By Sarah Wheeler, Staff Writer

NEW STEARNS CENTER FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING OPENS IN INNOVATION HALL

Innovation Hall of Mason’s Fairfax campus received a major update as of August 29. The fourth floor has been transformed into what is now known as the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning. The center is named after Professor Peter Stearns, who was the provost of George Mason University from 2000 to 2014.

According to Provost S. David Wu, “Dr. Stearns has been a tireless advocate for excellence in teaching.” The new center serves as a central hub of expertise for what was formerly both the Office of Digital Learning and the Center for Teaching and Faculty Excellence. It is now a collaborative and educational space for faculty and graduate students looking to further develop their teaching skills and keep up to date with the most recent teaching methods and academic discoveries.

MASON PROFESSOR NAMED PRESIDENTIAL FELLOW

Jaime Lester, an associate professor of higher education here at Mason, has been named a new Presidential Fellow for the 2017-2018 academic year.  Lester will be working with Mason President Ángel Cabrera on projects to improve faculty engagement and promote women and underrepresented faculty in STEM disciplines. Lester was previously Mason’s State Council Rising Star nominee in 2011 and received the Mason Excellence in Teaching Award in 2013.

MASON RENAMES FOUR CAMPUS BUILDINGS

Mason has now changed the names of four buildings spread out across several of its campuses. On the Fairfax campus, Mason Hall is now known as James Buchanan Hall, and Buchanan House will now be known as the Roberts House in order to reflect its location on Roberts Road.

On the Arlington campus, the Metropolitan Building has now become the Vernon L. Smith Building. Lastly, the garage at the Potomac Science Center on the Prince William campus has now become the Mason Ferry Garage.

ITS SUPPORT PERMANENTLY EXTENDS HOURS

The Information Technology Services (ITS) at GMU has expanded its hours. They will now be available for assistance every Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Moreover, ITS has added a new location in the Johnson Center (Kiosk H) for walk-up support in addition to Innovation Hall Room 226.

Photos Courtesy of Alexis Glenn/Creative Services and Sarah Wheeler