Alumni

George �鶹��Ƶ alum helped keep Team USA Safe at the Winter Olympics

Katarina Benson — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 17:25:08 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ alum helped keep Team USA Safe at the Winter Olympics Katarina Benson Mon, 03/23/2026 - 13:25

Near the Italian town of Bormio, visitors can ride a mountain cable car to take in a breathtaking panorama from a café perched near the peak. Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Special Agent Mohamed Hassan, BA Religious Studies ’20, who was a field liaison officer during the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Games, recounts taking a break from supporting Team USA to sip a cappuccino alongside Olympians: “Everyone was really interested in what everyone's there to do…. Everyone's motivating one another.”

Hassan is both a federal law enforcement officer and a member of the Foreign Service. Photo provided

As a DSS special agent, Hassan is both a federal law enforcement officer and a member of the Foreign Service. DSS is the U.S. State Department’s law enforcement and security branch, and it led security for the U.S. presence during Milan Cortina 2026. In Bormio, Hassan coordinated with the Italian police, military, and other organizations to help create a safe environment in which U.S. athletes could focus on their competitions.

When Hassan describes the community of that mountaintop café, it echoes his days at George �鶹��Ƶ, where he made friends with people from all over the world over potlucks and soccer games. Hassan, who grew up in Fairfax, developed his talents for bringing people together as a Patriot Leader and student advisor.

He says he eventually decided to major in religious studies because of religion’s impact on everything from how people relate to each other to how governments interact. He focused on the Middle East and said his George �鶹��Ƶ cohort “knew what I wanted to do and they helped me get there.” He also credits Nathaniel Greenberg, associate professor of Arabic, for pushing him to hone his existing Arabic language skills.

Hassan knew he wanted to be a part of something important and give back to the country that welcomed his family when they emigrated from Egypt. He took advantage of George �鶹��Ƶ’s proximity to Washington, D.C., and enrolled in an internship with the U.S. State Department through the federal Pathways Internship Program, which provides students paid work experience with the possibility of a job. After graduating, Hassan successfully joined the department, and about four years later, he became a DSS special agent.

Hassan with the Olympic rings. Photo provided

While working in Bormio, Hassan said he was able to immerse himself in Italian culture, witness ski mountaineering’s Olympic debut, and even hold an Olympic medal. His favorite local Bormio dish was pizzoccheri, which consists of hearty buckwheat pasta with potatoes, cabbage, and Valtellina Casera cheese topped with garlic and melted butter.

While an Olympics assignment is a rare opportunity, Hassan says every day is different working in DSS and “the world is your oyster.” And he means it quite literally. In his eight years with the department, Hassan has traveled to more than 30 countries and is eager to see more. With DSS operating at U.S. diplomatic facilities in more than 170 countries, that should be easy. Hassan is already looking forward to a new assignment where he can use his language and culture skills.

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Olympics

Alumni

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

�鶹��Ƶ Spirit

Alumni athletic trainers give back to George �鶹��Ƶ

Katarina Benson — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 19:12:09 +0000

Alumni athletic trainers give back to George �鶹��Ƶ Katarina Benson Fri, 03/20/2026 - 15:12

For athletic trainers, every day begins with a simple mission: protect the health and safety of the athletes in their care. It is a role that demands clinical expertise, trust, communication, and an unwavering commitment to student well-being.

At �鶹��Ƶ, two alumni of the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) are living that mission every day. Cheryl Hairston, BS Athletic Training ’15, and Jaylen Simmons, BS Kinesiology ’21, MS Athletic Training ’23, now serve George �鶹��Ƶ student-athletes as athletic trainers. Their journeys into the profession began with personal curiosity, mentorship, and formative experiences that ultimately shaped their careers.

Cheryl Hairston. Photo by George �鶹��Ƶ Athletics

Hairston’s path to athletic training began while she was exploring health care careers in high school. “I thought I wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon,” she said. “But I didn’t want to be in school until I was 30. In my search for related professions, I found athletic training, and I thought it was really cool to be able to work directly with sports teams on the sidelines as a health care provider.”

Simmons’s inspiration came from firsthand experience with injury during his own athletic career. “What first drew me to athletic training was an injury I sustained while playing high school football,” he said. “During that time, I worked closely with my high school athletic trainer, which sparked my interest in the profession.”

Those early experiences eventually led both of them to George �鶹��Ƶ’s Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) Program within CEHD, where they developed the skills and mindset required to thrive in high-pressure athletic environments.

Hairston credits the program’s rigorous clinical experiences for preparing her to work in the high-pressure Division I athletics environment. “The experience in a variety of clinical settings prepared me well for the realities of working in DI athletics,” she said.

She recalls learning early on that the work of athletic trainers often requires creativity and adaptability. “I feel like the perception of DI athletics is that we have unlimited resources,” Hairston said. “Though we are fortunate to have many resources, we still have to be innovative and resourceful, especially when we’re on the road.”

