Board of Visitors

Governor appoints new BOV member, reappoints three visitors

ckearney — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 18:27:26 +0000

Governor appoints new BOV member, reappoints three visitors ckearney Wed, 06/10/2026 - 14:27

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Friday, June 5, announced one new appointment and three reappointments to the 91�� Board of Visitors (BOV).

The new appointee is James W. Dyke Jr., who served as the state’s Secretary of Education from 1990 to 1993 and as a domestic policy advisor to former Vice President Walter Mondale. Dyke, of Reston, is a senior advisor at McGuireWoods Consulting LLC.

Spanberger’s reappointees to the BOV are Delbert H. Parks, George D. Schindler and Jennifer M. Taylor, MBA ’98.

Parks, of Manassas, is vice president and site executive of Micron Technology Virginia. He is a former member of the 91�� Foundation Board of Trustees, and he also serves on the Virginia Business Higher Education Council.

Schindler, of Fairfax, is the former president and CEO of CGI, a global business and strategic IT consulting service firm he led from 2016 to 2024 after serving in many other leadership roles in the company. He currently serves on CGI’s Board of Directors. In 2024, he was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters from George Mason.

Taylor, of Falls Church, is president and CEO of the Northern Virginia Technology Council. She previously served as vice president of industry affairs at the Consumer Technology Association and in senior leadership roles at AARP, the American Red Cross, and technology startups.

Spanberger initially appointed Parks, Schindler, and Taylor to the BOV in January to complete the four-year terms of prior BOV members. They each start their own four-year terms on the university’s 16-member governing body July 1.

The one BOV member whose four-year term expires July 1 is Rector Michael J. Meese. He was elected to that position at the BOV’s Feb. 26 meeting..

Dyke has chaired or served in leadership positions on several regional and state boards and organizations, including the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the Northern Virginia Business Roundtable, the Northern Virginia Community College Educational Foundation, the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board of Directors, the Commonwealth Transportation Board, the State GO Virginia Board, the Virginia Research Investment Committee, and State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) commissions and committees.

Dyke also served on the Norfolk State University Board of Visitors and chaired the Board of Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia.

The BOV will convene July 30 for its annual planning conference and will meet July 31.

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Wrap up for April 30 BOV meeting

Katarina Benson — Mon, 11 May 2026 18:52:50 +0000

Wrap up for April 30 BOV meeting Katarina Benson Mon, 05/11/2026 - 14:52

At its final meeting of the academic year, the 91�� Board of Visitors saluted graduates from the Early Identification Program, received an update on the men’s basketball program from Coach Tony Skinn, and passed a six-year capital plan, among other actions, including approval of a tuition and fees increase for 2026-27.

Andre Marshall, vice president for research, innovation, and economic impact, reported that 41 proposals (16 large, 25 small) had been submitted for the Grand Challenge Initiative. The initial funding recipients were announced in The George on May 6.

Faculty from all colleges and schools, including Mason Korea, submitted applications. Marshall noted that 38 of the proposals included more than one George Mason college or school and six proposals involved five or more colleges and schools.

“This initiative strengthens George Mason's competitiveness for large interdisciplinary awards,” Marshall said. “It also reshapes how we organize our institutional research. Finally, most importantly, it positions us to lead solutions to some of our most urgent societal needs, living up to our responsibility as a top-tier research university.”

Marvin Lewis, assistant vice president and director of Intercollegiate Athletics, shared successes from his department and brought along a special guest—men’s basketball coach Tony Skinn. Women’s basketball coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis will be a guest at a future Athletic Committee meeting.

Lewis reported significant increases in corporate sponsorships, fundraising (including $2 million on Giving Day, doubling last year’s total), ticket sales, and men’s basketball attendance.

To improve student turnout at athletic events, the university is creating the position of assistant director of student involvement for student fan engagement. According to the job posting, the role “focuses on fostering connections between students, student organizations, and athletic programs to build a vibrant, spirited campus culture.”

“Most schools don't have that,” Lewis said. “But it shows the shared commitment in engaging our students, creating a community for our students, and our investment at the university level to make that happen.”

Under Skinn, the Patriots have posted three consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time in program history and amid a challenging recruiting environment. The team was co-regular season champion of the Atlantic 10 Conference in 2024-25 and has reached the NIT the past two postseasons. George Mason will enter the 2026-27 season seeking its first NCAA men’s basketball berth since 2011.

Skinn said the Basketball and Academic Performance Center for the men’s and women’s teams set to open in 2027 will be “transformational” for the program because it combines the team’s athletic and academic resources. The BAPC is a 27,870 square-foot addition and 14,341 square-foot renovation to the existing Recreation and Athletic Complex and will include a modern academic advising center for all George Mason student-athletes.

“Through men's basketball, I believe a return on investment reaches far beyond the game itself, driving enrollment, strengthening alumni engagement, fueling fundraising, elevating national relevance and deepening George Mason pride,” Skinn told the board. “That is what a successful basketball program can do for this university.”

Trishana E. Bowden, vice president for advancement and alumni relations and president of the 91�� Foundation, reported that the university has raised more than $639 million toward its $1 billion Mason Now: Power the Possible goal. That includes $2.95 million raised from Giving Day on April 2, topping the $1.5 million collected last year for Giving Day.

Athletics, the College of Visual and Performing Arts, and the Costello College of Business each had a record number of donors this year.

Bowden said that 237 faculty and staff made donations on Giving Day, and the day included 500 first-time donors.

The board congratulated 19 members of the Early Identification Program (EIP) who are graduating this month. Among them was Monica Amaya, an Honors College student and University Scholar who is earning a bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in management information systems.

EIP provides academic preparation, leadership training, and college process guidance for first-generation students starting in the eighth grade. EIP is marking its 40th anniversary this year. More than 200 EIP alumni are currently enrolled at the university.

