Staff
Meet Jacquelyn Nash!
Associate Director, University Studies, Contact for Proposing a New UNIV Course, University Studies Registrar, HR & Payroll Functions
Jackie has been affiliated with Mason since 1997 and with University Studies since 2008. Fun fact – she taught the first UNIV College to Career course in the spring of 1998!
Jackie earned her B.A. degree in Psychology from the University of Maryland, her M.Ed. in Counseling and Development from Mason, and achieved ABD status in her doctoral work, also in Counseling and Development, at Mason. Her areas of professional interest are holistic college student development, career education, and the broad spectrum of life transitions.
Jackie functions primarily in a Registrar and Human Resources capacity with University Studies, overseeing scheduling, registration, grading, as well as faculty hiring and pay activities. In addition, she works with campus partners interested in developing a new UNIV course, assisting them from design to implementation. To round out life, Jackie has loved playing backgammon since a teenager and will give anyone interested a run for their money! She also has a life-long friendship with books and devotes a large place in her heart to her three grown sons.
Meet Aslihan Yildiz-Odeh!
Associate Director for University Studies
Aslihan joined Mason and University Studies in Fall 2021. As an educator for over two decades, she has a wide range of experiences which include instruction, academic advising, curriculum design, program coordination and program management in both K-12 and higher education.
Her responsibilities with University Studies span the overall direction of the program such as course design and curriculum, campus partnerships, marketing, assessment and faculty relations.
Originally from Istanbul, Turkey, Aslihan has a B.A. in Business Administration and Management from Bogazici University and a Ph.D. in Economics from Georgetown University. After working at NGOs and think tanks in economic policy research, she found her passion in higher education. Aslihan enjoys gardening, traveling, doing volunteer work and spending time with her family.
Meet Ellen Boyd!
Training and Recruitment Specialist
Ellen Boyd is the Training and Recruitment Specialist for the University Studies Program. With a Master’s degree in education from Old Dominion University, Ellen has an extensive background in education from early childhood to higher education. Ellen plays a vital role in the university studies department, overseeing the recruitment, training, and ongoing professional development of both faculty and peer advisors. Ellen also co-teaches the UNIV 330 course, a classroom experience that helps development the skills of the Peer Advisors before they take on their new role.
Originally from Virginia Beach, VA, Ellen has moved several times due to her husband’s military service and returned to Virginia in June of 2023. Outside of her professional sphere, Ellen treasures moments of adventure with her husband and three children. Whether they’re hitting the gym for some exercise, gliding along on roller skates, or simply enjoying each other’s company. This balance between professional dedication and personal fulfillment is what fuels Ellen’s drive and passion in both realms of her life.
Meet Ryan Casey!
Graduate Professional Assistant, Peer Advisor Program
Originally from Chesapeake, VA, Ryan graduated from George Mason University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, concentrating in Inequality and Social Change, in December 2024. He is returning to George Mason University as of Fall 2025, pursuing his Master of Science in Organizational Development and Knowledge Management. He plans to become a leadership consultant once he finishes his graduate studies.
During his undergraduate experience, Ryan served as both a Peer Advisor and Senior Peer Advisor, working hard to ensure that he was able to provide first-year students with the smoothest transition possible as they started their college career. Ryan is very excited to continue the important work that University Studies does as the Graduate Professional Assistant for the department, working with both the University Studies faculty and peer advisors to create a welcoming atmosphere and provide strong mentorship to first-year students.