Shayla Brown

Historic victory for George �鶹��Ƶ’s Debate Team

Shayla Brown — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 16:22:50 +0000

Historic victory for George �鶹��Ƶ’s Debate Team  Shayla Brown Thu, 12/04/2025 - 11:22

�鶹��Ƶ's Debate Team won the prestigious West Point Sword at the United States Military Academy’s 60th annual National Debate Tournament in West Point, New York.

“This is one of the most iconic awards in college policy debate, and it was the one title George �鶹��Ƶ Debate had never won until now,” said Jackie Poapst, director of the Debate Team. “To see our name finally engraved among the champions in the tournament’s 60th year is nothing short of historic. This moment represents six decades of legacy, and the future of excellence at George �鶹��Ƶ.”

The victory in October was one of many for the George �鶹��Ƶ varsity team this season.

George �鶹��Ƶ's Debate Team. Photo provided.

George �鶹��Ƶ students competed against teams from Harvard, Cornell, James Madison University, Liberty University, Binghamton University, New York University, the University of Rochester, and Suffolk University.

This year’s tournament topic was labor rights, and the George �鶹��Ƶ team had several wins on the tournament leaderboard:

Austin Davis (Communication, sophomore) and Del Gorman (Government and International Politics, sophomore) — 1st Overall Seed, undefeated, Tournament Champions
Ashley Wright (Government and International Politics, junior) and Ben Witkov (Economics, freshman) — 2nd Overall Seed, Tournament Co-Champions
Reet Taxali (Criminology, junior) and Dean Richter (Government and International Politics, senior) — 4th Overall Seed, Elite Eight
Brenda Reyes (Conflict Analysis and Resolution, senior) and Amira Shananier (Computational and Data Science, senior) — 7th Overall Seed, Elite Eight

George �鶹��Ƶ debaters also triumphed as individual speakers, winning four of the top five speaker awards, with Davis taking first place.

Students from George �鶹��Ƶ's Debate team accepting the West Point Sword. Photo provided.

“I told my coaches last year after losing in the finals that it was ‘Sword or bust’ this season. To win it with Del and to do it for George �鶹��Ƶ Debate, it’s a dream realized,” said Davis, who is also a teaching assistant for the writing-intensive course COMM 300 Rhetorical Theory and Criticism.

Other students placing individually were Witkov at 3rd, Gorman at 4th, and Wright at 5th.

Reyes also serves as the team’s social events coordinator.

“We've been going to this tournament every single year, and our director has always been our biggest supporter. I’m so proud of my team's hard work and dedication. It’s an honor to be part of this legacy,” said Reyes, who is in George �鶹��Ƶ’s Bachelor’s to Accelerated Master’s Program.

“My partner Amira and I centered our debate on marginalized populations often neglected in labor rights,” said Reyes, who also serves as vice president of George �鶹��Ƶ’s Kappa Alpha Pi Pre-Law and Government Fraternity. “We argued that migrants and undocumented workers are not classified as workers by the [National Labor Relations Act] therefore, do not get access to all labor rights under most generic cases. This makes teams start to question what they can do for migrant laborers who are undocumented, who we believe are the backbone of America.”

One of Reyes’ takeaways from this experience is that as a senior, her time on the team is winding down.

“The moments of working together to achieve our team's goal of earning the West Point Sword will always be a special core debate memory,” said Reyes. “These memories from supporting our George �鶹��Ƶ team, no matter the results, are what matter the most.” “We argued that migrants and undocumented workers are not classified as workers by the [National Labor Relations Act]; therefore, they do not get access to all labor rights under most generic cases."

George �鶹��Ƶ’s performance was described by tournament officials as “one of the most comprehensive team showings in recent memory.”

“This win means everything to our students,” Poapst said. “They have proven that teamwork, resilience, and belief in each other can quite literally make history.”

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George �鶹��Ƶ dance students perform alongside Limón Dance Company

Shayla Brown — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 17:27:00 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ dance students perform alongside Limón Dance Company Shayla Brown Wed, 12/03/2025 - 12:27

This fall, �鶹��Ƶ’s dance studios buzzed with excitement as School of Dance students prepared for and performed José Limón’s 1958 original composition Missa Brevis, alongside professional dancers from the Center for the Arts artists in residence Limón Dance Company.

“We’re thrilled to welcome one of the most prestigious modern dance companies to George �鶹��Ƶ,” said Victor Adebusola, assistant director of programming and engagement in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. “Their residency gives our School of Dance students the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with incredible professional artists.”

