As part of George Mason University's 50th anniversary celebration, we are recognizing some of the Mason Trailblazers—faculty, staff, students, and alumni—who helped put Mason on the map.
Trailblazer Stories
- September 30, 2022In 2006, George Mason University alum Anousheh Ansari, BS Computer and Electrical Engineering ’88, traveled to the International Space Station for an 11-day expedition and the first female private space explorer, first astronaut of Iranian descent, first Muslim woman in space, and fourth private explorer to visit space.
- May 2, 2022In January, Nikyatu Jusu, assistant professor of directing and screenwriting in Mason’s Film and Video Studies Program, had her first feature film, “Nanny,” premier at the Sundance Film Festival, where she was awarded the Grand Jury Prize.
- April 25, 2022For the past decade, Mason alum Germán Perilla, cofounder and director of the Honey Bee Initiative, has led Mason’s honey bee efforts.
- April 18, 2022George Mason University alum Charniele L. Herring has made history with her barrier-breaking career in Virginia state politics.
- April 12, 2022George Mason University’s Edward Maibach is one of the most influential scientists working on climate change.
- April 4, 2022A remarkable journey has brought Mason Professor Jagadish Shukla from his childhood in rural India to world prominence as a climate researcher.
- March 28, 2022When the George Mason University senior Dacheka Kolcum heard about the August 2021 earthquake that devastated Haiti, she immediately jumped into action to help by creating a GoFundMe page that raised $5,000 to help provide basic necessities for those most adversely impacted by quake.
- March 21, 2022As a forensic nurse and former death investigator State of Maryland’s medical examiner’s office, Mason researcher Katherine Scafide has long served people who fell victim to violence.
- March 14, 2022George Mason University sociology student Charlotte Woodward has tirelessly advocated for the rights of people with disabilities—and she is being recognized for her efforts.
- March 8, 2022In 1986, Mason alum Kim Crabbe became the first Black woman called up to the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team. Decades later, she’s still giving back to the sport she loves.
- February 28, 2022Robinson Professor of Physics James Trefil is a huge proponent of science literacy and has written extensively about science for a lay audience. With his colleague, Robinson Professor of Earth Science Robert Hazen, he created and taught Great Ideas in Science, a popular course for nonscience majors.