“When I arrived here at George Mason, I didn't feel like I was starting from scratch,” said Amaya, who is from Manassas Park, Virginia. “It felt like I was continuing a journey. One I had already been prepared for. I felt supported, and most importantly, I felt like I belonged.

“I carry with me everything that EIP and George Mason have given me: Resilience, a drive to learn, and a strong sense of community. My success didn't happen by chance. It started with access, it started with support. It started with EIP.”

Amaya, an EIP peer mentor, has a job lined up at CACI as a software developer.

Leaders from three of the university’s schools and colleges made pitches to the board for new or upgraded facilities.

Alpaslan Özerdem, dean of the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, presented a plan to turn Point of View into a retreat and conflict center that could accommodate overnight visitors. Özerdem envisions a “civilian Camp David.”

Point of View, located in Lorton, Virginia, about 18 miles from the Fairfax Campus, is a retreat and research center guided by Carter School faculty. The facility, on 120 wooded acres on Belmont Bay, provides space and support for groups to resolve conflict, heal, and reconcile, and is also a community event space.

Özerdem said that the most effective conflict resolution programs enable participants to spend extended time together in common living and gathering spaces.

“When people share the dinner table, if they sleep under the same roof, they start to think about peace in a different way,” Özerdem said. “Live, think, negotiate together is what we want to achieve.”

Ozerdem said the university has secured $4 million from the state and needs another $10 million to upgrade the facility. He said a public–private partnership is one option.

Rick Davis, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, made a presentation to the board about CVPA fundraising activities and a proposed $104 million project for a new Center for the Arts. The current center opened in 1990.

“When the arts programs of 1990 are all counted up, we had 250 students and we now have 1,800 students majoring in all of our arts disciplines,” Davis said. "The building that we designed in the 1980s was designed for a whole different universe.”

Davis mentioned other potential projects, including a planning study for a new facility for the film and video studies program and game design program to share. Those programs currently are based in the Art and Design Building. Davis also discussed an “arts district vision” that would include a sculpture garden and campus museum.

Patrick Soleymani, associate dean of the Costello College of Business, presented a plan for a new business school building, an initiative that began in 2018. The proposed $165 million project is part of the university’s six-year capital plan (see below).

Soleymani said that Northern Virginia has more than 130,000 open jobs, including 80% in tech-related field, many of which are affiliated with business school graduates.

“Our reputation has outgrown our infrastructure,” Soleymani said. “A new home for Costello directly enhances student success and strengthens the university's position as being in charge of the economic engine of this community and region.”

The six-year capital plan includes several proposed projects. It establishes the university’s capital requests to be submitted to the commonwealth for consideration. The plan is updated on an annual basis and approved by the Board of Visitors.

Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building (ISEB): Proposed as 150,000-square-foot building that will modernize and replicate the spaces within David King Hall and Planetary Hall to allow George Mason to repurpose or demolish the two antiquated facilities in accordance with the Master Plan.
Costello College of Business Building: The approximately 150,000-square-foot building is anticipated to collocate the Costello College of Business operations. A new building would allow for technology-rich, experiential business education while significantly improving visibility and competitiveness.
Baseball Stadium: Would address long-standing facility shortcomings and support the student-athlete experience and recruitment. The current facility has metal bleachers and no restrooms, lights, or concessions.
High-Performance Training Center: Envisioned in partnership with a potential private partner to leverage shared investment and expertise.
Field House: The current facility has exceeded its useful life and no longer meets current programmatic or building system standards.

The April 30 meeting documents can be accessed here. A video recording and transcript of the meeting is here.

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George Mason Board of Visitors approves modest tuition and fees increase for 2026-27

ckearney — Mon, 04 May 2026 16:25:29 +0000

George Mason Board of Visitors approves modest tuition and fees increase for 2026-27 ckearney Mon, 05/04/2026 - 12:25

The 91�� Board of Visitors voted Thursday to increase tuition for the 2026-27 academic year, a response to rising utility costs, and the decades-long gap in state funding when compared with the university’s peers.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The increase, both for in-state and out-of-state students, is $360 per undergraduate student and $504 per graduate student. That works out to 3.5% more for in-state students and 1.0% to 1.4% more for out-of-state students. Law school tuition did not increase.

A financial presentation can be found in the board materials.

Of the six doctoral universities in Virginia, George Mason was the only one to not raise in-state tuition last year. Even with the increase, George Mason remains well below most peers’ current tuition rates. Many of George Mason’s peers are considering or have already voted to increase tuition for 2026-27.

“We do know that an increase presents a challenge for any student, and this is an area the whole leadership team takes seriously,” 91�� President Gregory Washington said. “We remain a great value for people in the commonwealth and in the region.” Washington also noted that George Mason is the only large Opportunity University between Maine and Florida, the designation from Carnegie and ACE that reflects its strong return on investment for its students.

Many universities are facing a series of financial challenges, including a decline in graduate students and international students who cannot secure visas to enter the country. Rising utility and health care costs and a responsibility to finance partially funded state-mandated programs, like compensation increases and the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program, strains the university’s resources and hinders long-term strategic investments.

For the current academic year, George Mason is more than $7,000 per in-state student below the funding level mean of its five doctoral peer institutions in Virginia when state and tuition funding are combined. That gap equates to $180 million less in financial resources. George Mason’s in-state undergraduate tuition currently is $4,000 below the mean of five doctoral peer institutions.

The BOV also voted to raise student fees by 3.5%—$132 for in-state and out-of-state undergraduates and graduate students and $98 for law students. Mandatory student fees support student engagement services and programs, student health and well-being, on-campus employment, athletics, recreational programs, transportation services, and other student-focused programs that contribute to the university’s welcoming environment.

The university offers many programs that support students who need financial assistance.

George Mason is known for its affordability and efficiency. The university was named by Washington Monthly as “best bang for the buck” in Virginia and by the Wall Street Journal as the No. 1 public university in the state for value and salary outcomes. George Mason also has fewer employees per full-time student than any Virginia public doctoral university.