More than 80 George �鶹��Ƶ students participated in an intense audition process, led by Limón company members Kurt Douglas and Logan Francis Krueger, and 13 were selected to perform the piece.

Junior dance major Avery Nank said that these auditions can get pretty intense. Nank had previous experience with the dance company, participating in two Limón summer intensive sessions in Colorado and New York City, but auditioning still made her nervous.

“I had previously learned some of the choreography, but I was still really nervous because I wanted it so badly,” she said.

After winning a spot in Missa Brevis, the students then worked with Douglas and Krueger to learn the choreography and prepare for the company’s November Concert Hall performance.

Guest artist residencies are intense learning opportunities and a chance for George �鶹��Ƶ dance students to make connections that are invaluable to their careers. After the guest artists choose their cast, a challenging 10-day rehearsal period begins that parallels a professional work schedule. These long days result in a finished work that is performed before a Center for the Arts audience.

School of Dance students rehearsing with Limón Dance Company members. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding.

Limón Dance Company was founded in 1946 by José Limón and Doris Humphrey. The piece Missa Brevis takes place during World War II and was inspired by Limón’s tour of Europe, organized by the U.S. Department of State. The choreography is meant to reflect resilience and hope amidst devastation.

“When [Limón] went to Poland, he saw how ruined it was, but also how uplifting the people were,” said sophomore dance major Robert Harris. “He wanted to carry that and show the world that even though something can be torn down, the fight against adversity is higher and that you can achieve what you want to with your community.”

The guest artist program lets George �鶹��Ƶ dancers learn to perform the piece and gain insights into the lives of professional dancers.

“It was cool to hear about the dancers’ experiences that led them to Limón,” said Harris. “They were very open with us, answering all of our questions and being very patient with us. It was a very eye-opening experience because it showed me that there really is a possibility of me being able to do this in the future.”

“As a young student, it's not often that you get to work with a professional company as a learning opportunity. I’m very thankful knowing that I was able to be a part of this. It was once in a lifetime,” said Harris.

Nank said her biggest takeaway was the possibility of growth when working as a team.

“We can all grow immensely if we're doing it at the same time and we’re doing it together. It just takes patience, discipline, and taking the time to care about the people around you,” she said.

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Three Minute Thesis Competition showcases doctoral research

Shayla Brown — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 15:40:07 +0000

Three Minute Thesis Competition showcases doctoral research Shayla Brown Mon, 12/01/2025 - 10:40

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Alyssa Bivins

Makayla Johnson

Rania Zaied, a fourth-year PhD student in �鶹��Ƶ’s Department of Communication, has won first-place at the annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, an engaging event that showcases the innovative research of doctoral candidates. She will advance to the 2026 regional competition in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, hosted by the Council of Southern Graduate Schools. 

3MT first place winner Rania Zaied (left) with Stephanie Bluth. Photo by Eduardo Macedo/Office of University Branding.

The competition took place on November 7, 2025, and was organized by the Graduate Division of the Provost’s Office. The competition invites PhD students from various schools and colleges within the university to present their research in a concise and compelling format. 

Students from the College of Education and Human Development, College of Engineering and Computing, College of Humanities and Social Science, College of Public Health, and College of Science participated, presenting their chosen research topics with a single slide and a strict three-minute time limit. A panel of eight judges evaluated the presentations. 

This year, the doctoral candidates explored a diverse range of topics, including the integration of Gen-AI in K-12 classrooms and novel approaches to combating bacteria and biofilms. The competition concluded with the following winners: 

First Place: Rania Zaied (CHSS): “Decoding the Joke: Muslim Representations in Comedy and Their Impact on Internalized Anti-Muslim Racism.” 
Second Place: Mahmood Almosuli (COS): “Designer Phage: The Way to Beat Bacteria and Biofilms.” 
Third Place: Rooshna Mohsin (CPH): “Balancing the Risks: Dietary and Social Predictors of PFAs Exposure and Associated Health Outcomes in Hispanic Children.” 
People’s Choice: Oakley Thomas Hill (Carter School): “The Justice Languages of America.”

The winners of the 3MT competition. Photo by Eduardo Macedo/Office of University Branding.

Zaied had previously competed in a 3MT competition at James Madison University during her master’s studies and found it a rewarding experience.  

“It truly helped me share my research clearly with any audience in a way that was simple, and to the point, regardless of their background. So, I really wanted to do it again for my doctoral dissertation, and train myself to talk about my research simply and concisely,” Zaied explained. 

