College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Exploring fear and fascination with a Popular Horror class

Colleen Rich — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:15:57 +0000

Exploring fear and fascination with a Popular Horror class Colleen Rich Thu, 10/30/2025 - 10:15

When �鶹��Ƶ English professor Eric Gary Anderson steps into the classroom to teach ENGL 419 Popular Horror, he’s not just talking about things that go bump in the night—he and his students are exploring what makes people seek out horror in the first place.

HarperCollins issued a new edition of The Exorcist in 2025 with a glow-in-the-dark cover. Photo provided

For more than a decade, Anderson has taught classes that blend literature and the supernatural. He’s led semester-long dives into vampires, ghosts, and zombies. His Indigenous literature class regularly focuses on ghosts and hauntings. “The ghosts are everywhere in Indigenous literature so it turns out to be a really nice way to introduce people to the subject,” he said. “And it opens up doors for thinking about other cultural things.”

He admits it is always a challenge deciding what goes on the syllabus. “Horror does so many different things—it goes in so many directions,” Anderson said. “I didn’t want the class to just be about bestsellers, but about what draws people to horror and the kinds of horror that are thriving right now.”

The course breaks horror down into categories such as vampires, demonic possession, Indigenous horror, and found footage, pairing classic works such as Bram Stoker’s Dracula and William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist with films and more contemporary readings and criticism.

Though horror stories often center on isolation, Anderson’s classroom is anything but lonely.

“This class is a blast,” he said. “When you put horror fans together, there’s this incredible bond. We’re all kind of weird in the same way, and it makes it really fun.”

In fact, that’s why English major Madison Perino signed up for the class—the community. “I love horror and wanted to be around people who like horror and want to talk about it.”

Eric Gary Anderson. Photo provided

Perino said she also appreciates hearing the different perspectives on the works being studied, and there are a lot of them. In the classes leading up to Halloween, Anderson was facilitating lively discussions about The Exorcist. The students complained about Father Karras dragging his feet in requesting an exorcism as they discussed the book in depth.

The walls of Anderson’s Music and Theater Building class are covered in white boards and he gets the class up and moving around as they put their thoughts on the walls. One panel this week is simply labeled “Demons.”

The students said that sometimes at the end of class they will take a kind of “gallery walk” around the room and read the walls. Anderson also documents the written comments with photos.

In addition to the discussions, English major Alex Miles said he finds horror and what it says about the culture fascinating. “And the fact that I get to ‘hate watch’ The Nun and write an essay about it makes me very happy,” said Miles.

Anderson said, “It’s fascinating to think about what was scaring people in the 1970s. [The Exorcist novel] is a slow burn—it’s unsettling in a different way than the movie. And when you pair it with the surge of interest in things like The Nun, which is one of the highest-grossing horror films of all time, it opens up questions about religious horror and why it continues to resonate.”

He also sees horror evolving with new forms of media. “Some of my students encounter horror through gaming—zombie games, survival horror, found footage-style stories. That’s all part of popular horror now.”

Anderson also encourages creativity in his classes. For their final projects, students can choose to produce original works—short fiction, paintings, or multimedia pieces—alongside a critical reflection.

“The creative projects blow me away every semester,” Anderson said. “Just opening that door and saying, ‘You’re allowed to do this,’ is really meaningful for [the students].”

For those looking for a chilling Halloween read, Anderson recommends The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones, an Indigenous vampire novel that reinvents familiar tropes. “If you’re a vampire, you start taking on the traits of whoever—or whatever—you’ve been drinking from,” Anderson said. “It’s such a clever twist.”

He also praises Paul Tremblay’s A Head Full of Ghosts, a modern possession story that blurs the line between faith, fear, and media spectacle. “It has one of the best unreliable narrators I’ve ever read,” he said. “You’re never quite sure what’s real.”

Ultimately, for Anderson, horror isn’t just about fear—it’s about fascination.

“It’s a really great time to be alive if you like horror,” he said. “These stories let us explore what scares us most, and in doing so, they help us understand the world—and ourselves—a little better.”

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George �鶹��Ƶ’s Debate Team receives generous gift from alumnus Burton C. Gray Jr.

