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George Mason University

Faculty & Staff Directory

Rebecca Ericson

  • Adjunct Faculty

    Contact Info

    Dr. Ericson
    Name
    Dr. Rebecca Ericson
    Job Title
    Adjunct Faculty

    Affiliations

    Departments

    Education

    DA -Community College Education focuso Astronomy– GMU

    MS Physics – Creighton University - 1974

    BA Physics – Macalester College 1970

    About

    After 17 years of teaching core lecture and lab courses in George Mason University’s Physics and Astronomy Department, I retired from full-time teaching three years ago. I returned to teach part-time in 2025 because I missed working with students and helping them understand and appreciate science as they studied astronomy.

    While I was full-time, I helped design the astronomy lab for core astronomy courses and taught active-learning astronomy classes in Mason’s ALT classroom in Exploratory Hall.  Currently, I am exploring ways to make asynchronous lab courses more interactive.   

    Teaching Focus

    My doctoral dissertation focused on the disconnect between what the university, students and faculty expect from general education courses.  I was pleased to serve on Mason’s Core committee, a group of faculty who work to evaluate and shape the core curriculum for GMU undergraduates.  I participated in several self-study groups doing educational investigations based on personal classroom practice.  Teaching teachers and improving classroom instruction is a motivator for me. I love helping students understand that science is a creative, innovative and exciting venture that is accessible to all.  

    I was awarded a Teaching Excellence Award by the University in 2015 and served as a Faculty Fellow for the Center for Teaching Excellence in the 2015/16 school year.

    Awards

    Teaching Excellence Award by the University in 2015

    Contact Info

    Dr. Ericson
    Name
    Dr. Rebecca Ericson
    Job Title
    Adjunct Faculty

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