Jaylen Simmons. Photo by George �鶹��Ƶ Athletics

Simmons agrees that the program demanded resilience and adaptability. “My experience in CEHD’s MSAT program taught me how to be more selfless than I had previously been,” said Simmons, who competed on George �鶹��Ƶ’s men’s track and field team while a student. “The faculty mentored and guided me through a challenging program while I was still competing as a Division I athlete myself. That experience prepared me to be flexible, adaptable, and ready to adjust to whatever environment I entered professionally.”

Today, their work supporting George �鶹��Ƶ athletes is both demanding and deeply rewarding. Athletic trainers provide care that spans injury evaluation, rehabilitation, prevention programs, emergency response, and coordination with physicians and specialists.

Hairston describes her days as a constant balance of responsibilities. “I spend the majority of my weekdays on patient care,” she said, “assessing injuries, treating and rehabbing injuries, creating preventative programs, responding to urgent situations, sitting in on doctor’s appointments, and documenting patient interactions. When we’re traveling, we might be at the track for 12 hours or more.”

But the profession is about far more than physical care.

“I try to get to know student-athletes as people, not just athletes,” Hairston said. “I see these athletes more than they see their family when they’re on campus, and I become part of that support system away from home.”

Simmons shares a similar philosophy.

“Honesty and showing athletes that you genuinely care goes a long way,” he said. “When athletes know you are honest with them and truly invested in their well-being, it helps build strong trust and lasting relationships.”

The role of athletic trainers is especially visible during the competitive season. Simmons works with the men’s soccer and wrestling teams. He begins his day preparing George �鶹��Ƶ’s men’s soccer team for practice, including “treatment, rehabilitation exercises, taping, stretching, and hydration,” he said. In the afternoon, he transitions to working with George �鶹��Ƶ’s men’s wrestling team, where he often manages more intensive post-operative care and wound management.

“Athletic trainers are truly the frontline of collegiate athletics,” Simmons said. “Our training allows us to recognize, evaluate, and treat injuries and guide athletes safely through the return-to-play process.”

For Hairston, the impact of athletic trainers extends across nearly every aspect of student-athlete health.

“We serve so many roles in the collegiate athletic space because of our varied skillset and proximity to our patients,” she said. “On any given day, we’re evaluating injuries, creating prevention programs, and responding to urgent situations.”

Despite the demanding schedule, both alumni say the relationships they build with student-athletes make the profession incredibly meaningful.

Working at George �鶹��Ƶ has added another layer of meaning to their careers. “Working at George �鶹��Ƶ was always my dream as an athletic trainer,” Hairston said. “My first clinical experience as a student was with George �鶹��Ƶ track and field, and now I’m the athletic trainer for that program. It’s really full circle for me.”

Simmons describes a similar sense of gratitude for his long affiliation with George �鶹��Ƶ. “This is my ninth year at �鶹��Ƶ, from being a student-athlete, to an MSAT student, and now a full-time professional.”

As National Athletic Training Month highlights the profession’s critical role in athlete health and safety, both alumni encourage students interested in the field to embrace the learning process.

“Learn the foundational stuff really well before you try to add glitter to what you’re doing,” Hairston said. “A great foundation will set you up for success and confidence.”

Together, their stories illustrate the powerful impact of CEHD’s Athletic Training Education Program, and the dedication required to support the health, safety, and success of student-athletes.

As Hairston reflects on her journey, one thing remains clear. “To be part of the student-athlete experience at George �鶹��Ƶ,” she said, “is everything.”

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Patriots advocate for George �鶹��Ƶ at �鶹��Ƶ Lobbies event in Richmond

Katarina Benson — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 17:59:50 +0000

Patriots advocate for George �鶹��Ƶ at �鶹��Ƶ Lobbies event in Richmond Katarina Benson Wed, 03/18/2026 - 13:59

Eighty-one energetic Patriots traveled to Richmond on March 5 for �鶹��Ƶ Lobbies, where �鶹��Ƶ President Gregory Washington joined House Majority Leader Charniele Herring, BA Economics ’93, and Senator Saddam Salim, BS Public Administration ’12, MPA ’15, in welcoming students to the General Assembly for a whirlwind day of advocacy.

Herring spoke with the students before their meetings with legislators. “Virginia legislators are proud that we come from all walks of life,” she said. “We’re part-time legislators with careers and diverse experiences, representing diverse communities.”

Maceo Franks Jr. during �鶹��Ƶ Lobbies event. Photo by Drew Precious

Salim, whose district includes George �鶹��Ƶ’s Fairfax Campus, encouraged students to “advocate not only for yourself, but also your fellow students.”

�鶹��Ƶ Lobbies gives students interested in the political process a chance to practice their advocacy skills. Before the trip, students identify issues to champion, research the university’s accomplishments, including economic impact and student success outcomes, and prepare informational packets to leave with legislators and their staff.

