Micron at Mason

Micron at Mason

by Kendra Anderson

On January 20, 2024, alumni, donors, and friends from Micron Technology, Inc. came to George Mason University’s Fairfax Campus to cheer on the Patriot men’s basketball team. Following a reception and an opportunity to meet with President Gregory Washington, attendees enjoyed a Patriot win over the visiting St. Bonaventure Bonnies.

“Mason’s partnership with Micron is one that we value across the university,” President Washington said to the Micron guests. “Mason and Micron make each other stronger, and that makes Northern Virginia stronger.”

Micron has been an important supporter of Mason and has specifically championed programs within College of Engineering and Computing, the College of Science, the College of Visual and Performing Arts, and University Life, among others.

“I am proud of the relationship that Micron has forged with George Mason University,” said Delbert Parks, vice president of Micron and a member of the George Mason University Foundation Board of Trustees. “Through my service here as a Trustee, I get to see first-hand the amazing work that is happening at Mason.”  

Micron Technology develops and creates memory and storage solutions for applications in products such as automobiles, consumer electronics, communications technologies, servers, and computers. With a large manufacturing facility situated near Mason’s Sci-Tech Campus, Micron is truly part of the university’s community.

Trishana Bowden, president of the George Mason University Foundation and vice president of Mason’s Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations, welcomed the attendees at the Micron at Mason reception. “We are proud of the work that Micron is doing, both here at Mason and in the community,” said Bowden. “We are especially proud of our Mason alumni who work at Micron.”

A significant collaboration between the two lies in the development of Mason’s Nanofabrication Facility (NFF), an academic and core clean room facility for research and development on the micro- and nano- scale. It is accessible for hands-on workforce training, and its instruments and services are available to faculty, staff, students, and external partners. In 2022, Micron committed $45K towards the NFF’s clean room initiative, contributing to an environment conducive to building microfluidics and micro- and nano- electronics. Micron Technologies and Mason are now working together to incorporate science and engineering resources from Micron into Mason courses, develop week-long camps for high school students, and explore future opportunities for collaborative research and development.

“We are thrilled to be connected with a university that is working to provide creative pathways to success,” said Parks, who coordinated the event to highlight the relationship between Micron and Mason. “The Micron at Mason event is a great way to build upon this connection.”