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As George Mason University's Bachelor of Individualized Study (BIS) program celebrates its 50th anniversary, non-traditional, adult learners continue to gear degrees toward their interests while juggling busy lives.

Dr. Al Fuertes, SIS professor and chair of the Board of the Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation at Mason, presented and facilitated a workshop (Nov 17-20) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the topic, "From Trauma Narratives to Trauma Healing Program Implementation: A Framework to Advance Psycho-social Healing in Post-war and Displacement Settings.“

Meet Susan Vetter Ricker, an SIS Senior, majoring in Bachelor of Individualized Study with a concentration in Artificial Intelligence Ethics and Technology.  Aside from being a student, Susan is the Director of Operations for a national water industry trade association, where she bridges the worlds of advanced technology and critical infrastructure. Her academic journey reflects a deep commitment to understanding artificial intelligence—not just as a tool for innovation, but as a catalyst for ethical problem-solving and collaborative progress.

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is proud to honor Mido Hajaji, BIS ’19, with the 2025 CHSS G.O.L.D. - Graduate of the Last Decade award. Hajaji is a technology executive and entrepreneur with nearly 20 years of experience driving IT modernization across public-sector and higher-education institutions. As founder and CEO of CloudAI Technologies, his company works to blend secure cloud, AI, and cybersecurity solutions for state, local, and education customers.

Fall meeting times announced!

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is proud to honor T. Garey Davis, BIS ‘01, African and African American Studies Minor, with the 2025 Distinguished Alumni award in African and African American Studies. Davis is a champion for student mentoring and experiential learning and serves as associate director in George Mason’s Center for Leadership and Intercultural Engagement.

This year, the School of Integrative Studies awarded $13,000 worth of scholarship funds to our students! Read more to learn about our Spring 2025 SIS Scholarship winners.

Tasha Bayard, a BIS Senior, presented on The Lived Experiences of African American and Black Physicians, Fellows, Residents and Medical Students in the Workplace. She said the support of her department has been very encouraging, especially as she juggles class, work, and raising a young child as a non-traditional student.