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia found that 73% of in-state George Mason graduates stay in Virginia—3% higher than public four-year institutions in the state. For out-of-state George Mason students, 29% remain in Virginia after graduation, 9% higher than the state average.

A recap of the April 30 meeting will be published Thursday, May 7.

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Board of Visitors considers tuition increase for 2026-27 to fund infrastructure improvements and state mandates

Katarina Benson — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:07:11 +0000

Board of Visitors considers tuition increase for 2026-27 to fund infrastructure improvements and state mandates Katarina Benson Mon, 04/06/2026 - 13:07

91��’s Board of Visitors listened to public comments, toured the Fairfax Campus, extended negotiations for 91�� President Gregory Washington’s contract renewal through 2031, and considered a proposal to raise tuition and fees at the March 31 board meeting. The tuition and fees presentation is available in the BOV meeting materials. The video is here.

The proposal to raise tuition and fees about $500 per undergraduate student for the 2026-27 academic year to help offset rising costs and a longstanding funding disparity will be further discussed at the Finance and Land Use Committee meeting April 15 and will be voted on by the full board at their next meeting on April 30.

Enterprise Hall was among the buildings on the board's campus tour. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

George Mason is more than $7,000 per in-state student below the funding level mean of its five doctoral peer institutions in Virginia when state and tuition funding are combined. That disparity equates to $180 million in unrealized support.

The funding gap, a marked decline in graduate students because of changes in federal policy, state-mandated programs that require university funding, and rising utility and health care costs, among other factors, necessitate the increase, said Dan Stephens, interim senior vice president and chief financial officer. Stephens and Rose Pascarell, vice president for University Life, presented the proposal to the BOV.

The proposed tuition rate increase, both for in-state and out-of-state students, is $360 per undergraduate student and $504 per graduate student. That amounts to a 3.5% hike for in-state students and a 1.0% to 1.4% increase for out-of-state students. Law school tuition would remain flat.

The tuition increase would support infrastructure investments and compensation to attract and retain employees in Northern Virginia, the region of the state with the highest cost of living.

George Mason, named by Washington Monthly as “best bang for the buck” in Virginia and by the Wall Street Journal as the No. 1 public university in the state for best value and salary outcomes, has fewer employees per full-time student than any Virginia public doctoral university.

“According to the Federal Reserve, our nation's current inflation rate is landing between 3% to 4% across the board,” Stephens said, noting that George Mason did not raise in-state tuition last year. “So this means our proposed 3.5% increase aligns with the current inflationary drivers in our economy.”

Under the proposal, student fees would increase by $132 for in-state and out-of-state undergraduates and grad students—bumping the total from $3,924 to $4,056—and $98 for law students.

Mandatory student fees are used for student support and engagement services and programs, student health and well-being, on-campus employment, athletics, recreational programs, transportation services, and other student-focused programs.

The presentation that Stephens and Pascarell gave to the BOV mirrored the one they gave March 24 at a Student Government Tuition Town Hall. The March 31 BOV meeting included a public comment session for anyone who wished to weigh in on the proposed tuition increase in person or in writing.

“When you look at the whole package, Mason is low cost and very high value,” Pascarell said. “The mandatory student fees cover the ecosystem of services outside of the classroom that make the campus function. This is what makes Mason, Mason, for our students.”

Pascarell also shared the ways the university supports students with financial assistance.

BOV members and other university officials received a briefing and tour facilitated by Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Julie Zobel, in which they saw elements of the Fairfax Campus’ older facilities and capital project priorities. Stops included Southside Dining Hall, Planetary Hall, Enterprise Hall, Liberty Square residence hall, the Field House, and Spuhler Field.

The BOV also passed a resolution authorizing Rector Michael J. Meese to negotiate and execute a new contract for President Washington that would extend his employment to June 30, 2031. Per the resolution, Washington’s base salary would be $870,000 with annual consideration for a bonus of $125,000. He also would receive $50,000 annually as a stay bonus to be paid at the end of his term.

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BOV elects new leaders, approves academic program changes; hears campaign, research and admissions updates; approves room and board increase

sholla4 — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 19:39:14 +0000

BOV elects new leaders, approves academic program changes; hears campaign, research and admissions updates; approves room and board increase sholla4 Wed, 03/04/2026 - 14:39

The 91�� Board of Visitors welcomed 12 new members and elected new board leadership at its Feb. 26 meeting in Merten Hall on the Fairfax Campus.

The new rector is Michael J. Meese, formerly the vice rector. The new vice rector is Sumeet Shrivastava, MBA ’94, one of the dozen new members appointed to the board in January by Gov. Abigail Spanberger.

Returning visitor Armand Alacbay, JD ‘04, will continue in his role as secretary. The other two members of the board’s executive committee are new board members Anne Altman, BS Marketing ’82, and Paul Misener, JD ’93. Altman served on the BOV from 2006 to 2010.

Four of the board’s six standing committees are chaired by newly appointed board members.

“This reflects their willingness to serve and our commitment to bringing fresh perspectives into leadership,” Meese said. “I am very grateful for the willingness of the new and returning members to step into these roles.”

The new terms for the new executive committee and committee assignments will remain until the annual board of visitors meeting on July 31, 2026, when the board will reorganize based on the eligible board members.

In one early decision, the board voted to raise housing and dining meal plans by 4% to help offset rising costs in the state’s most expensive region and fund a backlog of deferred maintenance projects. The increase will be about $580 per student for the academic year. Rates vary by room style and meal plan. About 6,000 students, or 15% of the university’s enrollment, lives on campus.

Even after that increase, George Mason’s room and board rate for the 2026-27 academic year will be lower than the other five Virginia doctoral universities’ rates are for 2025-26.

