Costello College of Business News

Federal acquisition leaders are under growing pressure to move faster. Agencies are being asked to modernize procurement operations, reduce procurement administrative lead time, and process increasingly complex acquisitions with a workforce that is often stretched thin. At the same time, proposal volumes continue to increase, technical submissions are becoming more sophisticated, and evaluators are expected to absorb massive amounts of information under compressed timelines. Against that backdrop, it is not surprising that agencies are beginning to explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) could assist the source selection process.

The Donald G. Costello College of Business at George Mason University celebrated 1,119 undergraduate and graduate students at a degree celebration on Friday, May 15 at EagleBank Arena on the Fairfax Campus. Graduates join a Costello network of more than 44,000 alumni.

To learn through experience and gain a competitive edge, finance and accounting students from the Costello College of Business at George Mason University participated in the Costello Fellows on Wall Street program, connecting with major financial services firms and alumni in New York City. What has become an annual tradition continues to grow, with participation expanding significantly—from 10 students in previous years to approximately 30 this year.

For Honors College student and University Scholar Monica Amaya, the journey to a degree isn’t just about the final walk across the stage—it’s about a promise she made to her family and herself years ago.

Weapon system operational readiness has been on a steady decline over the last two decades. This decline in readiness rates has been highlighted by the General Accountability Office, the DOW Inspector General, and DOW officials at various levels. Many of the issues affecting readiness are systemic. They are also fixable.

Two members of the Costello College of Business at George Mason University have been honored with the Jack Wood Award for Town-Gown Relations. Selected in the staff category was Rebecca Howick, director of operations and engagement for the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE). In the student category, Iman Chaudhry, a sophomore studying management information systems, was recognized.

Co-owned companies are more likely to use the same audit firm. This has positive implications for institutional investors and the market as a whole, according to Young Hoon Kim, assistant professor of accounting at Costello.

The Costello College of Business at George Mason University and NABA Inc. today announced a new three-year community partnership grounded in a shared belief: when students, educators, and industry leaders grow together, entire communities—and the businesses that serve them—thrive. The collaboration will strengthen professional development, open new pathways for student success, and deepen connections across the regional and national business community. 

Senior Khaled Alkurd is speeding up instead of slowing down as he approaches graduation.

As the university’s Grand Challenge Initiative (GCI) enters its second year, George Mason University recently announced funding for seven catalyst research projects and the launch of the Grand Challenge Research Exchange—quarterly convenings for all GCI-related research to accelerate solutions to the grand challenge of our time. The Costello College of Business is a participant in the initiative and collaborating in three of the seven new catalyst projects.

There are few George Mason University students as busy as senior Rakibul Alam. A senior majoring in business and concentrating on management and marketing, Alam has become one of the most visible student leaders in the Costello College of Business, where he works as a marketing and communications intern. Recently he was among the speakers welcoming the community at Fuse’s grand celebration in September at Mason Square.

Overall, industry and government need to be educated on the flexibilities of OTAs and how they can operate if used correctly. Education should not be singularly directed to industry or government but to all on an acquisition team, which includes both buyers and sellers.