Hannah Kohler, a sophomore majoring in government and international politics with a concentration in political behavior and identity politics, said she was encouraged by the reception students received. This was her first time participating in the event. “I was very delighted to see that the legislators and their staffers are very open to hearing our pitches.”

Kohler is also a Student Government representative and sustainability liaison. One of the legislators she met was Delegate May Nivar, whose daughter graduated from George �鶹��Ƶ. “As a GMU mom, I’m very familiar with George �鶹��Ƶ’s impact,” Nivar said. “I understand how its diverse environment helps students develop socially and prepares them to successfully enter the workforce.”

While Kohler is still considering her post‑graduation plans, she sees opportunities like �鶹��Ƶ Lobbies as valuable professional development. “This event allowed me to test my abilities as an advocate and evaluate whether I could see myself doing this as a profession,” she said. “It’s given me the confidence that I can definitely do this.”

Senior environmental and sustainability studies major Maceo Franks Jr., also a first-time �鶹��Ƶ Lobbies participant, gained a new appreciation for the pace of policymaking. “The legislators are very busy during session,” he said. “One of my target legislators was interrupted during our meeting to vote on a bill. She said her vote was being requested for bills all morning.”

As he and other Patriots met with legislators, Franks appreciated the personal connections they made. He recalled Delegate Dan Helmer asking the group about their favorite Taco Bamba orders. “He connected to us on a simple human-to-human level, and I loved that.”

�鶹��Ƶ Lobbies attendees. Photo by Drew Precious

A prospective policy writer, Franks said �鶹��Ƶ Lobbies offered a glimpse into his future career. “It was beneficial for helping me understand how politics works at George �鶹��Ƶ and at the state level,” he said. “I also was able to network and get to know who I may be working with or for in the future.”

For Kohler and Franks, �鶹��Ƶ Lobbies is more than an annual event.

“�鶹��Ƶ Lobbies is a tradition,” Franks said. “All students, no matter their major, should get involved with it at least once during their time at �鶹��Ƶ.”

Kohler agreed. “Every student has a unique experience, so there are endless testimonials to be heard by legislators. It truly makes me feel like I have a stake in my university’s success, especially since it gave me the opportunity to share my story with legislators in hopes of a continued bright future for �鶹��Ƶ.”

�鶹��Ƶ Lobbies supports the Strengthening peace, trust and engagement in democracy solution of George �鶹��Ƶ's Grand Challenge Initiative

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Schar School of Policy and Government

Schar School Featured Stories

George �鶹��Ƶ collaborating with National Park Service to examine Revolutionary War from tribal nations' perspective

Katarina Benson — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 21:18:12 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ collaborating with National Park Service to examine Revolutionary War from tribal nations' perspective Katarina Benson Thu, 03/12/2026 - 17:18

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary this year, �鶹��Ƶ is collaborating with the National Park Service (NPS) to make sure the contributions of all Americans are being recognized.

Gabrielle Tayac, an associate professor in the Department of History and Art History in the College of Humanities of Social Sciences, has received a grant from NPS to lead Phase Two of Tribal Nations and the Revolutionary War, a community-driven research project that will examine the Revolutionary War and its aftermath from the perspectives of tribal nations.

Tayac serves as the principal investigator and will assist the NPS in facilitating educational and interpretive strategies that will be implemented in sites around the Mid-Atlantic region and throughout the Northeast.

Gabrielle Tayac has received a grant NPS to lead Phase Two of Tribal Nations and the Revolutionary War. Photo provided

“My hope is that it will help everyone get a sense of deep connection and relationship to the lands we live on now, to the people who are still here and maybe who are not here and wonder what happened to them,” Tayac said. “To be better caretakers of our communities and places.”

The NPS grant runs through 2027 and coincides with America’s semiquincentennial celebration. Tayac is working with fellow Department of History and Art History professors C. Joseph Genatin-Pilawa and George Oberle, BA History ’96, MA ’98, PhD ’16, who also serves as a history librarian and the director of the Center for �鶹��Ƶ Legacies (CML). Digital Humanities Librarian Alyssa Fahringer, who collaborates with Oberle in the CML, will also contribute to the project.

Tayac, who served as the inaugural curator historian at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., and New York, will set up workshops in the Northeast region from the Chesapeake Bay up to Maine. These seminars will provide insight from historians, NPS park rangers, and Indigenous community scholars. Tayac and her George �鶹��Ƶ colleagues will then produce digital work for historic sites and visitor centers.

Tayac, who collaborated on the 400th anniversary of Jamestown in 2007, hopes the project and the 250th celebration will serve as a focal point to “deepen those histories so that people can see them for a long time.”

“It is really critical it is done in a way that Native communities want their stories to be told,” said Tayac, who is an enrolled citizen of the Piscataway Indian Nation. “We also know that it has to be done in a way where the American public can really understand it, relate to it, and find the information relevant and intriguing to open up those conversations.”

