City of Fairfax Mayor, Catherine S. Read, to speak at George Mason University College of Science Spring Degree Celebration
The George Mason University College of Science has announced that this spring’s Degree Celebration keynote speaker is City of Fairfax Mayor, the Honorable Catherine S. Read. An alumna of George Mason University who earned her BA in Government and Politics in 1984, Read is currently serving her second term as mayor, elected as the city’s first woman mayor in 2022. She will address some 1,000 graduating Mason Science students across all disciplines and degree programs on Thursday, May 14, at 6:30 p.m. at Eagle Bank Arena on George Mason’s Fairfax Campus.
Mayor Read’s relationship with George Mason, and the college specifically, reflects her Patriot Pride as an alum and her perspective that the university and the City of Fairfax are essential partners that can collaborate to create lasting local impact. In recent years, she has remained actively engaged through outreach and strategic partnerships. Her visits to the Fairfax Campus have provided opportunities to explore the university’s long-term vision and identify ways to strengthen cooperation between the institution and the city—advancing shared goals of innovation, sustainability, and community well-being.
Mayor Read has also served as an invaluable partner in both academic and research initiatives. She has met with faculty, including Professor and Director of the Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies Jim Kinter, to better understand the university’s leadership in climate science and its work through the Virginia Climate Center to help communities build resilience to a changing climate. She has also worked with the Department of Geography and Geoinformation Science (GGS), serving as one of several city representatives invited to speak at its signature student and industry professional development event, the annual GIS Day last year. In collaboration with GGS Associate Professor Matthew Rice, she has supported efforts to connect students and programs with city staff, boards, and projects, creating opportunities for experiential learning and real-world problem-solving.
Mayor Read also mentored recent physics alumnus, the Honorable Billy M. Bates, who is serving his second term on the Fairfax City Council following his re-election in November 2024. First elected in 2022 at age 19, he became the youngest council member in the city’s history. The mayor additionally supported George Mason alumna, Eileen Kraige’s request for a city proclamation recognizing International Dark Sky Week (April 15–22, 2023), highlighting the city’s commitment to reducing light pollution and protecting the night sky.
“As a George Mason alumna and committed civic leader, Mayor Read exemplifies the powerful connection between education, public service, and community impact,” said College of Science Dean Cody W. Edwards. “Her longstanding engagement with our faculty, students, alumni, and research reflects our shared commitment to using knowledge to strengthen communities. We are honored to have her join us in celebrating both the achievements of our graduates and the values that define the College of Science,” Edwards added.
Mayor Read serves on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC), Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA), and Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC). Additionally, she serves on the Virginia Poverty Law Center Advisory Board and the Equality Virginia PAC Board.
Read currently serves on the Alumni Chapter Board of George Mason’s Schar School of Public Policy and Government for 2024–26. In 2025, she served as the Schar School’s degree celebration speaker.
A Fairfax City resident since 2000, she came to the area in 1981 from Southwest Virginia as a sophomore at George Mason University. She has most recently worked with local nonprofits on legislative advocacy and messaging and continues to occasionally host television shows for Fairfax Public Access. She has three adult children and resides with her husband Tom Greeson and their dog Reggie.
