Mason has been a life-long resident of Albany.. His childhood memories range from being a young boy playing with his little sister on the old Monteith Park stage, to touring the Monteith House at age six with his grandma and same little sister, to peering through the passenger-side window of his mom's white Honda everyday on his way to elementary school and seeing the Cumberland while it rested on the corner before there was a round-a-about. Consequently, Mason has a unique perspective on--and respect for--Albany.
Mason's vantage point is amplified by his studies and professional work. A graduate of Princeton University, he has conducted significant architectural research on over a dozen buildings from places as far reaching as Germany (Munich, Berlin, and Dresden) Austria (Vienna), Hungary (Budapest), Spain (Madrid, Sevilla, Cordoba, and the Costa del Sol), New York, Washington, D.C.; and more.
Mason was awarded the Fulbright Fellowship for architecture. It fully funds a year-long independent research project. He plans to return to Vienna to understand the 'Social Relations of Architecture.' While there, he hopes to theorize the architecture as a contributing factor to the city's livability.
The COVID-19 pandemic has deferred Mason's Fulbright award indefinitely. Mason is living and working in Albany at present and has been putting his interests and skills to work to benefit our community in multiple ways.
Currentl,, Mason has prioritized the well-being of the Albany community in terms of both the people and buildings. He has helped restore two historic homes in the Hackleman District (one on Jefferson St. and the other on 2nd Ave.) He serves on the Landmarks Commision for the City of Albany. With his free time, he works on his godfather's farm and helps cultivate honey. Above all this, Mason's favorite work is with kids. He tutors for Greater Albany Public Schools, working primarily with youths who aren't allowed back at school for various disciplinary or medical reasons.
They say "it takes a village." Mason is a good example of that. He went from poverty to the Ivy League. Now, he wants to contribute to the “village" so that those in similar situations can go on to achieve their greatest potential--especially the kids.
Mason has joined the Cumberland board as a director and looks forward to giving back and affecting meaningful change in the Albany community.