Katarina Benson — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 15:41:28 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ’s Debate Team receives generous gift from alumnus Burton C. Gray Jr. Katarina Benson Mon, 10/27/2025 - 11:41

The �鶹��Ƶ Debate Team has stood for more than five decades as one of the nation’s premier teams and is consistently ranked among the top five programs in the country. This intercollegiate team’s legacy of excellence is built on academic rigor, accessibility, and community. It is a program that transforms students—regardless of their starting point—into confident, critical thinkers prepared to lead.

Burton C. Gray Jr., BA Economics and English ’95, knows this transformation firsthand. Gray has built a career that defies linear paths. A serial entrepreneur, he has led businesses in independent music, film production, software development, and agriculture. He has also supported local ventures like DC Brau Brewing Company and has served on several nonprofit boards focused on education, health, and community initiatives.

The skills he learned on the George �鶹��Ƶ Debate Team have been a throughline in his career, he said, and he considers his experience on team as a cornerstone of his success.

Burton C. Gray Jr., BA Economics and English ’95. Photo provided

“Debate taught me how to become an expert on complex issues in a matter of hours,” Gray said. “Whether it was copyright law in the music industry or negotiating partnerships, the skills I learned in argument and analysis helped me understand how to take a stronger position and get things done.”

Gray also recalled his experience with longtime team director Warren Decker, who retired in 2022 after 48 years of teaching and service.

“Decker challenged me in a way I hadn’t been challenged before,” Gray said. “He made it clear debate wasn’t about talking a good game—debate was about committing, researching, working hard, and showing up every day. That lesson stuck with me.”

Today, the George �鶹��Ƶ Debate Team continues its tradition of success under the leadership of Jackie Poapst, who serves as the inaugural Warren Decker Director of Debate. The director position was endowed in 2022 and named in honor of Decker’s service by George �鶹��Ƶ Debate Team alum Leonard Bennett, BS Finance ’89, JD ’94.

Gray has committed to strengthening the George �鶹��Ƶ debate community with a gift of $150,000 to support Decker Grants.

“The Decker Grants enable us to recruit and support students to this critical experiential learning opportunity and to provide them with the coaching support they need to succeed,” Poapst said.

“Scholarship resources and program support really matter,” Gray said. “These funds help level the playing field for George �鶹��Ƶ students, who excel year-after-year in highly competitive environments. It’s important to show students’ commitment through community, and I’m hoping my gift demonstrates support to the assistant coaches, mentors, and students who contribute to the team’s legacy.”

Gray’s philanthropy is rooted in his desire to give back, and he encourages George �鶹��Ƶ community members and team alumni to join him in support of these talented students.

“Debate changes the way you think, the way you listen, and the way you connect with people,” he said. “As part of the George �鶹��Ƶ Debate Team, if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere; you become academically fearless and intellectually formidable.”

Support from alumni like Gray is part of the university’s �鶹��Ƶ Now: Power the Possible campaign and ensures the George �鶹��Ƶ Debate Team remains nationally competitive and transformational for future leaders who are preparing to take on tomorrow’s challenges.

To join Burton C. Gray, Jr. in support of the George �鶹��Ƶ Debate Team, visit the team’s giving page online.

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Center for Community Mental Health partnership provides behavioral health training

Katarina Benson — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 21:33:19 +0000

Center for Community Mental Health partnership provides behavioral health training Katarina Benson Wed, 10/15/2025 - 17:33

Since 2010, the Center for Community Mental Health’s (CCMH) mission has been twofold: train �鶹��Ƶ students to become behavioral health care professionals, and provide evidence-based, accessible, and affordable mental health care to members of the Northern Virginia community.

The center’s latest partnership checks both boxes.

From left: Claude Moore Opportunities CEO Bill Hazel, George �鶹��Ƶ Center for Community Mental Health director Robyn Mehlenbeck, ConnerStrong Foundation president and founder Tom Worosz, and George �鶹��Ƶ PhD student Lucy McClellan. Photo by Jerome Boettcher/CHSS

The center, in conjunction with nonprofits Claude Moore Opportunities and the ConnerStrong Foundation, hosted a four-day training in September led by Sources of Strength, a nationally renowned, evidence-based suicide prevention program, for nearly 30 trainees, including more than 20 George �鶹��Ƶ students. The goal is for the Sources of Strength curriculum to be implemented in local schools across Virginia, to improve mental health among youth populations.

