing her education after her mother’s passing, Squire eventually enrolled at George Mason at the urging of a work supervisor and tackled the challenge of working and studying full time.

The university became her gateway to global learning, offering friends and experiences that opened doors to new cultures and perspectives. “It was interesting because their cultures were front and center, as was mine,” said Squire. “We enjoyed learning about each other, and not many universities can offer that organically.”

Squire would take that zest for learning into a role at Goldman Sachs, where a corporate communications job led to her creating cultural programming that remains at the organization today. An eventual position at HarperCollins Publishers provided an opportunity to champion underrepresented voices in literature and eventually led to Squire launching her own talent management firm, Squire Media & Management.

A chance encounter with ballet dancer Misty Copeland ignited Squire’s determination to bring her into the spotlight. Struck by the lack of mainstream recognition for a Black dancer at the prestigious American Ballet Theatre (ABT), Squire felt compelled to share a story the world needed to hear—the extraordinary rise of a young Black woman from an impoverished background to one of the world’s most prestigious stages.

With a major media push that landed features on shows like 60 Minutes and CBS This Morning, Copeland quickly moved from small roles to being cast as the lead dancer in Stravinsky’s Firebird, a coveted role that had only been danced by a Black woman once before.

For Squire, this was proof that the power of storytelling could do more than change one career—it could influence the world. “At that point, I said, oh, this is it. This is what we’ve been working for,” said Squire. “People are going to get a chance to see her dance.”

And Squire’s work did more than elevate Copeland’s career—it brought more diverse audiences into the world of ballet.

From helping Copeland make history to playing a role in actress Angela Bassett finally bringing home an Oscar, Squire has had a hand in some significant cultural moments. Her next challenge is representing former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

Squire draws a clear line connecting her success and her time at George Mason. “It was at Mason that I realized the world is a wide-open space where I can do whatever I want to do,” she said. “Even if nothing else happened, the life and career I’ve had is beyond anything I could have ever dreamed.”

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Anthropology student digs deep at Department of Commerce internship

Katarina Benson — Wed, 07 May 2025 19:40:46 +0000

Anthropology student digs deep at Department of Commerce internship Katarina Benson Wed, 05/07/2025 - 15:40

Zain Alzubaidy, a senior anthropology major at ��, recently completed an internship with the United States Department of Commerce. He worked in the Advocacy Center, a government service that provides commercial diplomatic support to American businesses in foreign markets.

The majority of Alzubaidy’s internship focused on potential partners for the Advocacy Center. He was responsible for researching applicants and presenting his findings to his colleagues, who ultimately decided if they would partner with the company.

One of his most memorable projects was crafting a persuasive letter to a foreign head of state on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce at the time, making the case for a business to be awarded a multi-trillion-dollar contract.

Zain Alzubaidy. Photo provided

“It’s one thing to read about these deals in the news, but it’s entirely different to take part in them. Assignments like those made me proud that I was part of something notable,” he said.

His passion for understanding people and cultures is what initially led him to take anthropology at the international baccalaureate level as a senior at Annandale High School. He enjoyed it so much that he decided to major in the subject at George Mason.

“I can recall being astounded by how people have such different ways of thinking and living,” he said. “My experience in that class stuck with me, and when I got to George Mason it felt an easy decision to study anthropology.”

He specifically credits his writing classes with teaching him the skills necessary for his role. “I developed strong research and writing skills [in those classes], which I absolutely needed to use in the Advocacy Center. If I didn’t have the writing and research skills that I developed at George Mason, I would not have been able perform my job to the best of my ability. "

Alzubaidy graduates this May and his future goals include doing further diplomatic work, possibly in the same vein as his Advocacy Center work, and maybe even running for public office down the road.

“I feel like I have not only the competency and capability to do well in those areas, but also the right intentions,” he said. “Helping others will always be a goal of mine, so I will try my best to do that wherever I decide to work.”

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Internship

Billups finishes his George Mason career with a record-setting season

Colleen Rich — Wed, 07 May 2025 12:38:17 +0000

Billups finishes his George Mason career with a record-setting season Colleen Rich Wed, 05/07/2025 - 08:38

Senior and men’s basketball guard Jared Billups might have joined �� as a transfer student, but in his two years here, he has managed to leave a historic mark.

Billups, who is graduating this month with a bachelor’s degree in economics, is George Mason’s first conference Defensive Player of the Year since 2001 and was a finalist for the Lefty Driesell Award, given to the nation’s top defensive player.

As captain, Billups helped lead the men’s basketball team to its best season in the program's Atlantic 10 history. With 15 A-10 league victories, the Patriots set a new university record and started league play 12-1 for the first time in the program's 59-year history.

With Billups leading the charge, the team’s Patriot Pressure defense also ranked in the Top 25 nationally this season, and the Patriots ranked third in the nation in field goal defense.

This year the A-10 Tournament was played at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., and Mason Nation packed the building to support the Patriots. The team locked up a double bye in the tournament for the first time and reached the conference title game for the first time since 2009. Behind Mason Nation's huge turnout, the A-10 Final became one of the top-3 highest attended games in the tournament's history.

Billups said the team could feel the love. “It’s one of the best feelings in the world,” he said about playing before a roaring arena. “The crowd is cheering for you and you’re playing well, and you just feel so good. I don’t think there is anything else like it in world.”

Billups started his college career playing basketball for Siena College in New York. He was interested in George Mason to be closer to family in Waldorf, Maryland, and because he wanted to play at a higher level. When he had the opportunity to visit campus, he said he knew he had found something special. “I just felt the love and support of the community here,” he said.

Billups admits that George Mason pushed him academically. He said that the George Mason Athletics makes sure everyone stays on course to graduate. “You care about your basketball. You care about your academics. You’ve got to be a whole person,” he said, adding that not all schools are like that.

While graduating is in some ways bittersweet for Billups—“We had an amazing season, and it was an amazing group of guys.”—he is looking toward the future and plans to play basketball professionally. He has already signed with an agent.

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