The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is proud to honor Annette Ott-Barnett, BIS '18, with the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award in School of Integrative Studies/Bachelor of Individualized Studies.
Ott-Barnett, CMP Emeritus, CMM, CAE, SEPC, graduated summa cum laude from George Mason University in 2018 with a minor in both tourism and events management and nonprofit studies (through George Mason’s Fellows program). George Mason accepted Ott-Barnett's Northern Virginia Community College credits earned in 2016 and recognized her U.S. Army service as military police.
Ott-Barnett, a certified event planner, could have pursued her bachelor's in event management at George Mason, but as a certified association executive with an interest in sustainability, she chose to design her own degree, combining all three interests, resulting in a BIS degree in sustainable business events management.
With this newfound joy for learning, she moved to Australia, where she earned a master of event management with distinction in 2020 from the University of Technology Sydney Business School. In April 2026, she achieved a high distinction in her professional doctorate (applied research) in event food waste management at Torrens University Australia.
Congratulations, Annette Ott-Barnett!
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences honors distinguished alumni each fall at Community and Catalysts: Achievements, Awards, and Innovations. This signature event is a celebration of alumni, faculty, and students whose leadership, research, and service have made outstanding contributions to their fields, communities, and to the university.