Category: Spotlight

Name:

Lauren Wagner

Role at George Mason University:

Assistant Dean for Student Academic Affairs, College of Visual and Performing Arts

I am a Patriot Connect Change Champion for:

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)

Q: What does being a Patriot Connect Change Champion mean to you?

A: Being a change champion means being willing to serve on the team whose goal it is to make something that is new to all of us something that is understandable and useful to each one of us.

Q: What excites you the most about Patriot Connect?

A: I’m optimistic that the uplift of the platform will truly serve the intention of having students’ academic journeys all in one accessible place—not just for the ease of the students themselves, but for those of us who support them.

Q: Who do you want to give a special shoutout to on the Patriot Connect team and why?

A: I don’t know what I would do without Dawn Kelley and Sara Simanski. Although I love them as colleagues, both have been at George Mason long enough to count as OG’s, so I learn from them every day.

Q: What is your favorite spot on campus?

A: I love the green space framed by the Art & Design building, the Nguyen Engineering building, and the Observatory.

Q: What is your favorite season on campus?

A: Spring by far. When all of the blossoms pop and the yellow daffodils are blooming in the green spaces, this campus is not just gorgeous but totally on brand.

Name:

Seunga Seo

Role at George Mason University:

Academic Advising Manager

I am a Patriot Connect Change Champion for:

Office of Academic Affairs, Mason Korea

Q: What does being a Patriot Connect Change Champion mean to you?

A: Being a Patriot Connect Change Champion means playing a role in fostering inclusiveness within our Mason Korea campus, while supporting growth across both our campus community and the broader university. It’s about driving collaboration, ensuring that our unique needs are represented.

Q: What excites you the most about Patriot Connect?

A: What excites me the most about Patriot Connect is its ability to streamline communication by enabling the sending of targeted messages, updates, and reminders to individual students or groups. This feature ensures that important information reaches the right people at the right time, allowing for more effective and timely follow-ups. It simplifies the process of staying connected with students and supports personalized engagement, which is essential for fostering their success.

Q: How do you see Patriot Connect helping you and your team?

A: The system’s integrated student profiles and data-driven insights will allow for a more holistic understanding of students’ academic progress and needs. This will empower academic advisors and Mason Korea Academic Affairs to provide tailored guidance and proactively address challenges.

Q: Who do you want to give a special shoutout to on the Patriot Connect team and why?

A: Sylvia Lee has been truly amazing in keeping me connected to the processes while thoughtfully considering the unique aspects of the Mason Korea campus. Her support has been invaluable to learn how Mason Korea Academic Affairs can elevate its services through Patriot Connect.

Q: What is your favorite spot on campus?

A: If you ever get the chance to visit the Mason Korea campus, I recommend stopping by Nature Coffee. It’s my go-to spot for a great cup of coffee and a cozy atmosphere, perfect for relaxing or catching up on conversations.

Name:

Joshua Fletcher

Role at George Mason University:

Academic Advisor

I am a Patriot Connect Change Champion for:

Computer Science Department, College of Engineering and Computing

Q: What excites you the most about Patriot Connect?

A: A new platform that all students across campus will use. Quite often I see many departments using different forms of technology that students need to access their academic advisors. Students do get confused on how to contact advisors if they are all using different forms of communication. Having one platform will be a relief to the students.

Q: How do you see Patriot Connect helping you and your team?

A: Our Computer Science department has an undergraduate student population of around 2600 students and currently we use an appointment system that needs an update. We are excited to use a new platform.

Q: What is your goal for Patriot Connect?

A: To have a full understanding of the tools and technology that we will be using. I want to make sure that I am an expert at Patriot Connect so that anyone can come to me with questions.

Q: Who do you want to give a special shoutout to on the Patriot Connect team and why?

A: Claudia and Smriti from the College of Engineering and Computing have been wonderful team members.

Q: What is something you like to do outside of work?

A: In my free time, I enjoy working out, watching anime, attending comic cons, and of course, being an active member of the Beyoncé beehive!

Name:

Sadie Mele

Role at George Mason University:

Graduate Enrollment Coordinator

I am a Patriot Connect Change Champion for:

College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Graduate Education

Q: What excites you the most about Patriot Connect?

A: The potential. Patriot Connect is super exciting because it can completely change how we build relationships with students, make our operations smoother, and boost engagement with personalized, data-driven experiences. It can help our teams create meaningful connections and support student success at every step of their educational journey!

Q: How do you see Patriot Connect helping you and your team?

A: I see our teams benefiting the most from the greater visibility and the robust communication tools available. Greater visibility of the student journey is going to be so beneficial for our needs. Patriot Connect makes life easier by bringing student and school data into one simple platform. This means that by the time this project is complete, everyone—from admissions folks, to teachers, to student services—can easily access up-to-date information, work together, and create awesome experiences for students.

The robustness of the communication tools will also help us save time and improve our efforts, making us stronger. With automation and useful data insights, we can focus on what counts. By cutting down on admin work and boosting teamwork, Patriot Connect can help our teams work smarter, quicker, and make a bigger difference.

Q: What is your goal for Patriot Connect?

