Photobar of our students

Campus Resources & Student Organizations

Campus Resources

These professional Offices & Alumni organizations all play a key role in supporting Black/African Heritage students at Mason. Please read the descriptions of each resource below and visit their individual websites for more information.

Multicultural Research & Resource Center – As described on their website, “The MRRC is devoted to research on intercultural and cross-cultural inclusion and the development of curriculum that reflects the multicultural society within our local, regional, national and international community.  MRRC seeks to provide students, faculty, and staff with the ability to identify the many ways that oppression impacts our communication with each other and, the skills to shift prejudicial attitudes and behavior.”
Contact Phone: (703) 993-4003
URL: http://mrrc.gmu.edu/

African American Studies & The Paul Robeson Resource Room – Located in the Johnson Center, room 240A, African-American Studies (AFAM) “covers disciplines from philosophy to histories of eastern religions; literature, to art, to the histories of science in social change. [Their] aim is not to reconcile the tentacles of a multi-various heritage, but to reveal them as already reconciled and formative.”
Contact Phone: (703) 993-4080
URL: http://afam.gmu.edu/index.php

Association of Black Faculty And Staff (ABFAS) – According to their official website, ABFAS works “to promote the well-being of the Black community of the University; to assertively push for the recruitment of Black faculty, administrators, staff, and students; to assist in the recruitment and retention of Black undergraduate and graduate students at George Mason; to encourage equitable utilization of Black faculty, administrators, and staff throughout the university community; to provide liaison between ABFAS and the university administration; and to organize and maintain a support network for Black faculty, administrators, staff, and students.”
Contact: Mika’il Petin, President (mpetin@gmu.edu)
URL: http://www.abfas.gmu.edu/index.html

GMU Black Alumni Chapter – From their homepage: “The Black Alumni Chapter, a formal alumni chapter of George Mason University, brings together Black Alumni through fellowship and professional development activities. Founded in 2003, the BAC serves as a resource for linking Black Alumni with unique opportunities to support the University's Black/African Heritage students, faculty, organizations, and the Mason community.”
Contact: gmubac@gmail.com
URL: http://bac.gmu.edu/

Student Organizations

Social

These organizations focus on a multitude of issues and act as support systems for Mason’s students of color. Being in community and fellowship with people of similar values and backgrounds can be extremely important and very influential toward your overall success as a college student. Each of the descriptions below was written by a member of the respective organization. Please reach out to them and get involved!

Black Graduate Student Association - The BGSA is an interdisciplinary network of Black graduate students at George Mason University that is dedicated to fostering a sense of community by attending to the social, academic, political, and professional needs of Black graduate students. Please email us at the address below, if interested.
Contact:  GMUBGSA@gmail.com

Black Student Alliance - The Black Student Alliance (BSA) is an organization that promotes a better union between the African-American community as well as the George Mason University community. We are a support organization for other African-American based organizations as well as faculty and staff. Our mission is to serve as a unified voice for the black students, faculty and staff through which the concerns of the community can be addressed while enriching the cultural, intellectual, and social life at George Mason University.
URL: http://www.gmu.edu/org/bsa/aboutus.html

Caribbean Student Association – Established in 2003, the Caribbean Student Association's main goal has been to obtain a better understanding of Caribbean culture and to design an environment where students interested in Caribbean cultures can interact with students of Caribbean descent.  We are a student organization striving to enlighten the Mason community and enhance Mason's diversity by taking steps towards Caribbean solidarity.
URL:  www.gmu.edu/org/caribbean

Other Active Social Organizations

African Student Association
Eritrean Student Organization
Ethiopian Student Association
Somali Student Association
Sudanese Student Association

Special Interest

These organizations have either a professional, interpersonal, spiritual, or socially-conscious focus. Those with an asterisk (*) act as the George Mason chapter of a much larger national, and in some cases, global organization. Once completed, our National Resources page will have more information on these organization's national bodies. [Listed in alphabetical order]

Anointed Voices of Unity (AVU) - AVU is the student-based Christian Gospel choir. We spread the word of God, through song, dance, and musical performance. We perform for campus events here at George Mason and we also travel out to other campuses, churches, and businesses to perform. While we are a Christian based organization, we do not discriminate against other religions or other religious organizations. We are bonded through friendship, love, and respect. We uplift one another, but most importantly, we lift up the name of God and we thank Him and we praise Him for all He has done and for all that He is going to do.
Contact: avu.gmu@gmail.com

*The IMPACT Movement – GMU Impact is the premier Christian organization that targets African Americanstudents, faculty and staff. We seek to spread theword of Jesus Christ to the campus, community, and the world through evangelism, weekly Bible Study, and fellowship.
Contact: Jocelyn Saunders, President (jsaunde6@gmu.edu)