Zaied is conducting a qualitative study involving online interviews with Muslim audiences, utilizing thematic analysis to identify and interpret recurring themes in participants' experiences.

She attributes much of her success to the constructive feedback received from various resources at George �鶹��Ƶ, including workshops led by Graduate Professional and Career Development Program Coordinator Alyssa Bivins, preliminary round feedback from judges, and consultations with her mentor Melissa Broeckelman-Post and Communication Center staff.

“I also attended a practice session with Dr. Bivins and Makayla Johnson, who provided valuable feedback regarding clarity for a general audience, body language, and word choices in my speech,” said Zaied, who has a concentration in strategic communications.

With the support of George �鶹��Ƶ’s resources, Zaied polished her presentation through continuous practice and refinement.  

“Some feedback might have been small tweaks here and there, but all of it together truly brought my speech a long way from where it had started and really made a huge difference,” she said.  

“I’m very excited to move forward to the regional competition and represent �鶹��Ƶ there,” she said. 

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Students in Honors College class examine food insecurity on college campuses

Shayla Brown — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 18:19:21 +0000

Students in Honors College class examine food insecurity on college campuses  Shayla Brown Wed, 11/19/2025 - 13:19

At college campuses across the nation, as many as 30-40% of students grapple with food insecurity, unable to consistently access nutritious and culturally relevant meals due to financial constraints.  

At �鶹��Ƶ, students in Tawnya Azar’s Honors College 260 Society and Community Engagement course are focused creating awareness campaigns around hunger and food scarcity. The course aims to empower students through writing and collaborative efforts, fostering a critical examination of the challenges surrounding food access and inspiring tangible solutions. Other community engagement course sections engage students on topics such as civic engagement, philanthropy, and using dialogue for understanding and connection.

Azar partnered with George �鶹��Ƶ’s Patriot Pantry and Greenhouse and Gardens Program where students completed 15 hours of volunteer work as part of the class. 

The course explores different models of community engagement including the approach of mutual aid, a community-based system where both parties involved benefit, which Azar says is “arguably the direction the field is heading in. Mutual aid is the more effective model for serving a community's needs.” 

Mehmood Shajih volunteering at George �鶹��Ƶ's Honeybee Pollinator Garden on the Fairfax Campus. Photo by Shayla Brown.

“George �鶹��Ƶ’s students continue to be more and more diverse, coming from different backgrounds, and as the economic pressures that they face increase, food insecurity is also going to increasingly become an issue in this country, especially among college students,” said Azar, term associate professor in the Department of English. 

 “We also have to have challenging conversations about what the limitations to everyone having access to free nutritious meals or to reliable, nutritious meals all the time can look like,” said Azar. 

“Although there can be a lot of negative stigma and stereotypes associated with the issue, many of my students very generously shared experiences they or family members have had with access to reliable, nutritious food sources,” she said. 

Another one of their community partners is Community of Faith Food Pantry in Herndon, which recently received a commendation from the state of Virginia via the state legislature for the work they’ve done to address food insecurity. 

Azar, who previously worked for Community of Faith, said the organization offers fresh produce, meat, eggs, and dairy products and serves about 300 families every week. They rely exclusively on volunteer support and charitable donations, she said.   

The students developed an awareness campaign to inform members of the George �鶹��Ƶ community about food insecurity as well as increase awareness and access to existing food resources for food insecure community members. 

Junior Mehmood Shajih called the class “the most important Honors course I’ve taken because it’s talking about an issue that is so prevalent in colleges.  

“It taught me that about 40% of college students face food insecurity throughout their four years, which I was very surprised to learn,” said the psychology major who worked with the Greenhouse and Gardens Program. 

“It also allowed me to explore different ways to help out, but then this class goes a step further because we also approach it through community writing and group campaign tables that we did across the George �鶹��Ƶ campus, where we passed on the information we were obtaining in class,” he said. 

The students' interactive games in the format of the Jeopardy! game show. Photo provided.

The student groups were able to get creative in their outreach efforts, making interactive games in the format of the Jeopardy! game show in the Johnson Center, which included questions about food insecurity. 

Through this course, senior biology major Rori Martinez-Breitenstein started volunteering at a Fairfax food bank, Food for Others, completing tasks such as picking up donations from grocery stores and local vendors and packing lunches for K-12 students experiencing food insecurity in Fairfax County. 

“I find working with Food for Others very rewarding, and I've also had the opportunity to make a lot of connections with different people who are also there because they want to support the community,” said Martinez-Breitenstein, who is also volunteering at George �鶹��Ƶ’s Potomac Heights Organic Vegetable Garden tending to the vegetables. 

