Professor John Jones (photo courtesy of John M. Jones)

Briefing the president of the United States on national security and traveling with a camel caravan are just some of the experiences that Professor John Jones brings to his students in the Public Policy and MBA programs at George Mason University. As an adjunct faculty member at Mason, he teaches courses for the graduate programs in the schools of management and public policy. Professor Jones was a former U.S. Ambassador to Guyana from 2008 to 2010, and, as a life-long U.S Foreign Service officer, has spent considerable time in Latin America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Western Europe and parts of Africa.

Jones graduated from University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton MBA program and Howard University’s law school.He seemed destined for a legal career as he set up his own private practice.

At a budget town hall on April 15, Senior Vice President J. J. Davis and Provost Peter Stearns discussed increasing student tuition and the 2014 fiscal year budget.

Tuition rates are expected to rise, however, the exact amount of the increase is yet to be determined. Stearns hopes that it will be less than 4.2 percent, which is the expected increase for other Virginia public universities.

Garza will replace Jack Dale as superintendent of the Fairfax County Public Schools system (photo courtesy of FCPS).

After a nearly yearlong search, the Fairfax County School Board has decided on a new superintendent to replace Jack Dale, who will be leaving the position after nine years.

Karen Garza, a Texas native who has held positions as a schoolteacher, principal and administrator over the past 26 years, was chosen to replace Dale.

According to an article in the Washington Post, members of the Fairfax County School Board believed Garza to be “uniquely suited to lead Fairfax” because of her history as a teacher and administrator in different environments. 

Garza received her doctorate from the University of Texas and currently serves as superintendent of the Lubbock Interdisciplinary School District in Texas.

In the first two weeks of April, finalists for the chief of police at George Mason University met with students and held presentations about their vision for the future of the department.

Three finalists were selected to give presentations: Drew Tracy, who is currently serving as interim police chief, Larry Volz and Eric Heath.

Tracy was selected to fill in as interim chief after former chief Mike Lynch decided to switch roles at the department, but ultimately decided to retire. Lynch had been with the department for 13 years.