“George Mason strives to balance the continued pressures of inflation and the high cost of living with the need to provide affordable food and housing to our students,” said Julie Zobel, senior vice president and chief operating officer in administration and operations. “The proposed housing increase allows us to keep pace with inflation and cover the costs of operating and staffing 40 residence halls in an environment where costs continue to rise.”

Last year the university provided more than $2 million in housing grants for lower-income students, Zobel said. The university also offers a housing and food insecurity fund.

There will be a tuition town hall for students at 4:30 p.m. on March 23 in Merten 1203 on the Fairfax Campus. The BOV will hold a public comment session on tuition on March 31, committee meetings on April 15 and a full board meeting on April 30.

The board approved two items regarding academic programs. Pending approval from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, George Mason will expand existing curriculum in the College of Education and Human Development to launch a BS in hospitality, tourism and events management, a change that will “align the degree more closely with industry standards and course demand,” Interim Provost Ajay Vinzé said.

The BA in government and international politics in the Schar School will become a BA in political science, a name change that will be clearer to students and families and align with national norms, Vinzé said.

Andre Marshall, vice president for research, innovation and economic impact, noted that George Mason research expenditures have grown from $84 million in 2010 to $282 million in 2024 but added that recent federal policy actions have resulted in 53 terminated awards representing about $16 million in lost funding. The Grand Challenge Initiative, which will soon announce grant recipients, has focused the university’s research on areas most likely to attract external funding.

Marshall also highlighted the opportunities that Fuse at Mason Square provides for collaboration across industry, academia and government. “There is a great community that is building there,” he said. “Not just with the faculty and the labs, but the tenants. Not the least of which is also the presence of Mason Enterprise in order to support startups and commercialization of technologies that are coming out of George Mason.”

One of the highlights of the meeting was a presentation on Mason LIFE, an inclusive postsecondary program for students with intellectual disabilities, from program director Linn Jorgenson. Mason LIFE is marking its 20th anniversary this year, and there will be more coverage of the milestone in The George in April. Student Nominzul Otgonbayar shared her experiences in the program. In Virginia, there are four universities with Inclusive Postsecondary Education Programs. George Mason is the only university in the state to also have a Comprehensive Transition Program designation.

“That can only happen at a place as inclusive as this one,” Washington said. “There is a reason it is happening at Mason and not other places – because everybody can be at home here. That is the kind of institution we have. That is who we are.”

David Burge, vice president for enrollment management, noted that the university enrolls more undergraduate students now – 28,137 – than at any point in its history. That influx has helped offset a drop in international students as a result of changing federal policy. “We are educating more Virginians than we have ever educated as an institution,” Burge said.

One reason for the undergraduate surge is the university’s direct admission partnerships with 40 high schools across eight Northern Virginia school divisions. Students who meet certain academic criteria are informed they have been accepted to George Mason, even if they have not applied to the university.

“We have talented students in Virginia who were self-selecting out of college,” Burge said. “We are doing a better job of getting them in at this point.” A projected 30 percent of the university’s incoming freshmen this fall will be from direct admission.

“I can guarantee you within 10 years, this will be the norm of how institutions admit students,” Washington said. “And by that time – even before that – five years from now, we need to be on to something else.”

Trishana Bowden, vice president for advancement and alumni relations and president of the GMU Foundation, said the university has raised $620.3 million toward its $1 billion goal in the Mason Now: Power the Possible campaign. She also offered a reminder for Giving Day on April 2.

“This day is about giving to George Mason and to anything that you care about within our university, so it is something that strongly resonates with our community,” Bowden said. “We have seen the number increase every year and so we’re hoping that we will have the support of all our leadership boards and committees and advisory councils.”

Marvin Lewis, vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics, gave an overview of George Mason student-athletes’ success in the classroom (3.4 overall cumulative GPA) and in competition, new facilities (a planned groundbreaking in late spring for the Basketball & Academic Performance Center) and upcoming Atlantic 10 championships that will take place locally – the outdoor track and field championships at George Mason on May 2-3 and the baseball championship May 20-23 at Capital One Park in Tysons Corner, Virginia.

Washington gave a shoutout to George Mason student Ilia Malinin, a gold medalist U.S. figure skater in the recently concluded Winter Olympics. Malinin schedules his course work around his skating training and competitions. “He is a contemporary student,” Washington said. “He is working, in terms of his craft and he is doing that while also being a student.

“At George Mason, that’s Tuesday. We have a lot of folks like that and we know how to integrate and work with those young people while they are pursuing their dreams and also their academic pursuits.”

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Twelve new members join George Mason Board of Visitors

ckearney — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:05:23 +0000

Twelve new members join George Mason Board of Visitors ckearney Thu, 02/26/2026 - 10:05

The 12 new members that Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger appointed to the 91�� Board of Visitors (BOV) last month have been sworn in and took part in their first meeting Thursday.

New 91�� Board of Visitors member were sworn in before the February 26 meeting. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The new appointees to the board include three prior George Mason BOV members and six alumni.

Below are capsules on the new members. Visit the BOV website for longer bios on all 16 BOV members.

