Mari Tisera
Friday’s GMU commencement ceremony while the presenter called Mari Tisera’s name.
In a rare show of honor, George Mason University (GMU) conferred a posthumous degree to a Rappahannock native at its commencement ceremony on May 10.
Mari Tisera, a 2021 graduate of Wakefield Country Day School, was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree. Tisera was a student at GMU studying government and international politics before she passed away last June of melanoma, which she was diagnosed with during her freshman year, according to a GMU press release. She was 20 years old.
According to the release, this is only the third time a posthumous degree has been awarded to a student of the Schar School of Policy and Government. Tisera was an active student despite her battle with cancer and subsequent treatments, and organized several student marches on campus, and was a “sweetheart” of the Zeta Psi fraternity there. She worked as an intern on Capitol Hill for Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), who read a eulogy on the House floor after Tisera died.
Friends and family members attended the commencement ceremony which Mari’s mother, Viviana, said was an emotional day for all. “I couldn’t believe that everybody stood up, and there were so many people [there].”
Viviana Tisera said when the school found out that Mari was still completing classwork while undergoing her cancer treatments, they wanted to honor her dedication to her education.
“She was my only girl, my princess. I love her so much. She always said, ‘If you work hard, mommy, you move mountains,’” Viviana Tisera said. “I feel so thankful to George Mason [University].”
Mari Tisera
A photo of Mari Tisera’s newly hung bachelor’s degree from George Mason University, which was awarded to her posthumously at last Friday’s commencement.
