George Mason’s School of Integrative Studies (SIS) celebrates the appointment of Associate Professor Dr. Elizabeth Freeman as the Executive Director of the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation (SMSC), following her service as the Interim Executive Director since July 2025.
For Dr. Freeman, the appointment represents a full-circle moment in a career dedicated to wildlife conservation, interdisciplinary research, and experiential education.
The longstanding partnership between George Mason University and the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) has deep roots within SIS. Current and former SIS faculty members Tom Wood and Janette Muir were instrumental in establishing SMSC, helping lay the foundation for its interdisciplinary approach to conservation education and research.
One of the first recipients of a Smithsonian-Mason Ph.D. fellowship, her connection to the partnership began before she joined SIS in 2008 as an Assistant Professor of Conservation Studies. That same year, she helped teach SMSC’s inaugural semester-away cohort, contributing to the early development of a program that has since welcomed students from more than 75 colleges and universities.
As a conservation biologist, Dr. Freeman studies how wildlife behavior and temperament, physiology, health, and the environment contribute to species’ wellbeing. Her research has included work on black rhinoceroses, Asian elephants, red pandas, and maned wolves, with an emphasis on applying scientific findings to improve conservation outcomes.
Her longstanding connections to both Mason and NZCBI, combined with her experience as an educator and researcher, provide a strong foundation for her leadership of SMSC as it continues preparing future generations of conservation professionals.
“I know first-hand the opportunities that the NZCBI-Mason partnership and learning environment provides. It’s an honor to work with the dedicated faculty and staff at SMSC to provide similar life-changing experiences that are developing leaders in biodiversity conservation through innovative education, training and research."
A Partnership Rooted in Conservation
The relationship between George Mason University and the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute spans decades, beginning with a shared commitment to graduate education and expanding into an interdisciplinary partnership dedicated to biodiversity conservation.
Located on the Smithsonian's 3,200-acre research and conservation campus in Front Royal, Virginia, SMSC offers hands-on, interdisciplinary educational opportunities for students ranging from high school through graduate and professional levels. Programs include virtual courses, short-term learning experiences, and immersive residential programs designed to prepare future conservation leaders.
Among SMSC's flagship offerings are three 16-credit semester-away programs open to undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students from colleges and universities across the United States. Through coursework led by Mason faculty, Smithsonian scientists, and conservation professionals, students gain practical experience in conservation research and fieldwork.
With semester-away participants from more than 75 colleges and universities and graduate professional learners from more than 105 countries, SMSC's educational impact extends far beyond Mason's campus, preparing future conservation professionals to make a difference around the world.
Learn more about the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation here.