This spring, George Mason University (GMU) announced that it planned to use a new $5 million, six-year grant to expand undergraduate class offerings, provide more opportunities for additional students, and increase the visibility of its research.
At the time the gift was announced, GMU President Ángel Cabrera noted the university’s economics department already has been home to two Nobel Prize scholars. “Mason’s Economics Department is a top-ranked department, a source of pride for the university and a core reason we have earned a global reputation for excellence,” Cabrera said. “This generous gift builds on our legacy as a leader in the field of economics and as a top research university with a mission of public service.”
The GMU economics department, which has educated more than 4,000 undergraduate majors, 1,000 master’s students, and 400 doctoral students during its four-decade history, is ranked 46th in the world by the prestigious Shanghai Ranking Consultancy.
Department Chair Dan Houser explained the $5 million grant from the Charles Koch Foundation “will help Mason compete for top quality faculty in a competitive market.” He also noted, “Talented, diverse economists are what drive our department, provide undergraduates with a broad understanding of economics, and help prepare students seeking to become the next generation of scholars.”