George �鶹��Ƶ alum and NPS regional cultural anthropologist Noel Lopez, PhD Cultural Studies ’18, serves as a tribal liaison officer for the National Capital Region. He said previous interactions with George �鶹��Ƶ, such as collaborations on ecological study units with tribal communities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, have made the transition into the project easier.

“A lot of the work all of us do, whether it is anthropology or tribal liaison, a lot of it is around connections with people and connections with networks,” Lopez said. “All of this work we’re doing on both sides is relationship building. It is building trust with people.”

George �鶹��Ƶ students will also play a role. Tayac will offer training and hands-on opportunities, including through an undergraduate course, History 397 Public History in Action, which she will teach in spring 2027. Students will pull from the tribal communities’ stories and transform those into projects for museums, historic sites, a cultural center, or a website.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity for this project to not only workshop in the relationships with Native tribal community representatives but also to bring it back into �鶹��Ƶ,” Tayac said. “In real-time, my students can also have a hand in it. I think that’s really important, and it tends to make them really excited about history work, too.”

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Research

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

partnerships

innovative classes

Alumni

Center for �鶹��Ƶ Legacies

Cross-college collaboration helps George �鶹��Ƶ dancers stay ready for the stage

Sarah Holland — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 17:44:40 +0000

Cross-college collaboration helps George �鶹��Ƶ dancers stay ready for the stage Sarah Holland Thu, 03/12/2026 - 13:44

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

As the athletic trainer for the George �鶹��Ƶ School of Dance, Jena Hansen-Honeycutt is one of the first to notice when something’s not quite right. So when she started seeing an influx in injuries among dance students, she approached College of Education and Human Development professor of athletic training Jatin Ambegaonkar and then-student Kelley Wiese, PhD Kinesiology ’25, hoping to find a solution.

Dancers are “aesthetic athletes,” meaning they have the high workloads and high injury rates like traditional athletes. “They dance for at least three hours a day in classroom practice alone,” said Hansen-Honeycutt. “And that doesn’t account for their extracurricular work: rehearsals, choreography, or additional practice.”

And like athletes, the dancers are also trying to balance heavy physical demands with their classes, sleep schedules, dietary needs, and social lives.

Despite this, dancers are often medically underserved.

“The blend of artistry and athleticism separates them from traditional athletes, yet they have the same physical demands often without a dedicated medical team to support them,” explained Ambegaonkar.

In exploring data collection opportunities to help answer Hansen-Honeycutt's inquiry, Wiese found that workload monitoring—common for traditional athletes—was underutilized in dance. And because fatigue is the number one self-reported cause of injury in dancers, she thought this would be the best place to start.

“We can recognize there’s a correlation between fatigue and injury, but you need data in order to make a stronger case for implementing cultural and systemic changes,” said Wiese. Wiese, a trained dancer and now an assistant professor of athletic training at Shenandoah University, worked with Ambegaonkar during her doctoral program at George �鶹��Ƶ on various studies at the intersection of kinesiology and dance.

Dancers were given wrist-worn biosensors to wear 24 hours a day for seven days. They repeated the study four times throughout the semester. “We wanted to understand the cycles of the body breaking down and recovering as workload increased and decreased throughout their semester,” explained Ambegaonkar.

Participating students were also given surveys to provide subjective perceptions of their workload, sleep habits, and energy levels.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Reviewing the data, Wiese found that at peak times throughout the semester, students were spending more than seven hours a day completing moderate to vigorous physical activity between class, rehearsals, practice, and choreographing. As a result, energy levels decreased and fatigue increased, indicating a need for integrated recovery times and programs.

Another key finding from this study was the dissonance between students’ perceived sleep and the biosensor data. While students self-reported great and sufficient sleep, the biosensors reported insufficient sleep.

“Over time, insufficient sleep can lead to difficulty recovering and therefore higher rates of injury,” said Wiese. “Particularly when they’re already struggling to recover.”

As a result, the research team worked together to develop what Ambegaonkar calls “micro-interventions” through improved sleep health education programs to help students become aware of the issue and develop better sleep habits. Hansen-Honeycutt has created sleep health resources for students around the impacts of good sleep on their academic and physical performance and is working with the faculty to incorporate this messaging into their classrooms.

“It’s so important to have this collaborative, teamwork approach with dance faculty, because they’re setting the culture in their program or in their studio. They will be the ones imparting these changes,” said Wiese.

“This study proved to me that us dance majors are extremely active, more than I often realize!” said senior dance major Sanaa Fairley. “I learned that I could develop a much more consistent sleep schedule to set up my space and therefore my mind, in a healthy way each day to prepare for rest.” Fairley has implemented other recovery techniques, such as cold showers, into her routine as well because of the study.

Senior dance major T’aja Williams also reported improved sleep hygiene through a consistent bedtime, as well as making her more aware of how academic, socio-emotional, and physical activities impact her schedule and technology use. “This study allowed me to see where potential pockets of homework, rest, social media engagement, and phone calls can take place and making active decisions regarding where and when is healthiest for each activity,” she said.

