WGMU

Meet the �鶹��Ƶ Nation: John Forgy

lclarkg — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:35:49 +0000

Meet the �鶹��Ƶ Nation: John Forgy lclarkg Tue, 03/24/2026 - 10:35

Name: John Forgy

Job: Environmental Graphic Designer and Sign Program Manager, Campus Planning, Facilities and Campus Operations

Imagine exploring a new location—an unfamiliar city, shopping center, sports stadium, or even a college campus—and not finding any signage to help you get around.

We rely on a countless number of signs each day, whether we are driving, walking through a neighborhood, shopping at the grocery store, or going from building to building on campus. John Forgy, environmental graphic designer and sign program manager at �鶹��Ƶ, creates the wayfinding systems that guide students, faculty, staff, and visitors across the university’s campuses and sites.

All roads lead to George �鶹��Ƶ: John Forgy's work on university signage helps students, faculty, staff, and visitors find their way around the campuses. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Enter here: After graduating from George �鶹��Ƶ, Forgy, BA Studio Art ’89, started working at an environmental graphic design firm in Washington, D.C. He worked on projects in experiential design, which merges graphic, architectural, interior, and landscape design to enhance how people interact with built environments.

Points of interest: “I was fortunate enough to work on a wide variety of projects like higher education, museums, sports facilities, concert halls, hospitals, commercial buildings, and campus wayfinding programs,” Forgy said. He always enjoyed higher education projects, which prepared him to start working at George �鶹��Ƶ in 2012.

Brand builder: Forgy’s main responsibility is to integrate the university brand into the built environment. He manages the development, implementation, and maintenance of interior and exterior wayfinding signs, code-required signs, recognition signs, and more. “I also document all of the sign systems in use and plan for the future growth of signage and graphics programs at George �鶹��Ƶ,” Forgy said.

John Forgy is responsible for designing campus signage that translates the university's brand into the built environment. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Different directions: Across multiple campuses and sites, there are a lot of signs to design, create, and manage. Signs are fabricated in the university’s sign shop located on the Fairfax Campus or by contractors off-site.

“George �鶹��Ƶ is like a small city, which means I get to work on a wide range of projects for a variety of clients,” Forgy said. “Every day is different, and I’m never bored.”

Caution ahead: Because signage is a long-lasting investment for the university, Forgy must balance his focus between present needs and planning for the future. “Much of what I do sets the standard for the future,” he said. “Sometimes that means taking extra time to think way ahead when a project comes to me without a previous precedent.”

Place-making: Some of Forgy’s most memorable projects include a collaboration with the City of Fairfax to apply “We Are �鶹��Ƶ” decals on several streets in the city and on the campuses, as well as an exterior wayfinding sign refresh taking shape this year. “Anytime you see your work come to life, it’s exciting,” Forgy said. “Getting positive feedback from the George �鶹��Ƶ community, especially from the students, is very satisfying.”

Taking a detour: Outside work, Forgy enjoys history, restoring his ’77 Bronco, and music. He spent more than 23 years working part-time in radio as air talent. Forgy got his start in radio during college at George �鶹��Ƶ’s WGMU, where he worked as a DJ and a production director. “I might have switched majors if I wasn't so far along pursuing my art degree,” Forgy said.

The “On Air” sign takes on extra meaning, in this case.

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Communication major looks to the stars with NASA internship

Sarah Holland — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 20:45:14 +0000

Communication major looks to the stars with NASA internship Sarah Holland Thu, 08/31/2023 - 16:45

Ever since sixth grade, Ricky Chang looked up at the stars and wondered what could be out there in the vastness of unexplored space.

Photo provided by NASA

Now, he has a front row seat to interstellar research.

The brand-new �鶹��Ƶ alum spent the summer at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center as a Commercialization, Innovation and Synergies Office (CIS) intern. “I’ve always admired NASA, so it’s kind of like a fever dream” said Chang, who graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in communication. “It’s really cool seeing all these knowledgeable and passionate people working on amazing projects. I haven’t met a single person who isn’t excited to be here.”

The CIS Office finds government and industry partners to work with on space research and exploration. “NASA sets the policy, while private industry advances the technology,” Chang explained. “CIS helps the aerospace community to understand what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, and—hopefully—want to be a part of it.”

