Amanda Corrigan said she loves working for George Mason University’s Staff Senate because the staff at Mason “are the heart of the university.”
“If there is any way that I can help support them, enable them, or be an instrument for appreciating them, I am happy to serve,” Corrigan said.
Corrigan, April’s Employee of the Month, is an administrative assistant for the Senate, which is a 28-member group with a mission of educating, appreciating, and advocating for the Mason staff.
Corrigan handles a variety of tasks, including providing administrative support for the senate’s executive committee, planning staff appreciation events, and aiding the awards committee with engagement and reward initiatives.
She also helps compose the monthly Staff Senate newsletter, coordinates the logistics and guest speakers for monthly meetings, guides new senators, and helps with the Staff Senate yearly election.
“Staff Senate quite literally could not exist without her, and her work is integral to the well-being of the entire staff body at Mason,” said Natalie Davis, a staff senator and research initiatives specialist in Mason’s Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact. “Mason could not be what it is without Amanda and the very crucial job she has.”
Corrigan also spearheaded a new technology sub-committee to ensure the Staff Senate’s virtual meetings run smoothly.
“It is because of Amanda’s work and dedication that the Staff Senate is successful,” said Stacy D’Angelo, staff senator and marketing coordinator for Mason’s Office of University Branding. “She is the glue that keeps us together and is the rock many of us lean on for assistance and guidance throughout the year.”
Corrigan began working at Mason in June 2012 as an assistant to the directors in the School of Art. She became a staff senator in 2013 and has since served as an events co-chair, awards chair, and vice chair of the senate. Corrigan moved to her current part-time administrative assistant position in 2015.
“I admire the work of the senate and those who volunteer their time to make Mason a better place for staff,” Corrigan said.
How she got to Mason:
My first memory of Mason was when I was on my college dance team at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) at the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament in the Richmond Coliseum, watching courtside as VCU and Mason fought to punch their ticket to the NCAA basketball tournament. I am now a Mason alumna. I received a MA in arts management in 2011 and a graduate certificate (CERG) in special events management in 2012, which is when I started working at Mason.
Best day on the job:
My best day on the job was when I took my kids to the Mason Day festivities on campus and watched them have a blast playing games, riding rides, getting balloon animals made, and having their faces painted. I love sharing with them the Mason culture and that Mason knows how to have fun.
What she likes best about working at Mason:
I love working at Mason because there is always something to learn or see. Nothing is more valued than learning and exploring the environment around you. I have loved attending performing arts events at the Center for the Arts, and one of my most memorable experiences was going to an Evening Under the Stars at the Mason Observatory.
What she does when she’s not working:
I am a busy mom of four, so I spend most of my time with my family. I love being involved in all my kids’ school and activities and seeing them grow and respond to the world around them. I enjoy traveling to the Outer Banks and to my family’s farm in southern Virginia, spending time outdoors, visiting national parks, hiking, baking, and cooking.