Martinez-Breitenstein is also a residential advisor on the Fairfax Campus and is collaborating with Patriot Pantry on a food and resource drive, collecting non-perishable food items as well as personal hygiene products for students in the residence halls who might not have access to these products otherwise, she said. 

“I'm passionate about public health. My main goal will always be working toward making sure everyone has equitable access to the necessary resources for their highest level of health and quality of life,” said Martinez-Breitenstein, a public health minor.  

Shajih and Martinez-Breitenstein say they plan to continue working with these organizations even after completing the course and hope to get their family and friends involved in community service as well. 

“I’m honored to be involved in something that's bigger than myself,” said Martinez-Breitenstein.  

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George �鶹��Ƶ alum and Marine Corps veteran enters new role as president of University of West Georgia

Shayla Brown — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 16:02:59 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ alum and Marine Corps veteran enters new role as president of University of West Georgia Shayla Brown Mon, 11/10/2025 - 11:02

�鶹��Ƶ alumnus and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Christopher Michael “Mike” Johnson, MAIS ’11, was recently appointed University of West Georgia’s ninth president. He stepped into his new role on August 1.

Johnson’s selection followed a national search led by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, which named him the sole finalist in May before appointing him in June.

“It’s always a bit of a transition period having a new president come to a university with new goals and visions, but the north star will always be our students. Student success is our no-excuse priority,” said Johnson.

Michael Johnson. Photo by the University of West Georgia,

This role is the culmination of Johnson’s 20+ year career in higher education. In addition to his work at George �鶹��Ƶ, where he started a program that became the university’s Office of Military Services, Johnson has held leadership roles at Purdue and Northern Virginia Community College. Most recently he served as chief of staff at the University of Houston System and the University of Houston, where he also earned a PhD in higher education leadership and policy studies.

George �鶹��Ƶ was Johnson’s first job after transitioning out of the military.

“There was a wave of veterans like myself starting to come back to college campuses. The Office of Military Services allowed me one foot into the military space and one foot in the higher education space,” said Johnson.

“Although it was a transition period, I was still able to engage with a body of people that I felt comfortable around while helping them navigate their college experience. I feel honored to be a part of that growth of the university towards supporting veterans,” he said.

Johnson, a first-generation college graduate, accomplished a lot as a student and an administrator during his time on the Fairfax Campus, and he said his perspective as a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps has influenced his leadership style and approach to service and resilience.

While he and his wife, Beth, MA Strategic Communication ’12, raised their family, they also took classes while working full-time at George �鶹��Ƶ. While Mike was advocating for veterans, Beth worked as a communications manager for the university’s fund-raising efforts in the office now called the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations.

“Beth and I pursued grad school at the same time. We had a small child and had to move in with her parents, but I think that work-life balance was certainly made easier by George �鶹��Ƶ,” said Johnson. “Because the university had one of the best education benefits for its employees, they basically took away all of the reasons for me to say ‘I don’t have time.’”

Recently the College of Humanities and Social Sciences recognized Johnson for his dedication to student success, institutional advancement, and strategic leadership with the 2025 MAIS Distinguished Alumni Award.

“I can’t think of a greater honor than to come back to my alma mater and be recognized for the excellent work that I’ve been doing. The College of Humanities and Social Science provided a critical base of knowledge for me to draw upon as I was pursuing my PhD work,” he said. “And even today, I think those lessons learned have served me well in my current role.

“I don't think I truly appreciated my time at George �鶹��Ƶ fully until I stepped into this role,” Johnson said. “And I find myself from time to time reflecting on those experiences with my leadership team and the lessons that I observed as the university was maturing and have brought those experiences here to the University of West Georgia.”

Reporting by Jerome Boettcher contributed to this article.

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George �鶹��Ƶ and Walter Reed Bethesda collaborate to support veterans through the arts

Shayla Brown — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 15:33:46 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ and Walter Reed Bethesda collaborate to support veterans through the arts Shayla Brown Mon, 11/10/2025 - 10:33

This year marks the 10th anniversary of �鶹��Ƶ's Veterans and the Arts Initiative—an important example of George �鶹��Ƶ's long-standing commitment to assisting military-connected learners as they embark on new paths following their service.

Since 2014, the Veterans and the Arts Initiative has reached more than 20,000 military-connected community members by offering everything from hands-on workshops to art exhibitions and concerts—all designed with veterans, service members, military family members, and military caregivers in mind.