His work was predominantly content marketing: creating video scripts, developing communications plans for university outreach to partner on the upcoming Artemis II launch, and writing employee spotlights.

“You don’t usually associate communications with NASA. Everything thinks, ‘oh, engineers, scientists, telescopes,’ things like that,” Chang said. “So to get the internship with my background in media production and communications was so exciting. There’s a chance for me to work in this field I’ve always admired, after all.”

Like his interest in the great mysteries of the galaxies, Chang’s interest in media production started in his youth, filming and editing videos of himself and his friends as they rode their BMX bikes. At �鶹��Ƶ, Chang further developed his skills through a concentration in media production and criticism and working on podcasts for WGMU.

At his internship, Chang was encouraged to utilize those skills through media production projects: He scripted, produced, and recorded voice-overs for a series of short videos that will be embedded on NASA’s website. “I’m working my way up to be the voice of the countdown,” he joked.

“My communication degree has helped a lot in navigating this internship,” he said. “In this program I do a lot of communicating, and I’m seeing the theories I learned play out in the workplace. I’ve taken writing classes where I learned how to write across media, which helps when writing pieces for NASA that need to be concise yet persuasive. All the media production courses I’ve taken led to me creating and doing voiceovers the NASA videos. My professors gave me a really solid foundation.”

Ricky Chang, left, sits in the control room at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Photo provided by NASA.

This internship is the first foot in the door for Chang, who is seizing every opportunity he can to secure a future career at NASA. “I tried to meet with every multimedia person I could, so that if one day I apply for a full-time position they’ll remember me,” he said.

It seems his work has paid off. While Chang’s time at �鶹��Ƶ concludes with the completion of this internship, his time at NASA is just beginning: He’s accepted another internship for the fall, where he’ll be working directly with NASA engineers in the Engineering and Technology Directorate (ETD).

“I want to work somewhere that lets me feel creative and supports my multimedia background, where I can really contribute and make an impact,” he said. “NASA gives me those opportunities and so much more.”

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Around �鶹��Ƶ: Summer Camps Takeover

Sarah Holland — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 13:43:20 +0000

Around �鶹��Ƶ: Summer Camps Takeover Sarah Holland Wed, 08/09/2023 - 09:43

Summer goes by fast—whether you’re a kid, or a kid at heart. The K-12 students who attended camps and youth programs at �鶹��Ƶ this year filled those fleeting summer days with memories. With many camp options—including music, arts, recreation, sports, science, and space, just to name a few—these kids got to experience life in the �鶹��Ƶ Nation at an early age. And we couldn’t be happier to host them. Here are some snapshots from their summer to remember.

CONS 100: Introduction to Field Conservation, Smithsonian-�鶹��Ƶ School of Conservation

Photo by Smithsonian-�鶹��Ƶ School of Conservation

The Introduction to Field Conservation Ecology program at the Smithsonian-�鶹��Ƶ School of Conservation (SMSC) offers high schoolers hands-on experience in research field methods, with an emphasis on developing observational skills. Participants also earn college credit.

Many decades ago, the land that now makes up the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute functioned as a U.S. Army remount—a space used to provide exercise to horses. Racetrack Hill now serves as the site for many SMSC field activities, as well as recreation. During the first night of the program, high school students got to take in fantastic views, knowing that they would be returning many times in the coming days for hands-on conservation activities. See more photos.

Interstellar Dreams Space Center, College of Science

Photo provided

At the Interstellar Dreams Space Center at �鶹��Ƶ's Fairfax Campus, middle schoolers took on roles as "mission specialists" to plan a lunar space station. The mission specialists made their own websites, learned to program a micro-controller to control electronics hardware and blink morse code with a light, learned about space, physics, astronomy, and more.

Campers also checked out various telescopes at the �鶹��Ƶ Observatory—including the second largest on-campus optical telescope on the East Coast. The week culminated with a "press conference" attended by VIPs and families, where campers presented their lunar space station design.

