2026 School of Integrative Studies Outstanding Graduating Student of the Year
The School of Integrative Studies faculty nominates the Outstanding Graduating Student of the Year based on their academic achievement, extracurricular interests, research, civic and community involvement, equity and sustainability, and overall contribution to the Mason community. This year, we are thrilled to spotlight five exceptional students who have made significant contributions to the Mason community and beyond.
Meet our 2026 Outstanding Graduating Students
Rebecca Grossi
Rebecca is from Purcellville, VA and she is an Environmental & Sustainability Studies major, with a Concentration in Policy & Economics, and a Minor in Italian Studies.
What has been your favorite INTS course, and why?
My favorite INTS course was INTS 334: Environmental Justice. This course was incredibly thorough and well organized. My favorite part of the course was the opportunity to research an Environmental Justice topic of my choice. I chose the environmental justice implication of Urban Heat Islands, which was an incredible way to learn about a phenomenon that seriously impacts the health and quality of life of marginalized urban communities. The course really allowed me to apply course concepts in a way that helped me towards my academic interests and professional goals, such as using sustainability in urban planning.
What are you the proudest of during your time here at Mason?
Looking back on my 4 years at George Mason, the thing I'm proudest of during my time at Mason has been my commitment to getting everything I could out of every opportunity I've had. I came into the Bonner Leadership Program as a freshman and helped develop the brand-new program into a fully functioning organization, I discovered a love for the Italian language and pursued it all the way to a semester in Florence, and an application to a fellows program turned into an internship writing climate action plans for Virginia municipalities. I've had an incredible rich and meaningful 4 years, and I will look back on my time at Mason with pride.
Susan V. Ricker
Susan is from Waterford, VA, and she is a Bachelor of Individualized Study major.
What has been your favorite BIS course, and why?
BIS 490 - My capstone experience has been the most impactful. It challenged me to examine artificial intelligence not just as innovation, but as infrastructure; something that shapes access to resources, influences decision-making, and carries real societal consequences. Focusing on the intersection of AI and water systems made the work especially tangible. It became clear that ethical considerations are not abstract; they are embedded in the everyday systems people rely on. That realization has fundamentally shaped how I approach both my academic work and my professional role.
What are you the proudest of during your time here at Mason?
I am most proud of learning to be intentional with my education and allowing my curiosity to guide me. Rather than simply moving through courses, I learned to connect each experience to something larger and more meaningful. This shift allowed me to translate academic work into real-world impact, particularly at the intersection of technology, ethics, and infrastructure. I am also proud to have been recognized for my scholarship, which reflects not only my work, but the support and mentorship I received throughout my time at Mason. Most importantly, I came to value the strength of my own perspective. The intersection of lived experience and education is where meaningful insight begins, and it is something I will continue to carry forward.
James Stewart
James is from Fontana, California, and is majoring in the Bachelor of Individualized Study with a concentration in Strategic Leadership Communication in Technology.
What has been your favorite INTS/BIS course, and why?
My favorite course was INTS 362: Social Justice and Human Rights. I took this course during the summer semester of 2024. Interestingly, I was so excited to take the class, I failed to notice it was condensed into 5-weeks that spanned my summer vacation travel plans. Looking back, I’m positive that it forced me to truly focus and dig deep into learning in that short time. Dr. Shayna Maskell made it fun, and the course allowed me to cover the spectrum of AI, art, and school policing. One assignment was to produce an info-graphic where, true to the condensed theme, I had to layer in several statistics, images, and narrative, in a small printable form.
What are you the proudest of during your time here at Mason?
Honestly, I’m most proud of just getting started on my academic journey this late in life. I am now 55 years old and have had a tremendous amount of success in my technology career and going to college to earn a degree was not in my plans. But my daughter, curious as she was, at 11 years old, started showing an interest in college. I felt I needed to demonstrate the importance of higher education and enrolled at George Mason to see how I could obtain a degree. 3 years later, I’m very excited to be the first person in my immediate family to be graduating with a bachelor's degree.
Taicia (Taya) Justine Taylor
Taicia is from Reston, VA and is majoring in Integrative Studies, with a Concentration in Leadership and Organizational Development, and a Minor in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
What has been your favorite INTS course, and why?
My favorite INTS course was INTS 451, Leadership and Organizational Problem Solving. Prior to taking this course in Spring 2025, all of my leadership courses had been online and asynchronous. INTS 451 was the in-person, hands-on experience I needed to translate the leadership theory I had studied into practice. Taught by Dr. Graziella McCarron, the course included engaging group work and in-class activities that fostered strong connections among classmates and built friendships that continued beyond the semester. It was the most fun and memorable course I took while at Mason.
What accomplishment are you most proud of during your time at Mason?
What I am most proud of from my time at Mason is that I made it here. I was initially accepted to Mason during my senior year of high school in 2020. With Covid and financial constraints, I chose to postpone attending a four-year university. I took language courses at NOVA for a year and then enrolled in an online university to pursue my associate’s degree in Business Administration, planning to transfer to Mason in Spring 2024. However, when I met with admissions in summer 2023, I learned that none of my credits from the online university would transfer. This was devastating at the time and felt like a major disruption to my plans, but I quickly accepted the situation and created a new path forward. I returned to NOVA, completed additional coursework for a year, and applied to transfer to Mason for Fall 2024—and was accepted. My educational journey has not been a traditional one. I faced setbacks and unexpected challenges, but I am proud of the resilience and adaptability that brought me to where I am today, with my graduation from George Mason representing the culmination of it all.
Kaitlyn Michelle Tucker
Kaitlyn is from Williamsburg, VA, and she is Human Development & Family Science major and is minoring in Well-Being.
What has been your favorite HDFS course, and why?
My favorite courses were HDFS 498 and 499 (Internship and Analysis). These courses stood out to me because they allowed me to take what I learned throughout my HDFS coursework and apply it in a real-world setting. Through my internship at the Williamsburg Parent Cooperative Preschool, I was able to work directly with children and families by teaching the 2-year-old class while also creating parent education resources. It was especially meaningful to not only apply these concepts in practice, but to give back to my community in a way that supported both child development and family well-being.
What are you the proudest of during your time here at Mason?
I’m most proud of returning to school and completing my degree while raising my children and taking on a meaningful internship. Balancing these responsibilities pushed me in ways I didn’t expect, but it also showed me what I’m capable of. Being recognized as an outstanding student makes this accomplishment even more meaningful. It also feels special to now be a George Mason alum alongside my husband, which brings my journey full circle.
Academic Excellence
The Academic Excellence Award goes to those who have demonstrated outstanding scholarship and grade point averages during their time at Mason. They each have earned the highest GPA from the major’s graduating class.
- Charlie Clark (BIS)
- Rebecca Grossi (EVSS)
- Charles Leslie Smith (BIS)
- Kayla Nicole Trace (BIS)
- Kaitlyn Michelle Tucker (HDFS)
- Ella Doris Yong Nhek (INTS)