Anne Altman, BS Marketing '82, is co-founder and CEO of Everyone Matters Inc. The former IBM executive served on the BOV from 2006 to 2010 and also serves on multiple Costello College of Business boards at George Mason, including the Dean's Advisory Council and the Baroni Center for Government Contracting board.
Bruce Caswell is president, CEO, and director at Maximus. He joined the government services company in 2004 after working in several capacities for IBM, including vice president of state and local government and education. He is a four-time recipient of the Wash100 award recognizing influential government contracting leaders.
Tom Davis is a partner at the Holland & Knight law firm. The former George Mason BOV rector served 14 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. Prior to that he served on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors from 1980 to 1991, and as board chairman from 1991 to 1994. Davis was a BOV member from 2013 to 2021, including six years as rector. He also has been an adjunct professor at George Mason.
Paul Misener, JD '93, is an engineer/scientist and founder and principal of Misener Innovation LLC. Misener served as a global vice president at Amazon.com for 23 years. He has served on the President's Innovation Advisory Council at George Mason as well as on the advisory board of the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation.
Trevor Montano, BS Accounting '00, is founder and managing member of investment firm West Potomac Capital LLC. The former chief investment officer at the U.S. Department of the Treasury served nine years as a member on the 91�� Foundation Board of Trustees and founded the Montano Student Investment Fund in 2018.
James P. Moran represented Northern Virginia for 24 years in the U.S. Congress, a tenure that included membership on the Appropriations, Foreign Affairs, Banking, Housing and Finance, and Government Reform and Oversight committees. He served as Alexandria mayor from 1985 to 1990.
Delbert Parks is vice president and site executive of Micron Technology Virginia in Manassas. He previously held leadership positions at Philips Electronics and Texas Instruments. He is a former member of the 91�� Foundation Board of Trustees and he also serves on the Virginia Business Higher Education Council.
Shawn N. Chambliss-Purvis, MS Information Systems '99, is president and CEO of IT company Sabel Systems. Previously she served as president and CEO for QinetiQ US and in leadership roles at Northrop Grumman, SAIC, and Lockheed Martin. She first served on the BOV from 2014 to 2019.
George D. Schindler is the former president and CEO of CGI, a global business and strategic IT consulting service firm he led from 2016 to 2024 after serving in many other leadership roles in the company. He currently serves on CGI's Board of Directors. He received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from George Mason in 2024.
Sumeet Shrivastava, MBA '94, is president and CEO of federal consulting and software development company Unissant, after executive stints at ARRAY and ANSTEC. He has served in many capacities at George Mason, including past chair of the 91�� Foundation Board of Trustees and past president of the George Mason Alumni Association.
Sean A. Spence is a director on the Dumfries Economic Development Authority and chair of the Prince William County Superintendent Advisory Council on Sustainability. His professional roles include leadership positions at BDO, Deloitte, and Booz Allen Hamilton. He is an adjunct finance professor in the Costello College of Business.
Jennifer Taylor, MBA '98, is president and CEO of the Northern Virginia Technology Council. She previously served as vice president of industry affairs at the Consumer Technology Association and in senior leadership roles at AARP, the American Red Cross, and technology startups.

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Spanberger names 12 to George Mason Board of Visitors

blongcha — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 23:28:28 +0000

Spanberger names 12 to George Mason Board of Visitors blongcha Sat, 01/17/2026 - 18:28

Governor Abigail Spanberger announced 12 appointees to the 91�� Board of Visitors on Saturday, January 17:

Anne Altman, BS Marketing ’82; co-founder and CEO of Everyone Matters, member of Dean’s Council for Costello College of Business and former BOV member 2007 to 2011;
Bruce Caswell, president and CEO of Maximus;
Shawn N. Chambliss-Purvis, MS Information Systems ’99, president and CEO of Sabel Systems Technology, and former BOV member 2015 to 2019;
Former Congressman Tom Davis, partner at Holland and Knight and former George Mason BOV Rector 2014 to 2020;
Paul Misener, JD ’93, Founder and Principal at Misener Innovation LLC;
Trevor Montano, BS Accounting ’00;
Former Congressman Jim Moran;
Delbert Parks, vice president of Micron Technology and George Mason Board of Trustee member;
George Schindler, former CGI president and CEO;
Sumeet Shrivastava, MBA ’94, president and CEO of Unissant, Chair of George Mason Board of Trustees;
Sean Spence, Senior Manager of Corporate Finance at BDO and adjunct professor in the Costello College of Business;
Jennifer Taylor, MBA ‘98, president and CEO of the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC).

Appointees will undergo confirmation hearings, beginning with the Virginia State Senate committee on Privileges and Elections, which meets Jan. 20.

Former BOV Rector Charles “Cully “ Stimson resigned his position effective noon Saturday. Vice Rector Michael Meese would take over leadership duties of the board. Visitor Robert Pence also resigned Saturday.

Current board members are Vice Rector Michael Meese, who will direct the board until its February 26 meeting when leadership elections are held, Secretary Armand Alacbay, and Visitors Jon M. Peterson and Jeffrey A. Rosen.

Complete biographies and photos of the new visitors will be posted on the Board of Visitors website when they are confirmed.

George Mason BOV meeting on university’s five-year success story, new law school foundation, president’s annual review, and merit-based resolution eliminating DEI

ckearney — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 16:46:58 +0000

George Mason BOV meeting on university’s five-year success story, new law school foundation, president’s annual review, and merit-based resolution eliminating DEI ckearney Wed, 08/06/2025 - 12:46

At the 91�� Board of Visitors meeting August 1, President Gregory Washington highlighted the university’s successes during the past five years, including being named one of Carnegie’s new “opportunity colleges” and dramatic recent jumps in national rankings, as well as steady enrollment increases, more students entering with a 3.5 GPA or higher, graduates who have some of the highest earning power among state peers, an expansive research portfolio, doubling the university’s state appropriation, and securing ahead of schedule $572 million toward the $1 billion goal in the Mason Now: Power the Possible campaign.

With six members attending their first BOV meeting, the board unanimously passed resolutions that awarded a 1.5% pay raise to Washington as part of his annual performance review and established a foundation for the Antonin Scalia Law School.

The BOV also passed a resolution prohibiting diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at the university in favor of “a merit-based approach to advancing the success of all students before and after the attainment of their degrees and to a merit-based excellence approach to the hiring, promotion, and compensation of its faculty and staff.”

The resolution directed the Office of Access, Compliance, and Community to “eliminate all programs, trainings, processes not specifically required for federal or state law or university policy compliance, and if necessary, eliminate staff positions, within 30 days.”

