Student Highlight: Gillian Kelly

Gillian Kelly, Integrative Studies with a concentration in Social Science for Education
Gillian Kelly, Integrative Studies with a concentration in Social Science for Education

New Century College first year student Gillian Kelly (integrative studies, concentration in social science for education) has joined the Mason community with energy, enthusiasm and purpose. Kelly plans to complete her undergraduate and graduate degrees in five years, all while taking a full course load, leading new campus initiatives and advocating for those with Type 1 diabetes, a condition she has managed since she was 9 years old. Kelly’s hard work earned her recognition from the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) with their award of a $500 scholarship for spring 2016.

On any given day, Kelly juggles a variety of academic and extracurricular responsibilities. As a student in Cornerstones, Kelly spends much time reading, writing and preparing for classroom discussion.

She said, “I’ve always thrived in discussion-based learning. I can experience my learning through others’ learning. In Cornerstones, I’ve experienced a great dialog of what we’ve learned through the semester, and it’s helped me to better define my own identity.”

When she’s not studying, Kelly has joined several campus organizations, including the LEAD office’s L-Team of student ambassadors and the Alpha Omicron Pi fraternity. Kelly is also working with another Mason student to launch a local chapter of the College Diabetes Network, which will serve as a resource for students with diabetes and an awareness-raising group for the Mason community.

Her schedule is hectic, but Kelly enjoys the involvement. She said, “In high school, I was ‘that girl’ in lots of clubs and always going to a meeting. I thrive on social interaction and organization. Of course, school is my number one priority but organizations are my way of making this huge place smaller.”

Originally from Reston, Virginia, Kelly knew since age seven that she was interested in becoming a teacher. She attended Chantilly Academy and participated in Teachers for Tomorrow, a program that brings high school students into public school classrooms to experience the teaching profession from the perspectives of both the student and educator.

She was eager to continue this type of hands-on learning, and chose Mason for the five-year Bachelor’s Accelerated Master’s program offered through NCC and the College of Education and Human Development. After graduation, she hopes to teach social science at the high school level. Until then, Kelly plans to make the most of her time at Mason.