Building good habits now will help George �鶹��Ƶ dance students have long and fulfilling careers in dance. And Ambegaonkar and Wiese think this study might help pave the way for further research into the physical demands and impacts of dance.

“I think George �鶹��Ƶ is a pioneer in the field of dance medicine,” said Ambegaonkar. “We’re broadening the scope of what kinesiology is in the public health domain and what it can do in the public health domain.”

Jena Hansen-Honeycutt (top left), Kelley Wiese (top center), and Jatin Ambegaonkar (top left) with dance students. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

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Karen Drenkard announced as Acting Divisional Dean of the �鶹��Ƶ School of Nursing

Taylor Thomas — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 16:59:44 +0000

Karen Drenkard announced as Acting Divisional Dean of the �鶹��Ƶ School of Nursing Taylor Thomas Fri, 03/06/2026 - 11:59

In This Story

Melissa J. Perry, Sc.D., MHS, MBA

Key Takeaways:

Karen Drenkard has been announced as the �鶹��Ƶ School of Nursing Acting Divisional Dean.
Drenkard, a George �鶹��Ƶ School of Nursing alumna (PhD '06), boasts an impressive career as a leader in nursing education and health care innovation across academic, clinical, and organizational settings.
As Acting Divisional Dean, Drenkard's expertise will further the School of Nursing's mission to produce nursing leaders who will contribute to the health of all populations through innovative and impactful research, practice, and service.

Karen Drenkard. Photo provided.

The College of Public Health welcomes Karen Drenkard, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN as its new Acting Divisional Dean of the School of Nursing. A George �鶹��Ƶ alum (PhD ’06), Drenkard brings exceptional leadership, national recognition, and deep expertise across academic nursing, clinical practice, health care innovation, and strategic program development. As President of Drenkard Healthcare Consulting, LLC, she has guided large integrated health care systems, schools of nursing, technology companies, and national organizations in strategic planning, academic–practice partnership development, quality management, and leadership advancement.

"Dr. Drenkard's distinguished career and transformative leadership in nursing education and health care innovation will help advance key initiatives in the School of Nursing. We welcome her vast expertise and visionary approach, which are well-aligned with our mission to advance health and well-being through education and innovation,” said Dean of the College of Public Health Melissa Perry.

Most recently, Drenkard served as professor and associate dean of clinical practice and community engagement at The George Washington University School of Nursing, where she led major clinical initiatives, including the school’s COVID-19 response efforts. Her prior leadership includes a decade as Chief Nurse at Inova Health System, as well as executive roles at GetWell and the American Nurses Credentialing Center, where she served as Executive Director of the Magnet Recognition® Program.

Drenkard is recognized nationally for her transformative leadership and service. She currently chairs the Inova Alexandria Hospital Board Quality and Safety Committee and serves on the boards of the American Organization for Nurse Leaders, the Northern Virginia Workforce Investment Board, and the Watson Caring Science Institute. She is also a member of the Dean’s Advisory Councils for the Indiana University School of Nursing and Russell Sage College, and serves as visiting faculty at the UCSF School of Nursing.

Her thought leadership extends across the country through hundreds of keynote presentations and her extensive faculty work with the UCSF Leadership Institute, where she teaches executive sessions on strategic planning, succession planning, and the integration of human caring into leadership practice. She has also developed comprehensive leadership modules for major health care organizations, spanning executive presence, business planning, financial management, career mapping, and media engagement.

A Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and the National Academies of Practice, Drenkard earned her PhD in nursing administration, policy, and ethics from �鶹��Ƶ and is both a Wharton Nurse Executive Fellow and a Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellow.

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Nursing Faculty

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Faculty and Staff News

Patriot Performance Lab helps athletes stay in the game

Sarah Holland — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:52:28 +0000

Patriot Performance Lab helps athletes stay in the game Sarah Holland Tue, 03/03/2026 - 12:52

To be an NCAA Division 1 student-athlete, you need a village. From dieticians to strength trainers to physical therapists, developing and maintaining fitness for elite competition is a collaborative effort. One way that �鶹��Ƶ Intercollegiate Athletics and the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) keep our athletes in top form is through evidence-based practices and science. That's where the Patriot Performance Lab comes in.

Erica King, right, works with a student-athlete. Photo by John Boal Photography.

The Patriot Performance Lab’s role is twofold: They monitor and measure athletes’ health as well as conduct research studies on athlete performance. Over the years, they’ve conducted numerous studies with various D1 teams—such as testing vitamin D levels in basketball players and knee joint adaptations in volleyball players—while providing athletes with critical data on their health metrics like body composition, VO2 Max, strength measurements, and more.

Margaret Jones. Photo by John Boal Photography.

“We’re not just a research lab,” emphasized Margaret Jones, professor in CEHD’s Sport, Recreation, and Tourism Management Division and director of the Patriot Performance Lab. “Providing health services to athletes is also critical. It’s what makes the partnership work.”