“This was an incredible opportunity to bring together impactful partners to meet both aspects of our mission,” CCMH director Robyn Mehlenbeck said, “to be an integral part of expanding the youth mental health workforce here in Virginia while also providing our George �鶹��Ƶ undergrads some really unique opportunities to both be trained and then credentialed to give them career paths.”

In addition to the Sources of Strength training, 12 Youth Mental Health Corps members through Serve Virginia, and seven Youth Mental Health AmeriCorps members—all George �鶹��Ƶ or Rappahannock Community College students—are participating in a two-semester course at George �鶹��Ƶ titled Special Topics: Supporting the Youth Mental Health Workforce. By taking the course, all 19 students will meet requirements for state certification.

George �鶹��Ƶ students receive Sources of Strength training at the Center for Community Mental Health. Photo by Jerome Boettcher/CHSS

Five of the AmeriCorps students and the 12 Youth Mental Health Corps students will seek certification as a Qualified Mental Health Professional-Trainee through George �鶹��Ƶ. Two Youth Mental Health AmeriCorps members will receive certification as a Behavioral Health Technician Assistant through Rappahannock Community College. Both certifications are through the Virginia State Board of Counseling and provide more job options for these students.

“It is an exciting opportunity through multiple lenses,” said Lucy McClellan, a George �鶹��Ƶ clinical psychology PhD candidate who is teaching the course. “There is an ongoing youth mental health crisis. Engaging these motivated and passionate students will be a step toward addressing that. It can be challenging to find mental health service experience as an undergraduate so this experience is really integral.”

Bill Hazel serves as the CEO of Claude Moore Opportunities, which, in collaboration with Danville Community College and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, sponsored the seven AmeriCorps members. Hazel was previously the Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources and senior advisor for innovation and community engagement at George �鶹��Ƶ.

Since leaving his role as the Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources in 2014, Hazel jokes he has been on his atonement tour to address all the areas he “couldn’t or didn’t fix” while in his post. He said lack of “meaningful support” through behavioral health care remains a growing issue, especially for younger generations.

“What is important about this group is they are a potential workforce to deliver the service,” Hazel said. “When you get to be a certain age, maybe you lose touch with the younger generation. These trainees are as near to peers as you can get to dealing with teens. Our hope is that this training will be personally beneficial, as they look at their own situations and their own goals in life and that it will provide them career opportunities they will enjoy.”

George �鶹��Ƶ students and AmeriCorps members before Sources of Strength training at the Center for Community Mental Health. Photo by Jerome Boettcher/CHSS

Tom Worosz, president and founder of the ConnerStrong Foundation, has sponsored Sources of Strength training and implementation in approximately 20 schools in Virginia. Worosz founded the ConnerStrong Foundation in 2017 after his son, Conner, died by suicide at 17. The foundation’s mission is to bring awareness to mental health issues and suicide prevention and to change the discussion about mental health, especially for teenagers and young adults. The foundation has partnered with the CCMH for the last five years.

With the ConnorStrong Foundation, Mehlenbeck and George �鶹��Ƶ clinical psychology students hold monthly virtual workshops for parents of school-aged children from K-12 that are available throughout the school year. The workshops address a variety of topics, including domestic violence, social media, artificial intelligence, and graduation.

“Through finding like-minded people in our community—[CCMH] director Robyn Mehlenbeck, her team, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences dean Ann Ardis, Dr. Hazel and his staff over at Claude Moore Opportunities—and others who want to change the way we address mental health, we cover all age groups, but especially getting to our kids early and often has been a blessing,” Worosz said.

Learn more about the Grand Challenge Initiative

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Career Influencers Network guides career-ready students toward success

Lauren Reuscher — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 14:05:36 +0000

Career Influencers Network guides career-ready students toward success Lauren Reuscher Thu, 10/09/2025 - 10:05

The Career Influencers Network at �鶹��Ƶ empowers faculty and staff to provide career development support to students throughout their academic journey. The network is open to instructors, advisors, success coaches, supervisors, and any others across campus who are positioned to help students achieve their professional goals.

University Career Services hosted a reception in early October honoring the network’s 10th anniversary. The network started in 2015 with 19 members, and it has now grown to include more than 500 faculty and staff.