George Mason rector Charles “Cully” Stimson noted that the board’s action on diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and practices followed 23 months of work with university leadership and soliciting campus feedback. George Mason is the largest and most diverse public university in Virginia and accepts 90% of applicants.

“Your board has spent more time with our students and stakeholders to discuss issues surrounding DEI than all of the other boards in Virginia combined,” Stimson said. “That's the Mason way…Everyone’s voice was heard. We look forward to continuing that conversation as a team and a community.”

Stimson also shared his support for the establishment of a law school foundation, following other state law schools, for increased efficiencies and donor interests to align directly with the second-ranked law school in the state.

Citing a strong Moody’s Rating from cash flow and reduced debt, Washington shared the university’s 2050 vision and priorities on university-wide artificial intelligence implementation, the Grand Challenge Initiative that streamlines the university’s research strengths and impacts, meeting the higher education needs and career goals for today’s families and students, and the continued development of the Fairfax, Arlington and Manassas campuses through public-private partnerships for economic regional and statewide vitality. Washington also touted George Mason’s role building the largest workforce talent pool across the commonwealth’s critical fields and efforts to upskill students and the region through the Mason Career Academy.

“Despite the commentary that you might hear, this institution is doing extraordinarily well,” Washington said. “That is a testament to the leaders that are here in the room. That is a testament to our students who have performed admirably. And that is a testament to the staff and faculty who literally make it happen every day. I want to make sure you all know that I am with you, and I commend you for your hard work.”

Faculty, staff, and community supporters, including past BOV members and local and state elected officials, packed the Fairfax Campus board room, as well as two overflow rooms, and joined together outside the building to show support for Washington amid concerns about his job status. The meeting drew significant media coverage from many high-profile outlets, including Forbes, Fox News, CNN, Washington Post, Washington Examiner, New York Times, NPR, and the Chronicle of Higher Education.

The meeting Friday followed the previous day’s annual planning conference, where university officials delivered updates and future plans on George Mason’s financial stability, philanthropic efforts, and growing enrollment. Four breakout sessions focused on the student experience and growth plans for each Virginia campus.

At the annual meeting on Friday, Stimson welcomed six new board members recently announced by Governor Glenn Youngkin:

Preston Cooper, PhD Economics ’23, is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, specializing in higher ed return on investment and higher ed reform.
Jeffrey T. Dinwoodie, BS Marketing ‘05, is a partner in the law firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP. He previously held senior positions at the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Treasury Department.
Bobbi Kilberg is president and CEO emeritus of the Northern Virginia Technology Council. She served in various capacities in four presidential administrations.
Will Moschella, JD ‘95, is co-chair of the Government Relations Department at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2003 to serve as the assistant attorney general for legislative affairs at the U.S. Justice Department. He later served as the chief legal policy adviser to the deputy attorney general.
Sarah Parshall Perry is vice president and legal fellow at Defending Education. She previously served as a senior legal fellow for the Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies, part of the Institute for Constitutional Government at the Heritage Foundation.
Harold Pyon had a 33-year career at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and was later appointed by Governor Youngkin to be deputy director of the Office of Diversity, Opportunity, and Inclusion and later served as deputy commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry.

Moschella and Pyon will fill the remainder of the terms of former Visitors Reginald Brown and Lindsey Burke, who each resigned in May. Their terms expire in June 2026. You can find more extensive BOV member bios on the BOV website.

The BOV executive committee for the 2025-26 academic year is made up of Stimson, vice rector Michael J. Meese, secretary Armand Alacbay, and members-at-large Jeffrey A. Rosen and Robert Pence.

Each of the BOV members will serve on at least three committees. The board also formed an Athletics Committee, chaired by Pence, and changed the name of the Academic Programs, Diversity and University Community (APDUC) Committee to the Academic Affairs Committee.

Joshua K. Park, Mason Korea dean, provided an update on that campus, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. Mason Korea has grown to about 1,000 students from more than 20 countries. “We were established as a global footprint, representing the best of American education in Asia,” Park said. “So, we are delivering education to not only students in Korea but all across Asia and we are expanding partnerships to expand that global footprint.”

The next full board meeting is scheduled for Sept. 25 at Fuse at Mason Square. The meeting date coincides with Fuse’s grand opening.

The full BOV meeting recorded stream is available at bov.gmu.edu.

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George Mason BOV keeps tuition flat for in-state students, learns about Grand Challenge Initiative, celebrates Jack Wood awardees and EIP graduates

ckearney — Thu, 08 May 2025 21:20:15 +0000

George Mason BOV keeps tuition flat for in-state students, learns about Grand Challenge Initiative, celebrates Jack Wood awardees and EIP graduates ckearney Thu, 05/08/2025 - 17:20

At its May 1 meeting, the 91�� Board of Visitors (BOV) voted 10-4 to keep in-state tuition flat for the 2025-26 academic year, citing the university’s standing as an affordable option for students and families across the commonwealth, and approved a tuition increase for out-of-state students as well as an increase in mandatory student fees for all students.

EIP graduate Meeha Bhuiyan is graduating this May with a BS in biology. She shared her George Mason experience with the BOV at its May 1 meeting. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

The out-of-state tuition increases are $528 for undergraduates, $720 for graduate students, and $1,022 for law students. The student fee increase will be $96 for all in-state and out-of-state undergraduate and graduate students and $72 for law students. Those fees support student infrastructure and services. Tuition and fees for in-state students next year will be $14,316 for undergraduates, $18,060 for graduate students, and $27,834 for law students. Tuition and fees for out-of-state students next year will be $39,313 for undergraduates, $41,124 for graduate students, and $44,970 for law students.

During the May 1 meeting, George Mason officials and BOV members discussed an environment of almost unprecedented financial uncertainty, including research cost recovery limitations, reduced or withdrawn federal appropriations, the drop in federal funding for external partners, declining international enrollment, and other factors.