A: As a member of the team, I’m really excited to help make the new software a success! I want to focus on ensuring it integrates smoothly, what user training will look like, and providing support as best as I can. I believe that by encouraging collaboration and giving clear guidance, we can create a seamless transition that boosts our productivity and makes work easier and more enjoyable for everyone!

Q: Who do you want to give a special shoutout to on the Patriot Connect team and why?​

A: I can’t pinpoint just one person to celebrate because this project is truly a collective journey that transcends the contributions of any single individual. All Patriot Connect team members are propelling us toward a shared goal, and each team member is giving so much into this endeavor. So, let me shout out to every incredible person on the various teams! The commitment, tireless effort, and radiant positivity is nothing short of inspiring!

Q: What is something you like to do outside of work?​

A: When I’m not working, I really enjoy getting lost in a good book, whether it’s fiction, non-fiction, or something that makes me think. Reading is my way to relax, learn new stuff, and check out different ideas and viewpoints.

Name:

Sara Simanski

Role at George Mason University:

Academic Advisor

I am a Patriot Connect Change Champion for:

School of Theater, College of Visual and Performing Arts

Q: What does being a Patriot Connect Change Champion mean to you?

A: The ability to help facilitate growth within the college and larger university community.

Q: What excites you the most about Patriot Connect?

A: Appointment scheduling and the user interface.

Q: How do you see Patriot Connect helping you and your team?

A: Because it is intended to be a holistic view of a student from time of application to graduation, it will be useful for offering support at both the unit and college levels.

Q: What is your favorite spot on campus?

A: The JC Starbucks. I love the “chandelier” of books.

Q: What is your favorite George Mason tradition?

A: Decorating the statue of George.

Name:

Michael Ouellette

Role at George Mason University:

Academic Coordinator

I am a Patriot Connect Change Champion for:

Athletics

Q: What does being a Patriot Connect Change Champion mean to you?

A: It’s a chance to bring my team together on the exciting opportunities that Patriot Connect will bring to both staff and students.

Q: How do you see Patriot Connect helping you and your team?

A: Patriot Connect will streamline our information and processes so we may best serve the student-athletes on campus.

Q: Who do you want to give a special shoutout to on the Patriot Connect team and why?

A: Sylvia Lee, for keeping information flowing and keeping me connected to the processes as they unfold. She’s been a huge help in hearing how the services Athletics provide can be improved with Patriot Connect.

Q: Ask me about…

A: The amazing impacts that student-athletes have on the campus community.

Q: What is your favorite George Mason tradition?

A: Mason Madness!

Name:

Jessie Lee

Role at George Mason University:

Associate Director of Orientation

I am a Patriot Connect Change Champion for:

New Student and Family Programs (NSFP)

Q: What does being a Patriot Connect Change Champion mean to you?

A: Being a Patriot Connect Change Champion means that we are able to help be a part of a process to ensure that this new platform will be thorough and efficient for our students, from the moment that they decide to join the George Mason community, all the way through graduation.

Q: What excites you the most about Patriot Connect?

A: I’m excited to see the centralization of the way that we support our students, and to help make connections between the amazing resources that we have for student success. As students come through orientation, we want to make sure that their experience continues to be great throughout their journeys at George Mason, and we see Patriot Connect being the way forward!

Q: How do you see Patriot Connect helping you and your team?

A: We see many students come through the NSFP office with all kinds of questions to our various support systems, and being able to directly refer students to these offices and stakeholders will be a game changer. We want to make sure that their next step out of orientation sets them up to engage with the resources in an active way, and we hope that Patriot Connect helps us to do that!

Q: Ask me about…

A: Ask me about finding the best food festivals and events in the DMV, I’m always looking for ways to engage with the community through food!

Q: What is your favorite season on campus?

A: Definitely Fall! I love seeing all of the leaves change and float around campus, and as the weather gets a bit chilly, seeing everyone break out their favorite George Mason sweaters!

Name:

TJ Pegg (he/him)

Role at George Mason University:

Assistant Director for Strategic Development & Engagement

I am a Patriot Connect Change Champion for:

Student Success Coaching

Q: How do you see Patriot Connect helping you and your team?

A: Patriot Connect will help provide key data and information to help us understand students’ needs and our Success Coaches will be able to further support a student’s definition of success with a referral process that leads to key units for future appointments and student opportunities.

Q: What is your goal for Patriot Connect?

A: To help bring the George Mason community into the next age of serving students and supporting student success. I have utilized a similar platform at a previous institution and the way that it can help support students, resolving issues/concerns, and hopefully put an end to the “Mason Shuffle.”

Q: Who do you want to give a special shoutout to on the Patriot Connect team and why?

A: Two very special shoutouts to Casey Smith and Tahisha Mayfield! I have been at George Mason for over four years and these two women I have worked with on so many different projects and they are always so inspiring to work with. From the attention to detail, to the intentionality of how they utilize time in running meetings, and always bringing a smile and sense of humor to any project that I have worked with them on. They make the work fun, engaging, and bring folx together from different spaces.

Q: What is your favorite spot on campus?

A: SUB 1 Quad. I love holding events out there, seeing the benches painted by student organizations, and folx just gathering out on the quad every now and then to study, chat, or engage in an event.

Q: What is something you like to do outside of work?

A: Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with friends, playing social and competitive dodgeball in DC, playing kickball, and exploring new coffee shops in the area.