Alumni

Keeping his nose to the grindstone is not just how Andrew Hutsell approaches his academic career in engineering—it's how he cut a small slice of fame.  The George Mason University alumnus recently put his engineering skills to the test on national television, competing in an episode of the History Channel’s Forged in Fire, a competition show that challenges bladesmiths to create weapons under tight deadlines.

The George Mason University Debate Team has stood for more than five decades as one of the nation’s premier teams and is consistently ranked among the top five programs in the country. This intercollegiate team’s legacy of excellence is built on academic rigor, accessibility, and community. It is a program that transforms students—regardless of their starting point—into confident, critical thinkers prepared to lead. 

Kevin Cevasco, supported by the Gates Foundation, is assessing infectious disease recruitment strategies.

Ali Reza Manouchehri, BA Philosophy ‘99, co-founder and chief executive officer of MetroStar, a company he started as a George Mason University student, will be the featured speaker at Winter Commencement on December 18 at EagleBank Arena on the Fairfax Campus.

In September, Antonin Scalia Law School’s Mason Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic (M-VETS) advocated for a George Mason University alumnus and U.S. Air Force veteran before the Department of Veterans Affairs Board of Veterans’ Appeals.

When Trish Jarvis, BS Biology ’10, tells people what she does for a living, their eyes usually light up. As an employee at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington, D.C., Jarvis has one of the most coveted—and adorable—jobs around: She’s a panda keeper.

Cirque du Soleil's six-week run in Virginia serves as a homecoming for Gracie Valdez, BA Art History ’07, a native of Vienna. Using stunning visuals, acrobatic stunts, and 10,000 liters of water (recycled after each show) in a mesmerizing waterfall sequence, LUZIA puts a spotlight on the culture and mythology of Mexico. 

A recent cyber security graduate is already making an impact in his role at the Marine Forces Cyberspace Command.

From improving underserved communities’ care to supporting faculty research on women living with HIV, Janell Addo-Boateng, MPH ’25, gained hands-on experience in policy, evaluation, and communication.

In her first year of teaching, Emmeline Mejia, MEd ’24, has already earned one of Fairfax County Public Schools' top honors: 2025 Outstanding New Secondary Teacher of the Year. It's a milestone that speaks volumes about her passion for education and her commitment to multilingual learners at Justice High School in Falls Church, Virginia.