Chapter News

School of Management Alumni Chapter

“ What a great time to reconnect with the School of Management,” says Michael Hamrick, M.B.A. ’96, president of the School of Management (SOM) Alumni Chapter. “I speak with a lot of people during the course of a typical week, and there is definitely a buzz out there regarding George Mason and the School of Management.”

It is that excitement that Hamrick looks to capitalize on to reach out to the 14,000 plus SOM alumni and get them involved. The chapter has made plans to reach out to SOM alumni in the business community after hearing a local alumnus say he had identified 140 employees within his firm who had a degree from Mason.

“ We’re looking to reach our alumni where they live and work,” says Hamrick. “With the majority of our alumni in the Washington metropolitan area, it just made perfect sense to approach it that way.”

The chapter will host a series of on-site receptions with local employers to help Mason alumni find their way back to the university and SOM. In addition, the chapter is cosponsoring a monthly breakfast series with SOM Dean Richard Klimoski and helping recruit alumni to participate in the Advanced Business Models capstone class (SOM 498) review panels. “We have many other initiatives planned and will make sure that alumni know about these opportunities and how they can play a role in moving the chapter forward,” notes Hamrick.

A member of George Mason’s Century Club and Alumni Board of Directors, Hamrick was appointed president of the SOM Chapter in July. He works in the Business Planning Group of AXA Advisors, LLC, concentrating on financial planning for senior executives and owners of closely held businesses. He and his wife, Kristi, have four children and live in Reston, Va.

For more information, visit the chapter’s web site at www.som.gmu.edu/alumni or e-mail Hamrick at michaelhamrick@msn.com.

School of Public Policy Alumni Chapter

On November 6, 2002, the Alumni Association gave the School of Public Policy (SPP) approval to launch a new alumni chapter. All SPP alumni are invited to participate in chapter activities, which are designed to unify SPP graduates and students of all the school’s degree and certificate programs in the interest of fellowship for personal and professional enhancement. Through its activities, the chapter also plans to support, advance, and strengthen the value of all SPP degree and certificate programs, and be a source of information and mentoring for all SPP students. Chris Jones, M.A. International Transactions ’99, is the chapter’s interim president.

The chapter will hold its first annual business meeting in June, at which time officers will be elected. The Election Committee is currently soliciting candidates for office. To learn more about getting involved, send an e-mail to Heather Gaillard, SPP associate director of career services and alumni relations, at hgaillar@gmu.edu or to Jones at lhmjones@yahoo.com.

Calling All Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Alumni and Friends

An alumni group is forming to represent gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender George Mason alumni and friends. For more information or to join the e-mail list, please send an e-mail message to GMUlambdaalumni@yahoo.com.