Volgenau.GMU.edu: Mason Engineering hires a chief diversity officer

Christopher Carr has been hired to be Mason Engineering's Chief Diversity Officer 

(Courtesy photo.)

George Mason University

Volgenau School of Engineering

August 1, 2019

by Ryley McGinnis

Christopher Carr’s enthusiasm for diversity and inclusion in higher education and STEM springs from his experiences growing up in Missouri, and it is that background that led him to become the first chief diversity officer at the Volgenau School of Engineering.

Currently, Carr serves as the senior director of programs for the National Society of Black Engineers, but at the end of August, he will be joining Mason Engineering, where he hopes to make a difference in students’ lives. “Growing up where I did, there weren’t many people who looked like me, but my mom was great about giving me every opportunity to be successful,” he says.

His mother's motivation led Carr to a science and math magnet school as a child, but after his first day, she found him scrubbing his skin raw in the bathroom. “I told her the kids at school said I was brown because I’m dirty.”

This experience has stuck with Carr, and it set him on his mission to make sure that no child ever feels as lonely as he felt. He has focused his career around that goal. “Schools have to be open enough to allow students in who bring new perspectives and to make them feel welcome and wanted. I hope to help the school of engineering to not only capitalize on the value of having diverse groups and ideas but also to grow into being a part of the diversity-conscious world.”

It was Mason’s already established mission to be an accessible source of higher education that drew Carr to this new role. “Mason has an interesting story to tell. It can bring someone from any background and help them achieve and get a degree regardless of educational background. I want to come in and showcase what Mason is doing well.” 

Along with highlighting Mason Engineering’s dedication to diversity, Carr wants to start building connections between faculty, staff, and hiring committees to diverse organizations and networks. “I want to give them the tools to find diverse people as part of job searches and other opportunities to reflect the diverse student body.”