Dr. Gregory Washington
President of George Mason University
Dr. Gregory Washington, president of George Mason University.
Gregory Washington became Mason’s eighth president on July 1, 2020, taking leadership of the largest and most diverse public university in Virginia, a Carnegie Tier 1 research institution, and a beacon of access for students of all backgrounds. Washington launched his Mason presidency with initiatives to create new academic and entrepreneurial pathways for all Virginians.
What drew me to Mason was its mission to insist that excellence and inclusivity are not seen as merely compatible. In fact, each is required for the other to exist.
Dr. Gregory Washington
Under Dr. Washington's leadership, Mason brings new life and economic vitality to Northern Virginia.
In April 2022, Mason broke ground on Fuse, a 345,000-square-foot building dedicated to producing the next generation of Northern Virginia's technology workforce.
Fuse will house faculty and students working with the Institute for Digital Innovation and their partners, and graduate programs from Mason’s new School of Computing, the first of its kind in Virginia.
Artist rendering
Artist rendering
Dr. Washington established the President’s Innovation Advisory Council to bring together industry, local government, K-12 education, and non-governmental organizations to form an innovation ecosystem with Mason as its hub.
On the Science and Technology Campus in Manassas, the university developed partnerships to simultaneously break ground on the new Life Sciences and Engineering Building and the Innovation Town Center and University Village at Innovation projects.
The Life Sciences and Engineering Building, a 132,000-square-foot facility, will support students enrolled in STEM-H majors, including kinesiology, materials science, forensic science, bioengineering, mechanical engineering and others.
Great research universities tackle the grand-challenge problems of our time. We call it research of consequence for a reason—we face serious consequences as a planet if we cannot solve our most pressing global challenges.
Dr. Gregory Washington
Under Dr. Washington's leadership, Mason is developing a tech workforce talent for the Commonwealth.
Mason will be positioned to produce 25,000 additional graduates in computer science, computer engineering, and software engineering through the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Tech Talent Investment Program.
Tech Talent Investment Program (TTIP)
In June 2020 the Institute for Digital Innovation (IDIA) was launched in order to connect Mason’s world-class research community with other communities to shape the future of our digital society, promoting equality, well-being, security, and prosperity.
Institute for Digital InnovAtion (IDIA)
Harvard Business School Podcast: Managing the Future of Work
Harvard Business School Professors Bill Kerr and Joe Fuller talk to leaders grappling with the forces reshaping the nature of work. Mason president Gregory Washington joins them to discuss opportunity, access, and how Mason is reshaping the value of higher education in challenging times.
Under Dr. Washington's leadership, Mason is redefining what it means to be inclusive and allow everyone to participate in a thriving economy.
Dr. Washington strengthened Mason’s commitment to access by creating the Mason Virginia Promise (MVP), a path to a Mason degree or help starting a business for any Virginian who aspires to either goal. MVP reinforces the university’s commitment to the economic success and growth of Virginia. Mason manages the more than two dozen Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) in Virginia as well as Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) and other related small business programs. “We are growing the next generation of entrepreneurs,” Washington says.
Mason Enterprise hosts federal, state, and local programs that support entrepreneurs and small businesses. Last year’s impact was $3.36 Billion, achieved through 40,000 hours of 1:1 counseling to 10,000 small businesses, 1,600 training programs for 30,000 attendees, and 550+ companies incubated. 61% of businesses served were woman-owned, 46% were minority-owned, and 15% were veteran-owned.
See Mason featured in the "Rethinking College” special report on PBS NewsHour.
For 35 years, Mason’s Early Identification Program (EIP) has been helping Northern Virginia middle and high school students prepare for their future college careers.
The program has since grown into an innovative, multi-year college preparatory program known for its breadth and reach, as well as the way it celebrates and embraces students.
EIP now serves more than 700 students annually. The program provides access to educational resources for students from seven local public school systems, helping them acquire the skills they need to become lifelong learners, leaders, and responsible global citizens.
Honors College students mentor EIP students during summer programs on campus.
Access to Excellence
About the Podcast
The world is facing serious challenges. Mason President Gregory Washington's conversations on these topics with Mason thought leaders and experts will broaden perspectives, enlighten and educate.
Podcast — EP 65: James Baldwin’s insights on American life and identity
In his essay, "As Much Truth as One Can Bear," James Baldwin writes, "not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." It's a timeless quote, one that feels as relevant now in 2025 as it did in 1962.
On this episode of Access to Excellence, Distinguished University Professor Keith Clark, joins President Gregory Washington to discuss the literary journey of James Baldwin and his reflections on his life of courage and wisdom as he studied the human experience.
Additional Episodes
- January 21, 2025
- December 11, 2024
- November 18, 2024
- October 21, 2024
- August 6, 2024
