College of Science at George Mason University

Welcome back to George Mason, Laura A. Lukes! 👏

Laura joins Mason Science as director of the STEM Accelerator, effective June 29, 2026.

She previously served at George Mason’s Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning and most recently held a role at the University of British Columbia.

Laura brings extensive expertise in geoscience education research and a strong record of advancing evidence-based teaching, faculty development, and student success.

In this role, she will lead efforts to enhance instructional quality, expand faculty and graduate teaching support, and strengthen student outcomes through innovative STEM education initiatives.

“I’m excited to rejoin the Mason community and build on the STEM Accelerator’s momentum,” Lukes said.

Please join us in welcoming Laura back to Mason Science! 💚💛

🔗https://science.gmu.edu/news/laura-lukes-named-director-george-mason-universitys-stem-accelerator

This , we’re celebrating Maria Emelianenko, professor and chair of the Department of Mathematical Sciences, recipient of the 2026 Peer Leadership Excellence Award.

The award recognizes a Chair or Program Director respected by their peers for outstanding leadership, open communication, and building a supportive, inclusive community among academic leaders across the College.

Emelianenko is an interdisciplinary mathematician whose work applies mathematical theory to real-world problems across science and engineering. She also serves as associate director of Mason’s Quantum Science and Engineering Center.

Congratulations, Maria! 👏

Congratulations to forensic chemistry graduate student Kennedy Drish on qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor National Championships in Eugene, Oregon this week! 🏆

After capturing both the 2026 Atlantic 10 Indoor and Outdoor pole vault titles and setting school records, Kennedy is ready to compete on the national stage.

Wishing her the best of luck as she represents George Mason! 💚

Photo by George Mason Athletics.

GMU Forensic Science Program

Scenes from AIRDC26 🌎🛰️

Mason Science was proud to host the 4th Annual Air Quality Research and Development Consortium Workshop at George Mason University’s Fairfax Campus.

AIRDC26 brought together atmospheric composition and air quality modeling collaborators from the greater D.C. region and beyond to share research and discuss emerging work in emissions inventories and modeling, air quality forecasting and applications, observations and data fusion, and air quality-related health impacts.

Thank you to our partners and participating institutions for helping make this year’s workshop possible: Johns Hopkins University, The George Washington University, University of Maryland, Howard University, American University, UMBC, NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for a full day of research, collaboration, and conversation around the future of air quality research. 🤝

Three Mason Science graduate students earned top honors at the 2026 STAR-TIDES Student Poster Competition for climate resilience research. 👏🌎

Congratulations to Geography and Geoinformation Science PhD students Fatemeh Janatabadi, Cailin Leahy, and Arfa Khalid, whose research explores wildfire shelter access, cascading hazards resilience, and mobility impacts during disruptive weather.

Their work shows how spatial science, transportation analysis, and community-engaged research can help communities better prepare for climate-related hazards.

Read more: https://science.gmu.edu/news/college-science-graduate-students-win-top-star-tides-honors-climate-resilience-research



Department of Geography and Geoinformation Science, George Mason University

Spots are still available for Week 2 of Mason Math Odyssey Camp! 🧮✨

Open to rising 8th and 9th graders, this weeklong camp invites students to explore, create, and discover through hands-on math activities.

📍 Fairfax Campus
📅 July 20–24
⏰ 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
💵 $650

Register today: science.gmu.edu/odyssey

Congratulations to Jason Kinser, professor in the Department of Computational and Data Sciences, who will transition to serve as associate dean of academic and faculty affairs at Mason Korea, effective July 27. 🌏👏

Kinser’s impact on George Mason spans nearly 30 years. From helping establish the foundation for bioinformatics at the university to serving as the first full-time chair of Computational and Data Sciences, his leadership has helped shape academic programs, advance interdisciplinary collaboration, and support the growth of Mason Science.

Most recently, Kinser served as interim associate dean of academic affairs for the College of Science, bringing steady guidance, professionalism, and a collaborative spirit to the college’s leadership team.

As Dean Cody W. Edwards shared, “The college is stronger today because of his service and dedication to our community.”

Please join us in congratulating Jason on this well-deserved opportunity and thanking him for his many contributions to Mason Science. 💚💛

Read more: https://science.gmu.edu/news/college-science-announces-leadership-transition

🌎 congratulations to Mark Uhen, chair of the Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Earth Sciences and professor of geology, on receiving the 2025-2026 Guiding Force Award.

A paleontologist and global whale fossil expert, Uhen is recognized for the steady leadership, insight, and support he brings to colleagues across the College of Science.

This award honors an academic leader whose direction and guidance help shape the success of Mason Science. Congratulations, Mark! 💚💛

Please join us in welcoming Laura K. Lautz as our new Senior Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives, Innovation, and College Affairs, effective July 10.

In this role, Laura will lead efforts to advance innovation and excellence across academic, student, and faculty affairs while guiding strategic enrollment management and community engagement. She will also serve as the college's deputy, acting on behalf of the dean when needed.

A nationally recognized academic and federal research leader, Laura most recently directed geoscience programs at the National Science Foundation, overseeing 350 awards totaling $160 million. Previously, she served as chair of the Department of Earth Sciences at Syracuse University, where she led strategic growth initiatives, expanded interdisciplinary programs, and secured significant external funding.

Read More: https://science.gmu.edu/news/college-science-announces-leadership-transition