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

The network exemplifies George �鶹��Ƶ’s approach to preparing career-ready graduates.

“The Career Influencers Network was the beginning of a ‘career ecosystem’ or ‘career everywhere’ approach,” said Saskia Campbell, executive director of University Career Services. “Preparing career-ready graduates is not confined to one office; it’s a shared responsibility of every faculty and staff member.”

The Carnegie Foundation and American Council on Education (ACE) has named George �鶹��Ƶ to the highest tier of its list of Opportunity Colleges and Universities: Higher Access, Higher Earnings, in recognition of the university’s commitment to accessibility, return on investment, and upward mobility. Positive, high-earning career outcomes contribute to that recognition.

Career Influencers offer students job-search advice, refer them to career advising, promote employer recruitment efforts at George �鶹��Ƶ, and share career resources with students.

“Campus partners have helped students connect the dots between their academic experiences or on-campus jobs and their professional futures—and that is transformative,” Campbell said.

The Career Influencers Network has garnered national attention—other institutions reach out for guidance to replicate its success on their own campuses. George �鶹��Ƶ’s network has been highlighted by organizations supporting career services in higher education, including the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

The network’s ability to reach students wherever they are has been instrumental to its success.

“It's a common challenge many career services offices face: how to serve a large student population with limited staff and resources,” said Kristin Leonato, associate director of programs and outreach in University Career Services. “Utilizing career services is optional and not a required part of a degree program. The network allows us to connect with campus partners who students already know and trust.”

To join the network, faculty and staff participate in an interactive, 4.5-hour training covering topics like career readiness, how employers recruit George �鶹��Ƶ students, and strategies to support students at various stages of their career development.

Engagement with the network does not end with the initial training. Career Influencers receive ongoing support from University Career Services, including workshops on related topics and monthly updates on career-related events and services.

The 10th anniversary event included words of appreciation from Campbell and Rose Pascarell, vice president of University Life, who presented two awards recognizing faculty and staff contributions to the Career Influencers Network.

Erin McSherry, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (pictured at left), received the Star Recruiter Award for having referred the most new members to the Career Influencers Network. Pictured at right is Kristin Leonato, associate director, University Career Services. Photo provided

Erin McSherry, assistant dean in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), received the Star Recruiter Award for having referred the most new members to the network. �鶹��Ƶ 50% of the faculty and staff in the network are referred by a colleague or supervisor.

Larry Guerin, adjunct faculty in the Criminology, Law, and Society Department within CHSS, received the Outstanding Influencer Award for demonstrating the impact career influencers can make on students’ personal and professional lives.

“It takes a strong network of committed professionals to support students in achieving their short-term and long-term professional goals in a wide range of career fields,” said Leonato. “The more than 500 faculty and staff in the Career Influencers Network are an important part of this work.”

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�鶹��Ƶ alum helps suspend disbelief in Cirque du Soleil production

Katarina Benson — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 11:42:46 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ alum helps suspend disbelief in Cirque du Soleil production  Katarina Benson Fri, 09/26/2025 - 07:42

With the 20th anniversary of the �鶹��Ƶ men’s basketball team’s unprecedented run to the 2006 Final Four approaching, Gracie Valdez, BA Art History ’07, finds herself nostalgic. 

Not just as a George �鶹��Ƶ grad, but as someone who was on the court, traveling with the team, and performing as a member of the �鶹��Ƶettes dance team. 

Valdez is the artistic director for Cirque du Soleil’s LUZIA. Photo provided

“We were all a really tight-knit team,” Valdez said. “We were making a name for ourselves. It was the basketball team, cheer [squad], and us, and we were working together. It was so special. It was magic.” 

Two decades later, Valdez is part of another team that suspends disbelief. She currently serves as the artistic director for Cirque du Soleil’s LUZIA, which travels around the world and is playing through October 18 under the “Big Top” tent outside Tysons Galleria.  

Coming from a stop in Montreal, the show’s six-week run in Virginia serves as a homecoming for Valdez, whose family moved to Vienna when she was in fourth grade. Using stunning visuals, acrobatic stunts, and 10,000 liters of water (recycled after each show) in a mesmerizing waterfall sequence, LUZIA puts a spotlight on the culture and mythology of Mexico. 