Strong science communication skills are essential in this field. Researchers need to be able to translate data and results to coaches and student-athletes so they can adjust and improve. Chris Green, professor of sport management and director of the Center for Sport Management, works with the lab to help staff develop research communication skills.

“It’s relatively new to consider sports management in sports science,” she said. “The field as a whole is starting to ask how we can make good management decisions around athlete health and performance data. But the Patriot Performance Lab is already doing this work. It’s one of the things that makes us unique, and it’s what makes our work impactful.”

Green has been essential, Jones said, in helping lab members develop their communication skills and better understand how information is being shared from researchers to coaches to athletes.

“When they understand why I’m asking them to wear or do something and understand how this will benefit them, they’re more likely to perform at the level required in order for us to get good data,” said Noelle Saine, BS Kinesiology ’22, MS Kinesiology ’23, and a third-year PhD student. Saine, who was herself a student-athlete in track and field, understands the importance of strong communication between sport scientists and athletes.

“It’s establishing trust that what we’re doing will improve their health and performance,” said Jones.

Noelle Saine, right, runs a strength test with a student-athlete. Photo by John Boal Photography.

Collaboration with the coaches and athletic trainers is also critical. “We couldn’t do what we do without them,” said Saine. “They see the benefits and importance of what we do.”

Postdoctoral research fellow Erica King, BS in Bioengineering ’21, PhD Bioengineering ’25 and a former student athlete in swim and dive, has been leading the work on knee joint adaptations since she was a graduate student. She led a recent 9-month study using wearable sensors for tracking load during practice, counter-movement jump testing, wearable and clinical ultrasound, MRIs, and surveys to assess the load demands on volleyball players’ knees.

“At the end of the season, we were able to show the coaching staff the average number of jumps athletes complete in a 15-16 week period and the direct effects of that from a joint adaptation standpoint,” she said. “They found that data really helpful, and now they can tailor practice sessions to better support the players and help alleviate strain that could lead to injury.”

Athletes, coaches, and athletic trainers often come to the lab with questions for study and ideas. A blood lactate study with the swim team last spring was requested by the swimmers, who applied for and received an Office of Student Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR) grant to fund the study. The team collected data from blood draws, heart-rate monitors, DEXA scans, and jump testing. Early review suggests athlete stroke specialization and maximal power generation capabilities significantly impact accumulation in blood lactate levels during all-out swim bouts.

Noelle Saine leads a VO2 Max test on a student-athlete. Photo by John Boal Photography.

And as Saine and King can attest, the Patriot Performance Lab offers George �鶹��Ƶ students the opportunity to do hands-on research in a wide range of fields. There are opportunities for all levels of research, from postdocs like King to high school students interested in exploring this world of research for the first time.

“Having that R1 designation really gives us the extra push to be able to dive deep into research,” said Saine. “Faculty have always encouraged me to find what I’m passionate about and pursue it. And my experience has been that instead of being competitive, everyone wants to work together to push forward and improve.”

Green noted that Jones’ experience as both researcher and practitioner is also an important piece of the puzzle that makes the Patriot Performance Lab work. “[Jones’] capacity to connect all these parts and have both credibility and an understanding of what the needs are sets us apart,” she said.

Jones said she appreciates the openness and willingness of people at George �鶹��Ƶ to work together.“We’re supported on both sides by CEHD and Athletics.”

“The Patriot Performance Lab reflects what George �鶹��Ƶ does best, bringing research and practice together in service of people,” said Ingrid Guerra-López, dean of CEHD. “Our student-athletes are performing at the highest levels, and they deserve evidence-based support that protects their health and enhances their performance. This partnership between CEHD and Athletics ensures that science goes beyond the lab, to directly improve lives.”

Explore the possibilities in the College of Education and Human Development

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Office of Student Scholarship Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR)

Bioengineering

School of Kinesiology

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Twelve new members join George �鶹��Ƶ Board of Visitors

ckearney — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:05:23 +0000

Twelve new members join George �鶹��Ƶ Board of Visitors ckearney Thu, 02/26/2026 - 10:05

The 12 new members that Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger appointed to the �鶹��Ƶ Board of Visitors (BOV) last month have been sworn in and took part in their first meeting Thursday.

New �鶹��Ƶ Board of Visitors member were sworn in before the February 26 meeting. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The new appointees to the board include three prior George �鶹��Ƶ BOV members and six alumni.

Below are capsules on the new members. Visit the BOV website for longer bios on all 16 BOV members.