*National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) – NABA has been a leader inexpanding the influence of minority professionals in the fields of accounting and finance. The purpose of this association is to promote and develop the professionalskills of all members, encourage and assist minority students in entering the accounting profession, and to represent the interests of prospective minority accounting students and professionals. NABA offers abundant educational, networking and service opportunities.
Contact: Vera Asongwe, President (vasongwe@gmu.edu)

*National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) - Our mission is “to increase the number of culturally responsible black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community.” The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) is one of the largest non-profit student organizations that consists of over 31,000 members worldwide. Open to people with different backgrounds, educational goals, and races, all members seek to adhere to our mission statement in order to help each member succeed.
URL:http://gmu.edu/org/nsbe/
Contact: Marcus Coates, President (mcoates1@gmu.edu)

*Rotaract – Rotaract is a club that provides an opportunity for young men and women to enhance the knowledge and skills that will assist them in personal development, to address the physical and social needs of their communities, and to promote better relations between all people worldwide through a framework of friendship and service.
Contact: D'Leon Barnett, President (dbarnet1@gmu.edu)

Urbanknowlogy 101 – Urbanknowlogy 101 consists of a group of dancers who strive for the excellence and contribute to the community through the knowledge and study of urban movement; which is Hip-hop.  Kimberlee Louis is the current president of Urbanknowlogy 101 and can be contacted at the email address below.
Contact: Kimberlee Louis, President (klouis1@gmu.edu)

Other Active Special Interest Organizations

Akoma Circle
*National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

Historically Black Fraternities & Sororities

There are nine major American historically Black Fraternities & Sororities, affectionately referred to as the “Divine 9.” These organizations are governed by the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), and Mason is fortunate enough to have all of them represented on campus. A breeding ground for leaders since the early 1900s, the NPHC organizations are all committed to service within the community, academic excellence, and carrying on their various traditions. Listed here in the order of their respective founding dates, members of each organization have contributed the descriptions below.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Omicron Iota Chapter – Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated is the first intercollegiate Greek Letter sorority established African-American women at Howard University on January 15, 1908. This organization places an emphasis on Sisterhood, Scholarship and Service to all Mankind.
URL: www.gmu.edu/org/aka
 Contact: oi_aka@yahoo.com 

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., Eta Delta Chapter – Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. was founded November 17, 1911 at Howard University by three undergraduates and their faculty advisor. They were founded on the cardinal principles of Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance, and Uplift. Their colors are Royal Purple and Old Gold.
URL: www.gmu.edu/org/opp

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Omicron Rho Chapter – Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,Inc.is a private, non-profit, public service organization, committed to high excellence in scholarship,astrongdevotion to service, and anundeniable sisterly bond.Founded in 1913,thisSisterhoodaimstoempower, uplift, and unite African American communities. The Omicron Rho chapter was charteredon April16, 1983 becoming the first black Greek letteredorganization on campus. Since then the chapter hasalways upheld the sorority mission by serving the Mason community in many events that correspond to ourProgrammatic Thrust: economic development, educational development, physical and mental health,political awareness and involvement, and international awareness and involvement.
URL:  www.gmu.edu/org/delta 

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., Zeta Omicron Chapter – Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. was founded January 16, 1920 at Howard University and the Zeta Omicron Chapter was chartered on November 15, 1992.  Five women chose not to embrace the tenets of established black sororities, and charter Zeta Phi Beta Sorority to encourage the highest standards of scholarship through scientific, literary, cultural, and educational programs; promote service projects on college campuses and in the community; foster sisterhood; and exemplify the ideal of Finer Womanhood.
Contact: zetas@gmu.edu

Sigma Gamma Rho, Mu Omega Chapter – The Mu Omega chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc was chartered on the campus of George Mason University on April 12, 1992. Since its establishment, the ladies of the Mu Omega chapter have been dedicated to providing "Greater Service, Greater Progress" to the campus of George Mason University and the surrounding communities.
Contact: slomax@gmu.edu

Iota Phi Theta, Zeta Tau Chapter – Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. was founded on September 19, 1963 at Morgan State University. The Zeta Tau chapter was founded as a colony on November 4, 2007 and chartered July 8, 2008. Zeta Tau chapter as well as the entire fraternity as a whole emphasize on the principles of Scholarship, Leadership, Citizenship, Fidelity, and Brotherhood among men.
URL: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GMUIOTAS/
Contact: gmuiotas@yahoo.com

National Pan-Hellenic Council, GMU Chapter – The Geroge Mason Chapter of the NPHC serves as a governing and unifying body for the Black Greek community. Please visit the website below for more information.
URL: GMU Chapter

The Other Active NPHC Organizations:

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Iota Alpha Chapter
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity  Inc., Mu Mu Chapter
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., Rho Tau Chapter