“LUZIA is a love letter to Mexico,” Valdez said. “It is a very unique way of celebrating the surrealism, the art, some of the mythology in Mexican culture… I have Mexican heritage, and it has been a deep source of pride being able to share this beautiful work around the world. Then bringing it home, bringing it to Northern Virginia is extra special.” 

Valdez has been with Cirque du Soleil for more than 16 years, including the last nine with LUZIA. Her job consists of managing more than 45 artists, which include acrobats and cast members, along with the stage managers, coaches, and performance medicine therapists. She oversees the production show and prepares in case artists get injured or sick, ensuring the audience doesn’t see a drop in quality. 

“She is keeping the intention of the creation team,” said Cirque du Soleil publicist Charlie Wagner, who has worked with Valdez since 2019. “They really have freedom, but Gracie is great at giving them guidance. They are free to explore themselves and she is helping them to become better artists.” 

Valdez grew up participating in dance and performing arts but said she wasn’t aware this was a potential career path. Previously she co-directed the Washington, D.C.-based modern dance company Mayzsoul and coached competitive high school dance teams in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.  

At Mayzsoul, she was mentored by founder and fellow George �鶹��Ƶ alum Melanie Lalande, BFA Dance ’01. When Lalande took a job at Cirque du Soleil in 2008 as an artistic director, she persuaded Valdez to join her in a temporary post. She worked her way up the ladder as stage manager and assistant artistic director at a couple different shows for Cirque du Soleil while also picking up freelance opportunities in Australia, where she now lives. 

“The running joke on the team was always that Gracie was going to end up working for Cirque du Soleil,” former �鶹��Ƶettes coach Michelle Debban said. “She was one of the most flexible dancers on the team, and she’d often try to contort herself in crazy positions to see what she was capable of. I am not surprised in the least that she is where she is today.

“Dancers are generally so much more than just dancers—they usually know the ins and outs of running a show, whether it means costume choices or show order or making sure everyone is where they need to be.”

Valdez said the skills she developed as a student-athlete—discipline, work ethic, time management, and collaboration—resonate even more in her current leadership role. 

“That was a saving grace for me in my university career but also really taught me amazing discipline that I cherish,” she said. “We worked really hard as a group, as a team. We competed nationally for four years and were really successful. I think that was the highlight of my university career.” 

Valdez acknowledges the practicality of her humanities degree. With her double major, she took several painting technique courses and explored Islamic and Latin American art history. The latter piqued her interest as one of her final papers examined how the relationship of Mexican painters Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo fueled their artwork.  

“Taking that information I learned through those courses and here I am celebrating this Mexican culture, Mexican art,” she said. “I think it was pretty serendipitous in how my education all melded into where I am now.” 

The �鶹��Ƶ Alumni Association is planning a George �鶹��Ƶ Night with Cirque du Soleil on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. George �鶹��Ƶ alumni are invited to stay after the show for an exclusive meet and greet with select performers from LUZIA.

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Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square unlocks opportunities for College of Humanities and Social Sciences research

Katarina Benson — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 18:15:21 +0000

Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square unlocks opportunities for College of Humanities and Social Sciences research Katarina Benson Fri, 09/19/2025 - 14:15

Eileen Roesler can’t help but be giddy about her new digs—and the opportunities that await.

An assistant professor in the Human Factors and Applied Cognition (HFAC) program, Roesler is one of three professors in the Department of Psychology in George �鶹��Ƶ University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences who recently relocated their office to Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square.

Roesler with robots. Photo provided

Joining Roesler will be HFAC assistant professor Elizabeth Phillips, along with clinical psychology assistant professor Natasha Tonge. At Fuse, they’ll be able to use state-of-the-art facilities and technology to expand their respective studies and research with units from other colleges. Tonge and Roesler will serve as lab managers for the Human Subjects and Behavior Lab on the second floor at Fuse and Phillips will co-manage the Robotics Lab on the third floor.

With the Institute for Digital Innovation and the College of Engineering and Computing also housing specialized labs at Fuse, Roesler welcomes the cross-disciplinary research opportunities. Much of her excitement is geared toward her students, who will gain experience collaborating with other academic programs along with industry and government leaders.