The state budget includes additional one-time and recurring funding for George Mason, which helps support this year’s 3% salary increase for employees and funding for the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program as well as long-term planning and campus investments.

BOV members who voted against raising in-state tuition encouraged the university to identify cost savings in curriculum programs and other student supports, as well as continuing to attract increased philanthropic support. President Gregory Washington noted that five of the university’s six most successful fundraising efforts have occurred in the last five years.

The board also approved a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policy for compensating student-athletes. Marvin Lewis, assistant vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics, said the policy aligns George Mason with the Commonwealth of Virginia's legal framework, the NCAA's pending legislation, and peer institutions.

“At its core, the policy is designed to provide George Mason with the flexibility to offer enhanced benefits to our student-athletes while positioning the university to proactively navigate the structured settlement provisions” stemming from NCAA litigation, Lewis said.

President Washington and Andre Marshall, vice president for research, innovation and economic impact, shared details on the launch of the Grand Challenge Initiative, focusing research on six long-term strategies aligned to the university’s strengths.

“It puts us in a really strong strategic, intentional position and engages the entire university and our partners,” Marshall said. “This is something to rally around as a community.”

As of May 1, White House executive orders have led 38 federally funded research projects at George Mason to be formally terminated, totaling more than $50 million. That is about 9% of the university’s nearly $600 million research portfolio. The university has submitted eight appeals on those 38 terminations, which include a combined 25 from the U.S. Department of State, the National Science Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The other 13 terminated projects are from eight other federal agencies.

Marshall said that the university will host a “Research Resilience Workshop” for faculty, students, administrators and deans to discuss the effects of the executive orders on George Mason’s research enterprise and a vision for the future. The workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20; RSVP by Thursday, May 15.

Sharnnia Artis, vice president for access, compliance, and community, shared the steps George Mason has taken to comply with federal orders regarding elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion measures.

This calendar year, the university has dissolved or eliminated the following: Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; the promotion of third-party opportunities that use race-conscious criteria; the institutional partnership with The PhD Project; use of affirmative action plans for women and minorities; use of diversity statements in hiring and promotion; and the director of supplier diversity role. There also has been a series of staff positions reviews and realignments that began prior to the issue of the executive orders.

“We anticipate having to continuously be reviewing programs to ensure that we have an environment that is free from unfair and illegal preferences and is open to all. Our goal is to be in compliance with state and federal laws, executive orders, and mandates and for our students to also have the tools that they need to be successful at George Mason and when they graduate.”

Board members encouraged Artis to enlist a third party to review the university’s changes to ensure compliance with the executive orders and to not risk a loss of federal funding.

Also at the meeting:

Fourteen Early Identification Program (EIP) graduates were recognized. More than 2,300 students have graduated from the program for 8th through 12th graders who would be the first in their families to attend college.
Carolyn Peterson was presented with an honorary doctorate of humane letters in recognition of her support of the arts at George Mason.
Jack Wood Award for Town-Gown Relations recipients were recognized, learn more about them.
With the seating of BOV member Caren Merrick, the board is now back to 16 members.

The recordings of the committee meetings and full board meetings are available here.

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Updates from George Mason BOV meeting on Feb. 27

ckearney — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:11:09 +0000

Updates from George Mason BOV meeting on Feb. 27 ckearney Wed, 03/05/2025 - 13:11

91��’s Board of Visitors (BOV) on Thursday, Feb. 27, introduced three new board members, discussed the university’s response to the recent executive orders, approved an antisemitism resolution, and provided an update on several key initiatives and future planning efforts.

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

The university will lean on its longstanding core values while monitoring and reacting to ongoing executive orders handed down by the White House, George Mason President Gregory Washington said.

The BOV had requested that Washington address the executive orders and the effect they are having, or could have, on the university. So far, university leaders have identified about 25 executive orders that could impact George Mason.

Washington and his leadership team have developed the George Mason Resilience Plan. The plan calls for the university to be prepared for constant change and to reprioritize as necessary, clearly articulate the common good of existing practices and programs, and to form and strengthen partnerships with industry, government and other institutions of higher education.

“First and foremost is to stay true to our core values and our North Star,” Washington said. “There are seven core values that define our institution: Our students come first. Innovation is tradition. We are careful stewards. We thrive together. Diversity is our strength. We honor freedom of thought and expression. And we act with integrity.

“At any time when I am challenged and this institution is challenged as an entity, you refer back to those values so that you can get grounded in terms of how you should respond.”

Washington said that during the past year-and-a-half the university has extensively reviewed its systems, and an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.

So far, the executive orders have resulted in 14 research projects out of the university’s 700 active awards being paused or ended.

“We are really trying to position ourselves for the long game,” Washington said. “We are putting in systems, mechanisms, and infrastructure to deal with the next executive order, not the current one that’s in front of us. So putting in place systems like we’ve done with research and a number of other areas does not shield us from the effect of the executive order. But what it does do is that it helps us manage and mitigate it.”

As he does at each BOV meeting, Washington shared the progress on the presidential performance metrics, goals set for him by the board. He said that George Mason is meeting or exceeding 12 of the 14 performance metrics in the six priority areas. As part of that overview, he pointed out that the university has almost reached the halfway point of the billion-dollar goal in the Mason Now: Power the Possible comprehensive campaign, ahead of schedule, with a total of $497 million as of Feb. 17, further indication of community interest in fueling the university’s success.

“Mason has raised over $100 million five times in its existence as a university,” Washington said. “Four of them have occurred over the last five years.”

Washington also shared findings from the university-wide Grand Challenges Committee, a group working to pinpoint the research areas in which George Mason has significant expertise and that align with global grand challenges that are likely to attract external research funding in the coming years.

“The kinds of things that will be funded are the problems that are most critical to advancing our society and most critical to our way of life,” Washington said. “We need to have our faculty aligned and positioned toward those grand challenges because that’s where the opportunity space will be.”