Anne Altman, BS Marketing '82, is co-founder and CEO of Everyone Matters Inc. The former IBM executive served on the BOV from 2006 to 2010 and also serves on multiple Costello College of Business boards at George �鶹��Ƶ, including the Dean's Advisory Council and the Baroni Center for Government Contracting board.
Bruce Caswell is president, CEO, and director at Maximus. He joined the government services company in 2004 after working in several capacities for IBM, including vice president of state and local government and education. He is a four-time recipient of the Wash100 award recognizing influential government contracting leaders.
Tom Davis is a partner at the Holland & Knight law firm. The former George �鶹��Ƶ BOV rector served 14 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. Prior to that he served on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors from 1980 to 1991, and as board chairman from 1991 to 1994. Davis was a BOV member from 2013 to 2021, including six years as rector. He also has been an adjunct professor at George �鶹��Ƶ.
Paul Misener, JD '93, is an engineer/scientist and founder and principal of Misener Innovation LLC. Misener served as a global vice president at Amazon.com for 23 years. He has served on the President's Innovation Advisory Council at George �鶹��Ƶ as well as on the advisory board of the Smithsonian-�鶹��Ƶ School of Conservation.
Trevor Montano, BS Accounting '00, is founder and managing member of investment firm West Potomac Capital LLC. The former chief investment officer at the U.S. Department of the Treasury served nine years as a member on the �鶹��Ƶ Foundation Board of Trustees and founded the Montano Student Investment Fund in 2018.
James P. Moran represented Northern Virginia for 24 years in the U.S. Congress, a tenure that included membership on the Appropriations, Foreign Affairs, Banking, Housing and Finance, and Government Reform and Oversight committees. He served as Alexandria mayor from 1985 to 1990.
Delbert Parks is vice president and site executive of Micron Technology Virginia in Manassas. He previously held leadership positions at Philips Electronics and Texas Instruments. He is a former member of the �鶹��Ƶ Foundation Board of Trustees and he also serves on the Virginia Business Higher Education Council.
Shawn N. Chambliss-Purvis, MS Information Systems '99, is president and CEO of IT company Sabel Systems. Previously she served as president and CEO for QinetiQ US and in leadership roles at Northrop Grumman, SAIC, and Lockheed Martin. She first served on the BOV from 2014 to 2019.
George D. Schindler is the former president and CEO of CGI, a global business and strategic IT consulting service firm he led from 2016 to 2024 after serving in many other leadership roles in the company. He currently serves on CGI's Board of Directors. He received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from George �鶹��Ƶ in 2024.
Sumeet Shrivastava, MBA '94, is president and CEO of federal consulting and software development company Unissant, after executive stints at ARRAY and ANSTEC. He has served in many capacities at George �鶹��Ƶ, including past chair of the �鶹��Ƶ Foundation Board of Trustees and past president of the George �鶹��Ƶ Alumni Association.
Sean A. Spence is a director on the Dumfries Economic Development Authority and chair of the Prince William County Superintendent Advisory Council on Sustainability. His professional roles include leadership positions at BDO, Deloitte, and Booz Allen Hamilton. He is an adjunct finance professor in the Costello College of Business.
Jennifer Taylor, MBA '98, is president and CEO of the Northern Virginia Technology Council. She previously served as vice president of industry affairs at the Consumer Technology Association and in senior leadership roles at AARP, the American Red Cross, and technology startups.

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Protecting production through physics-powered detection

Nathan Kahl — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:25:04 +0000

Protecting production through physics-powered detection Nathan Kahl Tue, 02/24/2026 - 08:25

In This Story

Matthew Jablonski

When a manufacturing machine is cutting, drilling, or shaping metal, it is following a precise set of digital instructions, with every motor turn intentional. But what happens when there’s a subtle change along the way?

That is the problem Matt Jablonski is working to solve. Jablonski, an assistant professor in the �鶹��Ƶ's Department of Cyber Security Engineering, received $50k from Virginia’s Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) through its Industry Faculty Collaboration Acceleration Program. He is teaming up with Northern Virginia-based startup SARC Solutions, which is developing a product called Beholder based on technology licensed from Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The project focuses on protecting cyber physical systems, complex machines that blend software, electronics, and physical components. These systems power everything from manufacturing equipment to critical infrastructure. Securing them is challenging because traditional cybersecurity tools can interfere with real-time operations.

Beholder is the product that Jablonski is working on with SARC. Image provide.

“If you add too much security overhead to a control system, you risk disrupting the very thing you are trying to protect,” said Jablonski, who has a master's and a PhD degrees from George �鶹��Ƶ.

Instead of monitoring a machine directly with heavy security software, Jablonski is taking a lighter approach, collecting indirect measurements, including electrical power traces from motor drives and select operating system statistics, to observe how a machine behaves during operation. These indirect signals, often called side channels, can reveal patterns about what the system is doing without interfering with it.

The concept builds on Jablonski’s previous research in cyber physical system safety and security. It also connects directly to a course he teaches on practical side-channel attacks and defenses. Historically, side-channel analysis has been used by attackers to extract secrets by studying metadata such as timing, temperature, or power usage. Jablonski is applying those same ideas defensively.

In this project, the focus is a large manufacturing machine that follows digital instructions known as G-code. A 3D computer-aided design is translated into G-code, which tells the machine exactly how to move and cut. The team’s goal is to align those instructions with the physical signals coming from the machine’s motors and systems.