On the Fairfax Campus, Roesler currently heads the Human-Agent Collaboration (HAC) Lab and collaborates with Phillips in the Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) Lab. Phillips also leads the Autonomous Systems (ALPHAS) Lab while Tonge runs the Trust and Interpersonal Disclosure (TIDL) Lab.

“It is really nice for the people who are at the intersection of technology and humans because we have the perfect surroundings to do research on both,” Roesler said. “It is a really diverse outlet space we can use for different topics. So, we are extremely excited about the research opportunities, but we are even a little more excited about having the chance of meeting industry, government, and faculty in the same space.”

Psychology won’t be the only CHSS department represented in the new building. Next System Studies, an initiative of the Center for Social Science Research and the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, will also call Fuse home. The Digital Commonwealth Project (DCP) in Next System Studies fits nicely into the mission of Fuse. The DCP connects leading technologists with local community groups, civic leaders, workers, business associations, and universities in a community-led design process that addresses local priorities while supporting resilient local business ecosystems and increasing community and employee ownership.

Ben Manski, an assistant professor in sociology and the director of Next System Studies, said the ample meeting space and being closer to community partners such as the NOVA Web Development cooperative, the Arlington Education Association, and Latinx community cooperative SECOSOL—among others—will be extremely beneficial.

“We need to be closer to where our people are, and they are all throughout Northern Virginia,” Manski said. “The use of the Fuse facilities will be very helpful with our research and action.”

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Elizabeth Phillips

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Student researchers show their work at OSCAR Celebration of Research and Impact

Colleen Rich — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 18:44:28 +0000

Student researchers show their work at OSCAR Celebration of Research and Impact Colleen Rich Mon, 09/15/2025 - 14:44

Foreign languages major Yamileth Hernandez-Becerra and community health major Melody Campos received a Best Poster award for their research, “Community Roots, Linguistic Equity: The Power of Outreach in Dual Language Immersion,” during the Summer 2025 Office of Student Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR) Celebration of Student Research and Impact in August.

Yamileth Hernandez-Becerra with the award-winning poster she created with Melody Campos. Photo provided

Their research was conducted as part of a George �鶹��Ƶ Summer Team Impact Project (STIP) that was led by Ellen Serafini and Jihye Moon, associate professors in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS).

The symposium, held at Dewberry Hall in the Johnson Center, offered undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to showcase their research to �鶹��Ƶ community.

For the STIP program, faculty make a proposal to the Office of Undergraduate Education in the Provost’s Office. Projects are then selected for funding. Serafini and Moon’s summer project focused on language, educational access, and social equity in local bilingual schools.

The team observed teachers at dual language immersion programs at two Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) elementary schools—Laurel Ridge Elementary School (Spanish) and Colin Powell Elementary School (Korean)—and interviewed teachers, school administrators, parents, FCPS board members, and state administrators.

George �鶹��Ƶ students Sarah Choudary and Sukyoung Yoon presented their Summer Impact project research on language immersion programs at the OSCAR Celebration. Photo provided

“This is a student-led project,” Moon said. “The students started from scratch coming up with the research questions and designing the research. They identified who the major stakeholders were in this program and interviewed them.”

Graduate teaching assistant Teo Rogers Mendizabal, who is working on a degree in Cultural Studies, worked on the project with eight undergraduates: Campos, Hernandez-Becerra, English and foreign languages major Sarah Choudhary, global affairs Sukyoung Yoon, foreign languages major Chloe Davis, global affairs and foreign languages major Avery Rhoden, mathematics and foreign languages major Giselle Concepcion, and foreign languages major Roslyn Brown.

“It has been an eye-opening experience for me to learn about these programs.… I’ve learned a lot,” said Hernandez-Becerra, who attended nearby Robinson High School. “It feels great to give back to my community and see what I can do to help them.”

In addition to the STIP research, a handful of CHSS students also presented at the symposium as part of research conducted through the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (URSP) from OSCAR.

