Spring 2021 Update including Testing Operations

January 15, 2021

Dear Mason Science students, staff, and faculty:

President Washington’s update below aptly highlights our feelings about 2020, yet also describes the exciting and thoughtfully assessed plans for 2021 and specifically for the coming spring semester. We are looking forward to starting as planned on Monday, January 25th and our ramp up to 50% return goal is paused, in part due to your feedback.

As you may know, over the winter break many members of our Mason Science community worked diligently to enhance Mason COVID19 testing and monitoring. I had the opportunity and privilege of visiting with our team of colleagues working around the clock to makes the new testing system possible. I wanted to take a moment to thank all involved in this effort, from those behind the science of the testing itself, to those supplying the technology and operational support to bring this effort forward, thank you all.

I especially want to recognize the following for leading and supporting Mason’s COVID-19 monitoring and testing enterprise (with links to their bio as available).

• Ali Andalibi
• Natasha Boddie
• Christopher Calderone
• Josh Copeland
• Tshaka Cunningham
• Ginny Espina
• Kenia Gomez
• Florencia Gutierrez
• Amanda Haymond
• Alex Hodge
• Yali Kong
• Andrew Kosterman
• Lance Liotta
• Alessandra Luchini
• Carrie McVicker
• Gregory "Chandler" Merrell
• Claudius Mueller
• Adeyemi Olanrewaju
• Sampson Olaitan Omole
• Emanuel “Chip” Petricoin
• Dale Pokorski
• Geovanny Reyesmatute 
• Sally Rucker
• J.D. Sayle
• Adam Stainger 
• Dan Taggart
• Patty Theimer
• Kan Wang

Please continue checking the Mason website for COVID-19 protocols and testing details. We will keep you updated on our progress.

Stay well and safe.

FMW