Each month, we will shine a light on our Patriot Connect Change Champions, giving you the chance to get to know the individuals who are here to support you and the George Mason community on the journey to transition to Patriot Connect. Learn about their roles, what motivates and inspires them, and maybe even a fun fact or two.
Get to know Krystal Dains!
Name:
Krystal Dains
Role at George Mason University:
Director, Bachelor of Applied Science
I am a Patriot Connect Change Champion for:
Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS)
Q: What excites you the most about Patriot Connect?
A: I’m really excited we now have a “one stop shop” for students to access campus resources. Instead of telling students, “Log in here to make a coaching appointment, but log in here to make an academic advising appointment, but then log into this other site for career advising” we can direct students to one place to access nearly all of the resources they need. This is an immense improvement to the student experience.
Q: What is your goal for Patriot Connect?
A: Within BAS, we plan to use Patriot Connect to make the advising experience more transparent. Students can more easily schedule appointments and receive referrals. They can access appointment notes and important files related to their educational career. We know emails get lost, so it’s incredibly important that students can easily access their advising history within a dedicated system.
Q: Who do you want to give a special shoutout to on the Patriot Connect team and why?
A: TJ Pegg. When I came down with a bad case of laryngitis, TJ stepped up to run my training sessions. I seriously cannot thank him enough!
Q: What is your favorite spot on campus?
A: All of our campuses are beautiful, but I have a special space in my heart for the SciTech campus, which is where I began my George Mason career over 10 years ago. The Piedmont Trail is a great walking path for a good lunch break stretch. And the food at Mum Mum can’t be beat!
Q: What is something you like to do outside of work?
A: I am a leader for my son’s scouting organization, Outdoor Service Guides. We are an inclusive scouting group (all genders, all ability levels, we embrace neurodiversity, etc.). Check us out!
The Patriot Connect team has activated a change network of “Patriot Connect Change Champions” to support the adoption of Patriot Connect at George Mason. One to two Patriot Connect Change Champions have been identified per unit, college, or school to help drive the change within their respective groups. By ensuring both business and people readiness, the change network will be instrumental in the successful transition and adoption of Patriot Connect. The change network kicked off in September 2024 and will remain active throughout the implementation and launch of Patriot Connect. Your first point of contact for questions should be your designated Patriot Connect Change Champion.