The committee identified six focus areas:

Advancing 21st-Century Education for All
Building a Climate-Resilient Society
Driving Responsible Digital Innovation and Sustainable Cyberinfrastructure
Improving Human Health, Well-Being, and Preparedness
Pioneering Space Exploration, Research, and Collaboration for Humanity
Strengthening Peace, Trust, and Engagement in Democracy

“These are not just challenges that we think will be prominent in the world coming ahead of us,” Washington said. “These are challenges that are in alignment with Mason's strengths and are in alignment with our current aspirations. So these are areas [where] we know we can make an impact.”

Washington noted that the Life Sciences and Engineering Building, which will celebrate its grand opening on the Science and Technology Campus on March 27, and the Fuse building at Mason Square will be two of the university’s anchors for addressing the grand challenges.

“We are making an investment at a time when others will probably be retrenching to reposition our institution to be successful on the back end,” Washington said. “This is not new for us. We made strategic investments during COVID that positioned our institution to be stronger on the back end of COVID than it was going into it.”

Washington also provided a preview of his Mason 2050 plan that will be discussed in greater detail at the next full board meeting on May 1. The plan includes several major construction, expansion, and renovation projects for all three Virginia campuses, including a vision for the development of the western part of the Fairfax Campus, commonly referred to as West Campus. The Mason 2050 plan would utilize and build on the university’s strong partnerships with industry, government, and the philanthropy community.

Last week, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin appointed three new members to the university’s Board of Visitors, two of whom are George Mason alumni. The new members are:

Charles J. Cooper of Bonita Springs, Florida. He is a founding member and the chairman of Cooper & Kirk, PLLC and served as assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Counsel under President Ronald Reagan.
William D. Hansen, BS Economics ’87, of McLean. He is president and CEO of Building Hope, a nonprofit serving charter schools. He served as deputy secretary of education under President George W. Bush and is vice president of the Virginia State Board of Education.
Maureen Ohlhausen, JD ’91, of Annandale. She is a partner at Wilson Sonsini and served as Federal Trade Commission (FTC) commissioner under President Barack Obama and as acting FTC chairman under President Donald Trump. She is a former adjunct professor in the Antonin Scalia Law School.

Cooper and Ohlhausen attended the BOV meeting.

The BOV approved an antisemitism resolution with four key directives for the university. The revised resolution says the university will produce a fact sheet about antisemitism and align its antisemitism stance with other nondiscriminatory language, ensure that antisemitism is part of employee onboarding and annual training, not sponsor or endorse known antisemitic activities, and state that its policy is to prohibit discrimination based on Jewish ancestry or Israeli national origin and that allegations of such discrimination will be acted on within established disciplinary processes.

The vote followed a robust discussion that included input from Faculty Senate President Solon Simmons on behalf of faculty on both sides of the issue as well as questions from trustees and nonvoting student body representatives. The resolution is available in the board book posted at bov.gmu.edu.

Marvin Lewis, assistant vice president for Athletics, presented the new athletics strategic plan to the BOV development committee, including his goal of raising $35 million to elevate the program and modernize facilities to enhance recruiting and help ensure sustained athletics success.

“Sixteen- and 18-year-old kids shop with their eyes,” Lewis said during his presentation. “So if you don't have facilities, support services, the resources to attract 16- to 18-year-old kids, it’s going to be a challenge. We are asking for support so that we can take our program from being good to great.”

The project areas include developing a sports performance ecosystem and a Patriots Pathway Program to prepare student-athletes for successful lives and careers.

This past fall, George Mason athletes collectively achieved a 3.32 GPA, with 78 Provost scholars, a distinction for student-athletes with a 3.75 GPA or higher.

Lewis was joined at the presentation by men’s basketball player Darius Maddox, a senior majoring in integrative studies with a concentration in social justice and human rights. Maddox is the team’s leading scorer.

“I've grown in so many ways as Mason has prepared me for life after college,” Maddox told the board. “This happened through the many experiences I had, professional relationships, mentors and leaders who have all poured into me and my experience.”

George Mason has enjoyed success in several sports since joining the Atlantic 10 Conference in 2013, including the women’s indoor track and field team claiming the A-10 championship March 1. The men’s and women’s basketball teams are each in 2nd place in the A-10. The women’s team begins A-10 championship play at 5 p.m. Friday, March 7. The men’s team beat LaSalle Wednesday at EagleBank Arena, finishing 9-0 in conference play at home, and has clinched its first A-10 Tournament double bye in school history.

George Mason is one of only two A-10 Conference members that has not reached at least one NCAA men’s basketball tournament since 2013.

Other items:

The university has launched AI²Nexus, a new model for advancing responsible artificial intelligence across university operations, learning and research, as previously reported.
The BOV approved a 2.5% increase in room and board for the 2025-26 academic year to help the university meet rising expenses. The increase will cost most students about $350. The 2.5% figure includes a 1.5% increase for housing and a 4% increase for dining meal plans. The 4% increase is slightly below the food Consumer Price Index.
Andre Marshall, vice president for Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact, reported that the university again has achieved the Carnegie Classification of “very high research activity,” commonly referred to as “R1.” Less than 4% of U.S. universities earn that designation. Marshall also noted that research expenditures are up 8.9% from this time last year.
Washington said that George Mason plans to opt in to the House v. NCAA settlement that entails compensating student-athletes. This will result in the NCAA withholding about $400,000 per year from the university in revenue distributions for the next 10 years. Opting in will help the university recruit and retain athletic and coaching talent, be competitive nationally, and provide a compliant manner in which to deliver name, image, and likeness (NIL) benefits to George Mason student-athletes.
The university closed the MS degree program in marketing.

The full BOV meeting recording and transcript is available at bov.gmu.edu/live/.

Find meeting schedules, recordings, and more on the Board of Visitors website

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