What began as a yearly effort to offer gratitude to veterans each Veterans Day by providing a creative outlet at the Hylton Performing Arts Center on the Science and Technology Campus has grown into a thriving hub—a place where art meets community, providing a much-needed space for the military community.

Coinciding with its 10-year milestone, the initiative once again received the opportunity to join forces with the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center's Arts in Health Program to discuss how to help servicemembers and their families through the process of injury recovery and the transition from military to civilian life.

The seeds of the Walter Reed collaboration were planted in 2018, when Niyati Dhokai, who leads George �鶹��Ƶ's Veterans and the Arts Initiative, was asked to be a panelist at a Creative Forces: National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Military Healing Arts Network event. It was there that Dhokai met Captain (Ret.) Moira G. McGuire, founding chief of the Arts in Health Program at Walter Reed Bethesda.

Later, when Dhokai and her team were selected for a contract to create an artist vetting process for McGuire's newly formed Arts in Health Program, the relationship continued to grow. The program was established to support servicemembers recovering from traumatic brain injuries and psychological health conditions.

At the time, Walter Reed Bethesda was the first destination stateside for all wounded and ill service members, McGuire said.

Over several months, the George �鶹��Ƶ and Walter Reed teams examined the program from multiple perspectives, aiming to determine how resources could have the greatest impact, explained McGuire.

Dhokai (right) and McGuire (left) presenting at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Healing Arts Week Research Symposium. Photo by NYU Steinhardt.

In addition, McGuire co-taught AMGT 599 Managing Arts Programs in Healthcare with Dhokai, who is also a research associate professor at George �鶹��Ƶ's College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA), at George �鶹��Ƶ in fall 2023, emphasizing the importance of the arts in healthcare and how it can be implemented safely.

More recently Dhokai, McGuire, and their colleagues presented a panel titled "Supporting the Well-being and Social Connectedness of Military-Connected Communities through Clinical and Community-Based Arts Workshops" at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Healing Arts Week Research Symposium, which was produced by the Jameel Arts & Health Lab and the World Health Organization, in September 2025 in New York City.

The research symposium centered around the idea of engaging in the arts being recognized as a health behavior—like sleep, nutrition, exercise, time in nature, and social connection. Attendees included local and international policy leaders, cultural leaders, health providers, practitioners across disciplines, and students.

Dhokai said the Veterans and the Arts Initiative isn't just offering workshops; it's about creating a space where veterans, service members, and their families can explore creativity as families, as friends, and as people sharing similar experiences.

"As a program director, my joy is creating these welcoming, supportive programs," said Dhokai, who is also a George �鶹��Ƶ alumna. "Our team includes faculty, staff, and arts practitioners, and we're always evolving our workshops to meet the needs of participants."

George �鶹��Ƶ's School of Art, Dewberry School of Music, and the Arts Management Program have all contributed to the initiative. Some veterans are even teaching classes for the initiative.

Current George �鶹��Ƶ student and Air Force veteran Valerie Acosta-Gonzalez will be the lead instructor for the upcoming Gel Printed Journals series.

A senior art and visual technology major, Acosta-Gonzalez says her own life has been positively influenced by using art as a tool for self-care. Her mediums include acrylic, gouache, watercolors, pencils, pens, clay and wood. Her art has been exhibited at the Arches Gallery in the Workhouse Arts Center in Virginia.

Her favorite thing about conducting workshops with veterans is the camaraderie. "Making art is vulnerable, and when you show veterans how they can use the language of art to express things that others may not quite fully understand, you inevitably create a bond," Acosta-Gonzalez said. "We already have our military experiences in common, and we can add a deeper layer of meaning by creating art together."

Dhokai said that the connections the initiative makes with the military families extends beyond a single workshop offering. "For example, we held a songwriting series for military children in collaboration with �鶹��Ƶ Community Arts Academy, and now some of those kids are participating in our Veterans Guitar Workshop Series. Additionally, student veteran alumni take workshops after they graduate," she said.

Dhokai and her staff continue to collect data longitudinally to understand how community-based arts projects have a role in the ongoing support of military-connected individuals.

Three major themes that emerged from initial participant responses and that continue to be highlighted by participants are increased interest in learning new skills, social connectedness, and a sense of well-being.

The program is just one of many ways George �鶹��Ƶ supports its military-connected students, who make up about 10% of the student population.

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Moira McGuire

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Forged in passion, not just fire: This alum is on a hot streak

Shayla Brown — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 18:20:46 +0000

Forged in passion, not just fire: This alum is on a hot streak  Shayla Brown Mon, 10/27/2025 - 14:20

Keeping his nose to the grindstone is not just how Andrew Hutsell approaches his academic career in engineering—it's how he cut a small slice of fame.  

