In This Story
Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to the 2026–2027 academic year!
Incipit vita nova. Here begins new life.
This Latin phrase has been on my mind as we all prepare to welcome students back to campus and launch the fall semester—and as I begin serving as your provost and executive vice president.
A new academic year brings a chance at new life for our students: new classes, new ideas, new relationships with faculty, and new opportunities to discover what they are capable of accomplishing. For all of us, it is also a chance to think anew about how we serve our students by helping them to find meaningful work, preparing them to lead in a world powered by AI, engaging them in our groundbreaking scholarship, and working together to meet new challenges.
As I have prepared to join this community, I have been greatly impressed by the university’s spirit of innovation, commitment to inclusion, and unwavering focus on student success. This summer, those qualities came to mind as I read a wonderful book How to Rule the World: An Education in Power at Stanford University by Theo Baker, a 2026 Stanford graduate. Baker describes the “Stanford inside Stanford,” an elite world within the university available only to a few—and reflects candidly on his own sometimes faltering efforts to build an academic and social life as a first-year student. His account made me even more appreciative of George Mason’s commitment to being both an opportunity university and a research university, where we seek to illuminate the hidden curriculum, support students from every background in pursuing ambitious intellectual goals, and never underestimate what they are capable of achieving.
George Mason’s incredible trajectory reflects the dedication of faculty and staff to helping students thrive. I deeply appreciate all that you do and hope this new academic year brings new life and possibility for you as well. I look forward to getting to know this remarkable community, learning from your experiences and perspectives, and proudly joining you as a fellow Patriot.
Sincerely,
Marion K. Underwood
Provost and Executive Vice President