Linda Harber's retirement party a fitting sendoff

Linda Harber has been the chief human resources officer at George Mason University for 15 years, the past four as vice president for Human Resources, Payroll and Faculty/Staff Life. She came to Mason after 25 years in human resources at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Harber's retirement party on May 23 was a celebration of her years of dedicated service. Creative Services photographer Evan Cantwell documented the good time had by all.

Under Harber's leadership, Mason Office of Human Resources and Payroll received the CUPA-HR 2012 HR Innovation Award for its onboarding and orientation process.

Harber, a member of Mason's executive committee, was awarded the CUPA-HR Distinguished Service Award in 2005, the CUPA-HR Southern Region Distinguished Service Award in 1998, and the CUPA-HR National Creativity Achievement Award in 1992. She recently was awarded CUPA-HR honorary life membership.

Under her guidance, Mason has been recognized annually as a fit-friendly company by the American Heart Association (2009-2016) and by WorldatWork with its work-life seal of distinction (2012-2017). Mason was recently recognized by Forbes as one of the nation's top mid-sized employers.