Hello Mason Nation:
I hope this message finds you doing well and enjoying the beginning of fall. I’m excited to connect as I round out my first 100 days here at George Mason University!
It’s a great time to be a Patriot. The University reached a significant milestone this fall by enrolling over 40,000 students, making us the largest university in Virginia. In addition, we are among America’s top 50 public universities and Virginia’s #1 public university for social mobility.
Mason Athletics is also on the move, building upon the momentum created during our successful spring. The 2022-23 highlights below reflect the passion, dedication, and commitment to supporting our student-athletes and each other, as well as the grit and tenacity of our student-athletes.
1. Earned three (3) A-10 Conference championships in Softball, Baseball, and Women’s Track;
2. Exceeded annual fundraising goals by over $200,000;
3. Balanced the operating budget for the first time in over five (5) years;
4. Had 20 athletic programs with GPAs greater than 3.0; and
5. Experienced over 60% growth in social media engagement.
I spent the last 100 days listening and learning from over 400 individual stakeholders including student-athletes, coaches, administrative staff, donors, alumni, and campus partners. The most common question I receive in each stakeholder meeting is – "What is your vision for Mason Athletics?" We will develop a shared vision, core values, and department “playbook” over the next year or so, but my immediate vision includes:
1. Creating transformational experiences;
2. Cultivating a championship culture; and
3. Telling our story and celebrating our distinct identity and value proposition.
In addition to listening and learning, I updated our
strategic leadership team structure and implemented working groups or “teams” to improve our collaboration, communication, and operational efficiency across the department. The teams will focus on the following areas: university and student engagement, new business development, community engagement, and recruiting.
Lastly, as the fall sport programs position themselves for strong finishes to their competitive seasons, I attended my first Mason Madness last Friday! I am thrilled to launch the Tony Skinn era in our men’s basketball program and celebrate the 50-year anniversary of our women’s basketball program with Vanessa Blair-Lewis at the helm. We need all students, fans, and donors to bring the energy,
#BelieveBIG, and apply the
#PatriotPressure to opponents this season!
I continue to be energized by our student-athletes, proud of the coaches and staff, and inspired by the impact the University makes in the Northern Virginia community.
We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming game! Go Patriots!
Marvin