The �鶹��Ƶ alumnus recently put his engineering skills to the test on national television, competing in an episode of the History Channel’s Forged in Fire, a competition show that challenges bladesmiths to create weapons under tight deadlines.  

Hutsell (second from right) and the Forged in Fire judges. Photo provided.

Hutsell, BS Mechanical Engineering ’23, appeared on the episode “Junkyard Meltdown” on September 17 (S10E27).  

 Hutsell’s journey began when one of the show’s judges posted a casting call on Instagram.  

“I was still a student at the time, so they asked what I do at George �鶹��Ƶ, what I do in my free time, and to provide examples of the knives I’ve made,” said Hutsell, who also was president of George �鶹��Ƶ’s club baseball. 

Hutsell has been a fan of the show since 2016 and started bladesmithing in 2019.  

“Ever since I started making knives, I have only had one goal with each knife I make: learn at least one new skill or method [for the trade]. With this mindset, it is easy to see how my skills have improved over time,” said Hutsell. 

After multiple rounds of interviews, he got the call to appear during a midterm exam.  

Filming took place in March and April 2023. Hutsell described the show’s format as similar to Chopped, but instead of cooking, contestants forge knives through three rounds of competition.  

One of Andrew Hutsell's knives. Photo provided.

For the last round, judges pick a historical weapon, such as a broad sword or katana, and then contestants go back to their hometown to forge it with their own equipment.   

"I traveled back home to Newport News. When I came back, they tested it to determine the winner,” said Hutsell.  

“They tested the knives by chopping through bone for strength, then slicing sugar cane to see how well the edge held up. It was surreal to compete on a show I’d watched for years,” said Hutsell, who came in second place.  

Hutsell is currently a graduate student at Virginia Commonwealth University working on similar topics such as fluids research.  

“The research that I’m doing is for thermal hydraulics—the cooling system—of molten salt [nuclear] reactors, researching the gas sparring of fission products of molten salts for molten salt reactors,” said Hutsell.  

Hutsell was influenced by Jeffrey Moran, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, who Hutsell describes as a “a big influence on my work with heat and mass transfer,” as well as Juan Cebral, an associate professor in the Department of Bioengineering.  

“It is always very rewarding when a student demonstrates this passion for learning and dedicates substantial time and effort to master the material to reach high levels of achievement,” said Cebral. “Andrew was one of those students who is dedicated to solving complex problems. His perseverance and motivation will certainly help him make important contributions in his field.”  

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IST professors unveil human-AI collaboration tool to automate cartoon colorization

Teresa Donnellan — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 18:37:16 +0000

IST professors unveil human-AI collaboration tool to automate cartoon colorization Teresa Donnellan Fri, 10/10/2025 - 14:37

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Sungsoo Ray Hong

Yotam Gingold

�鶹��Ƶ Information and Sciences (IST) Assistant Professor Sungsoo Ray Hong has always loved cartoons. Now he’s helping the artists who make them.

Drawing on his expertise in human-computer interaction (HCI) and artificial intelligence (AI), Hong and colleague Yotam Gingold, an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science (CS) created ShadowMagic, a new human-AI collaboration tool designed to make one of the most time-consuming parts of comic creation faster and easier.

The idea for ShadowMagic emerged from interviews with professional cartoonists. Hong, Gingold and their PhD students wanted to reduce the burden of shadowing, a task many artists find repetitive and time-consuming.

“Professional cartoonists are sometimes producing content every other day,” said Hong, who is also director of George �鶹��Ƶ’s Alignment Lab. “You cannot commit to these kinds of deadlines doing everything by yourself. That's why the colorization industry is so helpful to professional cartoonists.”

Colorization is a multi-step process of line drawing, flatting, base colorization, adding shadows and lighting, backgrounds, and other special effects. It is “fairly standardized, especially in South Korea and growing throughout the United States,” said Hong, who is from South Korea. ShadowMagic builds on an earlier project, FlatMagic, another AI-driven colorization tool designed to support digital comic professionals.

While there are existing AI tools that help with colorization, Hong and Gingold found that these tools require more work than doing it manually. They wanted to design a system that better augments cartoonists’ work and cuts down on shadowing, a labor intensive and, according to cartoonists, decidedly uncreative part of the process.