Conflict Resolution Youth Summit, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

Photo by Ayman Rashid/Office of University Branding

The Conflict Resolution Youth Summit, hosted by the Carter School, explores some of today's toughest problems through the lens of peace and conflict resolution. Through simulations, workshops and facilitated discussions, high schoolers delved into important conflicts and practiced the processes of promoting peace. Participants came away with new knowledge about global conflicts, social justice, peacebuilding, and collaborative leadership.

�鶹��Ƶ Summer Band Camp, �鶹��Ƶ Community Arts Academy

Photo provided

This summer, �鶹��Ƶ Community Arts Academy (MCAA) kicked off the first-ever �鶹��Ƶ Summer Band Camp. More than 100 students participated in the program led by faculty from the Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music and the Green Machine.

Gold Star Volleyball Camp

Photo provided

George �鶹��Ƶ Women’s Volleyball Head Coach Megan Shifflett Bachmann and other �鶹��Ƶ volleyball staff hosted Gold Star Volleyball Camp on the Fairfax Campus. The camp emphasized the development of players of all levels to become more skilled and competitive athletes.

WGMU Podcasting and Radio Camp, WGMU

Photo provided

WGMU’S Summer Podcast and Radio Camp provided campers with training in a professional radio environment. Students had a chance to produce podcasts and be deejays, playing music over the WGMU radio station. Campers also learned from broadcast professionals how to write, edit, and produce podcasts, live DJ shows, commercials, promos, and public service announcements.

Tony Skinn Basketball Camps

Photo provided

�鶹��Ƶ Men’s Basketball Head Coach Tony Skinn hosted two weeks of basketball camps at the Fairfax Campus. Boys and girls ages 7–14 learned about the game from Skinn, who was a two-time all-conference guard with the Patriots from 2003-06 and competed in the Final Four with the Patriots in the 2006 NCAA Tournament.

Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program, College of Science

Photo by ASSIP Intern Team

The nationally known Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) provides transformative research opportunities for high school and undergraduate students. Selected participants work one-on-one with faculty researchers at �鶹��Ƶ and collaborating institutions using state-of-the-art technology across many disciplines. This summer’s ASSIP program welcomed a record 266 students, including 195 who participated in person. The program is open to high school students and �鶹��Ƶ undergraduates.

Washington Journalism and Media Conference

Photo by Rafael Suanes/Washington Journalism and Media Conference

The Washington Journalism and Media Conference (WJMC) is an interactive, youth leadership program hosted on Fairfax Campus that provides highly engaged, high-performing high school students with a unique experience exploring careers in the areas of journalism, media, and related fields. Students experience an integrated and forward-thinking approach to journalism and media while acquiring valuable “in-the-trenches” knowledge through hands-on learning with industry leaders, award-winning journalists, international media outlets, and Washington insiders.

Learn more about Summer Camps at �鶹��Ƶ

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Around �鶹��Ƶ (E-Files)

Patriot Pop Quiz: Mascots of the 1990s

lclarkg — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 18:39:39 +0000

Patriot Pop Quiz: Mascots of the 1990s lclarkg Wed, 07/19/2023 - 14:39

Question:

One person has portrayed three different �鶹��Ƶ mascots over the years, including the tricorn-hat Gunston (1993), the brief Gorilla period (1994), and the fuzzy Gunston (1996).

He is still a �鶹��Ƶ employee. Who is it?

Gunston, 1996. Photo provided by �鶹��Ƶ Athletics

Gunston, 1993. Photo provided by �鶹��Ƶ Athletics

Answer:

George Malenich, plumber, Facilities. Photo provided

George Malenich, �鶹��Ƶ Square plumber, Facilities Management

“I loved being the mascot at �鶹��Ƶ. The exposure opened doors for me. I did the play-by-play for �鶹��Ƶ women’s basketball and hosted a sports talk show at WGMU radio with several students. We had great guests, including legends like Dick Vitale, Arnold Palmer, and Gus Johnson. [Former �鶹��Ƶ Men’s Basketball Coach] Jim Larrañaga was a frequent guest, too," said Malenich, also a �鶹��Ƶ alum.

"Being the mascot helped me land the job as a plumber here 26 years ago, which is a position I love," he said. "I was courtside for the Final Four run in 2006. One of my greatest thrills was being in the second row of the press section for the UConn upset—in regular clothes, not dressed as a mascot."