CHSS celebrates excellence at 2025 Mary Roper and CHSS Staff and A/P Faculty Awards ceremony

Award winners (from left to right): Kate Bryan, Janice Cohen, Erin McSherry, Robyn Mehlenbeck, Katherine Foarde, Eleana Velasco, Sean Dixon, and David Soorenko. Photo by Jerome Boettcher.

On December 3, CHSS faculty and staff gathered to celebrate the outstanding achievements of CHSS staff and A/P faculty at the 2025 Mary Roper and CHSS Staff and A/P Faculty Awards ceremony at the Center for the Arts. The awards ceremony highlighted the contributions of all those recognized. Congratulations to all the honorees! 

2025 Mary Roper Award

The Mary Roper award was established in 2001 and is named after Mary Roper, whose long service to George Mason University is an exemplar of professionalism and dedication to George Mason’s mission. Through her 17 years of work for the biology department, the Office of the Provost, and the dean’s office of the College of Arts and Sciences, followed by 13 years as the administrative assistant to the university’s chief of staff, Roper set high standards for service to her colleagues and to George Mason’s students.

This year, CHSS honored an individual who has set new standards of excellence in their work: Kate Bryan, who serves as the Department of English’s scheduling and fiscal coordinator. 

Kate Bryan, Mary Roper, and CHSS Dean Ann Ardis. Photo by Jerome Boettcher

 

2025 Award Winners

Mary Roper Award – Kate Bryan

Kate Bryan (right) with CHSS Chief Business Officer Kim Dight. Photo by Jerome Boettcher.

CHSS Outstanding Supervisor Award – Erin McSherry

Erin McSherry (right) with CHSS Human Resources Director Jacelyn Tyson. Photo by Jerome Boettcher.

CHSS Outstanding New Employee – Sean Dixon

Sean Dixon (right) with CHSS Human Resources Director Jacelyn Tyson. Photo by Jerome Boettcher.

CHSS Service Excellence Award – Katherine Foarde

Katherine Foarde (right) with CHSS Human Resources Director Jacelyn Tyson. Photo by Jerome Boettcher.

CHSS Trailblazer Award – David Soorenko & Robyn Mehlenbeck

David Soorenko (right) with CHSS Human Resources Director Jacelyn Tyson. Photo by Jerome Boettcher.
Robyn Mehlenbeck (right) with CHSS Human Resources Director Jacelyn Tyson. Photo by Jerome Boettcher.

CHSS Mentorship Award – Janice Cohen

Janice Cohen (right) with CHSS Human Resources Director Jacelyn Tyson. Photo by Jerome Boettcher.

CHSS Civility Award – Eleana Velasco

Eleana Velasco (right) with CHSS Human Resources Director Jacelyn Tyson. Photo by Jerome Boettcher.