“We looked at artistic challenges, usually tedious things that aren’t so fun for the artists and break down those problems, so that they can focus more on the creative parts of it,” said Gingold, who directs George �鶹��Ƶ’s Computational Reality, Creativity, and Graphics Lab.

Gringold explained that there are millions of pixels in an image, and if an artist wants to move or change the color of an object, they currently have to point at one pixel among the millions.

Yotam Gingold (left) and Ray Hong in Research Hall, presenting their colorization tool. Photo by Cristian Torres/Office of University Branding.

Gingold’s research applies computer science to visual, geometric, and design problems. He has “always been interested in sketching and how computers can help us express ourselves.” Many of his algorithms automate filling in pixels and handling visual constraints.

“The computers will do the math where we can write formulas to update all the other millions of pixels. Another example would be keeping lines parallel and corners perpendicular, and that’s where a lot of my research comes in,” he said.

Chuan Yan, PhD ’24, was recruited by Gingold for this project and conducted research on sketching and painting. Yan, now a postdoctoral research at Stanford University, brought expertise in computer graphics and sketch-related computer vision techniques, which he had studied extensively with Gingold.

The team built ShadowMagic as an Adobe Photoshop plug-in, and since its release, it has attracted a lot of interest from professional artists.

“Artists have expressed a strong desire for a tool that could free them from the labor-intensive flatting process,” said Yan. “This response is both exciting and humbling. It confirms that our research is addressing a real need in the industry yet also highlights the remaining challenges in making [the tool] ready for widespread adoption.”

Yan believes ShadowMagic is just the beginning of a broader shift in creative industries towards tools that amplify creativity rather than replace it.

“I am excited to witness and contribute to this transformation, helping to shape a future where AI acts as a powerful tool that amplifies human creativity rather than replacing it,” he said.

Read the full paper: ShadowMagic: Designing Human-AI Collaborative Support for Comic Professionals’ Shadowing by Amrita Ganguly, Chuan Yan, John Joon Young Chung, Tong Steven Sun, Yoon Kiheon, Yotam Gingold, and Sungsoo Ray Hong. It was presented at UIST 2024.

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Cyber security engineering student excels at his internship for the second time

Shayla Brown — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 14:15:06 +0000

Cyber security engineering student excels at his internship for the second time  Shayla Brown Mon, 10/06/2025 - 10:15

When �鶹��Ƶ cyber security engineering student Noah Hinger interned at Surefire Cyber in summer 2023, his managers were so impressed with his work that they invited him back. Thanks to his previous experience, the Honors College student was able to take on more responsibility this summer at the computer security company and contribute to more projects.

“The experience from my first summer here let me understand what was happening and contribute across the company,” said Hinger, who is a sophomore in the College of Engineering and Computing. “Surefire Cyber has an amazing internship program. They're investing in us by having professional development meetings and providing us with the opportunity to talk to experts from different fields.” said Hinger.

“I think it’s helped me a lot to be able to practice my independence and accountability,” said Hinger, who also competes in George �鶹��Ƶ’s Chess and Competitive Cyber Clubs. “I've had the chance to do projects on my own without necessarily needing to report to someone, and I've also learned so much from all the smart people at Surefire Cyber.”

Noah Hinger. Photo provided.

What made you choose Surefire Cyber for your internships? 

Surefire Cyber is a digital forensics and incident response company. When an organization gets hacked, they call Surefire Cyber to conduct an investigation and restore systems so that everything's OK. As a technology intern, I am helping develop the code that our forensic analysts use to figure out what's happened and retrieve all the essential data. Surefire Cyber is really exceptional at using a lot of automation tools so that the forensic analysts can focus more on the big picture and the data they’re working with. 

What does a typical day interning at Surefire Cyber look like for you? 

I work under two groups: software development and information operations, or DevOps, and security engineering. For DevOps, I help to manage company infrastructure and work on a lot of coding assignments. 

Traditionally, there are software developers, and there are operations, which maintain it. DevOps is kind of a hybrid role, which means it entails coding, setting up servers, and being responsible for maintaining the infrastructure. 

How would you say George �鶹��Ƶ has helped prepare you for this role? 

I definitely think more critically when problem-solving this time around, and I think that's in part due to George �鶹��Ƶ, especially the Honors College research and literature classes that I’ve taken. I'm learning about a lot of new technologies in real time, so I have to be able to research and read about them and then apply that knowledge to my work. The courses have definitely helped me when it comes absorbing the information I’m reading about and then transferring it to my assignments at Surefire Cyber. 