English major Amaiyah-monet Parker presented on “Multi-generational Experiences of Structural Racism and the Denial of Innocence in the Lives of Black Girls in Philadelphia.”
Psychology majors Mehmood Shajih and Minasi H. Kaluappuwa presented research titled “Parents’ Beliefs �鶹��Ƶ Child Development and Child Executive Functioning.”
Psychology major Keyanna Jackson presented a study on “Researching Self Actualization: How Queer POC Integrate their Intersectional Identities.”
Aileen Fezzie, a psychology and criminology, law, and society double major, researched “Differential Susceptibility to Social Influence Across Cultural Orientations.
Integrative studies major Alessaundra Shallal conducted an oral history study titled “Living Between Labels: An Oral History on Race, Religion, and Recognition Among MENA Students at GMU (1960 to 2025)."

“I’m so honored to have received this funding and this platform to share something that I believe deserves more visibility,” Shallal said. “The fact George �鶹��Ƶ offers this is incredibly telling of its values.”

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From Marvel to George �鶹��Ƶ: Meet the new modern and classical languages chair

Shayla Brown — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 14:33:12 +0000

From Marvel to George �鶹��Ƶ: Meet the new modern and classical languages chair Shayla Brown Mon, 09/15/2025 - 10:33

When Liang Luo steps into a classroom—or works on a film, for that matter—she brings with her a rare blend of scholarship, creativity, and cultural sensitivity. This fall, Luo begins her role as chair of �鶹��Ƶ’s Department of Modern and Classical Languages, a position that recognizes her academic leadership as well as her global perspective. 

But it’s often another of her accomplishments that sparks the most curiosity: her work as a language and culture consultant for Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. 

Luo, who grew up in Chongqing, China, and later earned a degree in East Asian languages and civilizations from Harvard University, was tapped by Marvel for her expertise on Chinese folklore and mythology, especially the legend of the White Snake—a story that inspired many elements of the film. While advising the studio, she was also completing her second book, The Global White Snake (University of Michigan Press, 2021). 

“I really had to educate myself when I was assigned this consulting job,” Luo recalled. She traveled to Burbank, California, to deliver presentations to Marvel’s creative team, advocating strongly for two elements: Mandarin dialogue and dynamic female characters, such as Awkwafina’s Katy and Michelle Yeoh’s Ying Nan. 

For Luo, cultural consultation is about more than authenticity—it’s about amplifying voices that might otherwise be left out.  

“There’s a lot of controversy surrounding cultural appropriation, but my view is that cultures are always appropriated,” she said. “If you think you have ownership toward a culture and other people are appropriating it, I don't think that's a very healthy starting point for dynamic cultural changes and transformations.” 

Her curiosity has always fueled her work. “Discovering new languages leads to a different worldview that’s not available to you as a monolingual person,” Luo said. “That’s really the foundation of my passion.” 

Luo’s expertise has since led her to another consulting project, this time for Netflix’s animated film Over the Moon, which reimagines the Mid-Autumn Festival while exploring mother-daughter bonds. 

At George �鶹��Ƶ, she is eager to spotlight the breadth and depth of the department she now leads. “Our faculty are amazing—multi-talented, multilingual, and exceptional researchers and teachers winning international fellowships,” she said. “I’m very excited to get to know more of them.” 

Ann Ardis, dean of �鶹��Ƶ’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences, praised Luo’s arrival. 

“Her scholarship and creative work in global Asian studies and on transhistorical and cross-cultural translations and interpretations of Chinese folklore and mythology, together with her interests in capaciously cross-disciplinary collaborations in both teaching and research, will elevate our George �鶹��Ƶ faculty and students,” Ardis said. 

A slide from Luo's presention. Photo provided.

As Luo takes on her new role, she sees accessibility and support as central to her leadership. “It’s very important for me as a new chair to be really accessible and to support my faculty so they can excel in their job to serve our students,” she said. 

Whether guiding students through the complexities of language and literature or shaping global narratives for the big screen, Luo continues to bridge worlds—academic, cultural, and creative.

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George �鶹��Ƶ student finds his voice through dream internship

Shayla Brown — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 18:20:11 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ student finds his voice through dream internship  Shayla Brown Wed, 08/27/2025 - 14:20

For �鶹��Ƶ sophomore Nathan Ferraro, summer hasn’t been about taking a break—it’s been about chasing his dream job. The Honors College student and communication major, who’s concentrating in both journalism and political communication, spent his summer interning as a staff writer with Trib Total Media, a multimedia news network in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, where he wrote two to three stories a week. 

