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George Mason University Professor Padmanabhan Seshaiyer Honored with 2025 Jack Wood Legacy Award for Town Gown Relations

P. Seshaiyer

Fairfax, VA — April 2025 — We are proud to announce that Dr. Padmanabhan “Padhu” Seshaiyer, a professor of Mathematics, has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Jack Wood Legacy Award for Town Gown Relations. This distinguished honor recognizes exemplary leadership in fostering strong, collaborative partnerships between the university and the broader community.  

Seshaiyer has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to bridging academia and community engagement through innovative, cross-sector initiatives. His work has helped advance data science education across the K–12 landscape and beyond, promoting accessibility, equity, and real-world applications in both formal and informal learning environments.  

Nominated by leaders from regional organizations including the Virginia Association of Science Teachers, DiscoverE, US National Academy of Sciences, CodeVA, Business Women’s Giving Circle, Northern VA Community College, Fairfax County Public Schools, National Science Foundation, Data Science for Everyone, MITRE and Hitachi Vantara Federal to name a few, Dr. Seshaiyer was praised for his role in designing and delivering professional development programs for educators, authoring collaborative scholarship, and mentoring students in ways that directly benefit the public. His contributions have elevated George Mason University’s impact across Virginia and served as a model for university-community partnerships nationwide.  

The award will be formally presented during a celebration luncheon at the Mason Board of Visitors meeting on May 1, 2025, in Merten Hall on the Fairfax Campus.  

Please join us in congratulating Padhu Seshaiyer on this significant achievement.

* The programs and services offered by George Mason University are open to all who seek them. George Mason does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. After an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.