By mapping the expected digital commands to the observed physical behavior, the team is developing artificial intelligence models that learn what “normal” looks like and can flag when the system drifts from that state. Rather than generic anomaly detection, the models aim to identify subtle signs that the machine is not operating as intended.

“We are looking for indications that the system is not performing in a normative sense,” Jablonski said.

The grant will help support doctoral student Sanjay Kumar Samala, who begins his PhD in the fall. Together, they are building out the testbed and developing early models, with a demonstration targeted for this summer.

The partnership with SARC reflects the broader CCI mission of accelerating collaboration between academia and industry. By pairing faculty expertise with emerging companies, the program aims to move ideas more quickly from lab to application.

“This award is exactly what Virginia does well: pair applied academic expertise with a startup that can transition research into a deployable capability,” said Joseph Carter, strategy, execution and adaptation at SARC Solutions. “Our goal with George �鶹��Ƶ is to turn Beholder into a pilot-ready, ‘signals-to-decisions’ monitoring layer that helps manufacturers detect subtle manipulation before it impacts quality, safety, or uptime.”

For Jablonski, whose interest in security deepened during his freshman year of college in the wake of 9/11, the project fits squarely within a decade of work focused on making cyber physical systems safer. “We live in interesting times,” he said. “As systems become more connected and more intelligent, safety has to remain a priority.”

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George �鶹��Ƶ alum wants coffee to create intentional moments of rest

Katarina Benson — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 20:15:08 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ alum wants coffee to create intentional moments of rest Katarina Benson Wed, 02/18/2026 - 15:15

Michael J. A. Davis, BA Integrative Studies ’09, roasts coffee using the time-honored pan-roasting tradition of beans tumbling in a pan as the smoke rises like incense. What once fueled his long workdays eventually became his antidote to corporate burnout. In fall of 2024, he brought that transformation back to �鶹��Ƶ in a bag labeled “Brave & Bold.”

After Davis graduated from George �鶹��Ƶ in 2009, he began working in corporate branding for government and public and private sectors. Over time, his work evolved to sit at the intersection of branding and inclusion, helping Fortune 500 companies think through equitable design.

Davis created a special flavor for George �鶹��Ƶ, called Brave & Bold. Photo provided

“Through all of those projects, coffee became like a battery pack to keep me awake, productive, and delivering on time,” said Davis. “That's how a lot of us in the Western hemisphere kind of relate to coffee.”

That relationship shifted in 2015, when Davis first encountered the pan-roasted coffee in the back kitchen of an Ethiopian café in Falls Church, Virginia. Watching the beans being roasted in small batches made coffee feel less like a commodity and more like an art. That visit sent Davis on a journey into coffee’s deeper history.

“Through research, conversations with friends of the Ethiopian and Somali communities in Virginia, and time spent learning from family members in the countryside of the Dominican Republic, I came to understand coffee’s long history of traditional roasting and brewing is very much alive,” said Davis. “These communities don’t treat coffee as something to rush through; it’s intentional, it’s communal.”

As his corporate career intensified, coffee became a grounding ritual. Working as a consultant, Davis spent his days in what he recalled were emotionally draining conversations with executives while advocating for marginalized communities.

“Those conversations really beat me up and really took a toll on my mental health and my emotional health,” said Davis. “But during those years, roasting coffee was a ritual of rest for me.”

After leaving the corporate world in 2023, Davis founded Tinycup Coffee to share the idea that coffee is much more than fuel for productivity.

"Tinycup preserves this long history of coffee in Black and Brown communities in the global south by teaching Western coffee drinkers to change their relationship with coffee,” said Davis. “Our mission is to help coffee lovers to experience coffee, not as fuel to power through the Monday morning grind, but as a ritual of rest and restoration.”

In summer of 2024, Davis partnered with George �鶹��Ƶ to create a co-branded coffee. He tested his flagship Tinycup roast with members of the George �鶹��Ƶ community, refining the flavors to reflect the university’s character. From there, he turned to branding, naming it “Brave & Bold: The Patriot Roast” in collaboration with David Atkins, executive director of brand development and licensing at George �鶹��Ƶ’s Office of University Branding, who initially introduced the co-branding opportunity to Tinycup.

TinyCup coffee is pan-roasted, a specific technique. Photo provided

For Davis, the name nods to George �鶹��Ƶ’s history while centering on the community who carries that legacy forward, and he hopes Tinycup becomes a reminder that being “Brave & Bold” can also mean choosing rest.

For students considering becoming an entrepreneur, Davis shares some advice he wishes someone had told him: “Don’t let hustle culture convince you that rest is ‘lazy’—protect your energy like it’s the most important asset you have. You have more time than you think, so give yourself permission to step back, breathe, restore—those quiet moments are what keep your creativity, joy, and heart alive and well for the long term.”

Brave & Bold: The Patriot Roast coffee blend can be found online and at on-campus convenience stores. A percentage of sales is returned to the university.

Power the Possible

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