“My favorite assignment so far was about a local state representative in Westmoreland County trying to reform a tax-collecting agency,” he said. “I got to interview both the representative and the agency to understand the challenges people are facing and what’s being done to fix them.” 

For Ferraro, the assignment was more than a writing exercise—it was a glimpse into his future. “I hope to work in communications for a political campaign one day,” he explained. “Getting to talk with a state representative and explore that side of the political world was really exciting.” 

Ferraro on assignment in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Photo by Massoud Hossaini/TribLive.

The Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, native recently returned from a semester abroad in Madrid through George �鶹��Ƶ’s Global Gateway Program. Jumping into local reporting has been the perfect way to reconnect with home. “This internship has been a great way for me to re-immerse myself in the community,” Ferraro said. “I love getting to talk with people from local organizations and share their stories.” 

At George �鶹��Ƶ, Ferraro is already immersed in storytelling and civic engagement. He writes for the Fourth Estate, �鶹��Ƶ’s student-run newspaper, and is active in the Society of Professional Journalists and the Public Relations Student Society of America. He is also a member of the Bonner Leadership Program, a civic-engagement initiative that connects students with community organizations. 

Through Bonner, Ferraro works as a development coordinator for Britepaths, a Northern Virginia nonprofit focused on financial literacy and workforce development. “Right now, we’re working to expand services beyond Fairfax and into all of Northern Virginia,” he said. “It’s been amazing to see the real-world impact of that work.” 

The connections he’s made at Britepaths have already opened doors—his supervisor wrote him a recommendation that helped him secure the Trib Total Media internship. Ferraro also credits his Honors 110 Principles of Research and Inquiry course for preparing him for success. “That class really strengthened my research and inquiry skills, which are essential to journalism. It also pushed me to get comfortable with feedback, which has been invaluable for the roles I’m in now.” 

Faculty and mentors have noticed his drive. “What I appreciated about Nathan is his attention to detail, strong aptitude for academic discourse, and really excellent critical thinking skills,” said Honors College professor Caroline West, who taught Ferraro in Honors 110. 

Ferraro sees writing not just as a career skill, but as a calling. “I just love writing and sharing people’s stories,” he said. “Wherever I end up, I hope that’s always at the heart of what I do.” 

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Caroline West

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�鶹��Ƶ Korea students present research at top international conference

Katarina Benson — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 19:19:57 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ Korea students present research at top international conference Katarina Benson Tue, 08/12/2025 - 15:19

For �鶹��Ƶ Korea students Dayeon Shin and Taeyeong Kim, what started as a moment of curiosity in class turned into something much bigger—a chance to present their research on a global stage.

It began with a classroom discussion on urban flooding, which inspired a research project on “sponge cities,” or urban areas designed to absorb and reuse rainwater, and their potential in Seoul’s Gangnam district.

Shin, a junior majoring in global affairs, applied for and received funding through �鶹��Ƶ’s Undergraduate Research Scholars Program, part of the Office of Student Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR). She teamed up with Kim, a sophomore, and together, under the mentorship of �鶹��Ƶ Korea professor Dakota McCarty, they brought the project to life.

Shin and Kim present their research. Photo provided

Their research was accepted for presentation at the 2025 Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) annual congress in Istanbul, one of the largest and most competitive conferences in the field. Out of the thousands of participants and more than 1,000 presentations, they were one of the very few, if only, undergraduate participants and likely the only undergraduate presenters.

Their presentation, “Exploring the Feasibility of Sponge City Solutions for Flood Resilience in Gangnam, Seoul,” was well received by a room full of academics and planning professionals from around the world.

“Presenting my research and engaging in discussions with professionals from various countries was an incredible experience,” said Shin. “Attending different sessions allowed me to think about my specific interests and motivated me to keep going—it felt like the first real step in my academic journey.”

But the experience wasn’t just about showcasing a project—it was about stepping confidently into the world of research and seeing themselves not just as students, but as emerging scholars.

“I’ve always wanted to make a difference through academic research, and this experience helped me find my ‘why,’” said Kim. “I learned so much about urban planning and really valued the chance to connect with researchers from all over the world.”

For McCarty, the journey was just as rewarding to witness. “It all started with a great question after class,” he said. “That moment of curiosity turned into a research journey that brought Dayeon and Taeyeong to one of the top planning conferences in the world.”

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