Another thing about the Honors College is that I get to meet different people from different disciplines, and that's really helped me at Surefire Cyber when connecting and networking with colleagues. I think that's been really rewarding and something that George �鶹��Ƶ's helped prepare me for. 

I've also gotten a lot of experience in my systems engineering and digital systems engineering classes, and getting to see what goes into a lot of security minded decisions is very similar to what I’m doing in this internship. 

What’s your favorite thing about interning at Surefire Cyber? 

My favorite thing about the company is that it’s always driving innovation and new discoveries within cybersecurity and digital forensics. They're always pushing for the best and trying to help people. That's the whole point of digital forensics is to be there for and helping them out on the worst day of their life. 

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This information sciences and technology instructor is a Patriot through and through

Shayla Brown — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 18:42:15 +0000

This information sciences and technology instructor is a Patriot through and through  Shayla Brown Mon, 09/15/2025 - 14:42

When Hussna Azamy arrived on �鶹��Ƶ’s Fairfax Campus for her first advising session as a Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) transfer student, she had no idea it would be the beginning of a lifelong calling.

“Dr. [Irene] Bruno shaped me into the professor I am today,” said Azamy, recalling that 2013 meeting with the advisor who became her mentor. “Her guidance, her kindness, her belief in students—it inspired me to rise to my best self.” 

Hussna Azamy. Photo provided.

Azamy’s path to teaching wasn’t linear. After earning her BS in cyber security engineering in 2015, she ventured into the corporate world, working with Accenture, Fannie Mae, Fortune 500 companies, and Amazon Web Services. She led teams and projects, built secure systems, and navigated high-stakes environments—experiences she now brings into the classroom in the College of Engineering and Computing. 

“I always tell my students, the theories we learn are powerful—but seeing them in action is what makes them real,” she said. “When I share stories from my time in industry, I see their eyes light up. It connects the dots.” 

Even as she climbed the tech ladder, she was simultaneously pursuing her master’s through �鶹��Ƶ’s Bachelor’s to Accelerated Master’s Program. That led her back to Bruno—this time as a graduate teaching assistant in the Information Systems and Technology (IST) Department. 

“I was thriving professionally, but mentally drained,” Azamy admitted. “Then I’d walk into class, see my students’ energy, and suddenly I felt alive.” 

By 2017, she had earned her master’s in applied information technology—and clarity. Teaching wasn’t just a job. It was her purpose.   

Just as she realized this, a full-time faculty position opened in the IST department. It felt like fate. 

“I was scared to make such a big leap,” she said. “But since becoming full-time faculty, I’ve never looked back. The students, the colleagues, the energy—it feels like home.” 

Azamy brings that energy into her classroom with a twist: gamification. 

“I turn lessons into team competitions,” she said. “It sparks excitement and keeps students engaged.”   

She uses buzzers for trivia contests inspired by “Jeopardy!” and tracks team points across sessions. Winners earn fun prizes like assignment extensions or chocolates.  

“The students love it,” she said with a smile.

Azamy, who currently teaches the courses IT 372 Applied Generative AI and IT 429 Security Accreditation of Information Systems, recently expanded the games to include artificial intelligence (AI) tools, helping students explore how technology can boost their learning.   

While Azamy credits many mentors, her bond with Irene Bruno remains special. Bruno, now retired, was her undergraduate advisor and a guiding force at George �鶹��Ƶ. 

“She’s brilliant and a phenomenal problem solver,” Bruno said. “Hussna stood out in class—sharp, detail-oriented, and dependable.”   

Azamy even helped edit Bruno’s Discrete Mathematics textbook for IT 102, catching everything from math errors to grammar slips. 

“She was my go-to,” said Bruno, who hired Azamy as an adjunct in 2017. They worked side by side until Bruno’s retirement in 2022. 

“I’d sit in on her classes often,” Bruno said. “She had a gift, explaining complex ideas in ways students could grasp. That’s what makes her exceptional not just in cybersecurity, but in teaching.” 

Now, as a full-time faculty member, Azamy continues to bridge real-world experience with academic insight, creating a classroom environment where students feel seen, challenged, and inspired. Her journey from student to industry professional to educator is a powerful reminder that believing in others can spark transformation. And for every student she mentors, Azamy hopes to be the kind of guide who helps them discover not just what they can learn—but who they can become. 

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Cyber security engineering student excels at his internship for the second time

What made you choose Surefire Cyber for your internships?

What does a typical day interning at Surefire Cyber look like for you?

How would you say George �鶹��Ƶ has helped prepare you for this role?

What’s your favorite thing about interning at Surefire Cyber?

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