�鶹��Ƶ

"What drew me to �鶹��Ƶ 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."

- President Gregory Washington

Washington, the former engineering dean at Ohio State University (interim) and the University of California, Irvine, has strengthened George �鶹��Ƶ’s commitment to access and opportunity by creating the (MVP), a pathway to a George �鶹��Ƶ degree or help starting a business for any Virginian who aspires to either goal. MVP expands George �鶹��Ƶ’s national award-winning with Northern Virginia Community College to select community colleges throughout the state. The �鶹��Ƶ Virginia Promise Grant helps provide opportunities to students from low-income backgrounds.

|

Dr. Ajay Vinzé

Interim Provost and Executive Vice President

Dr. Ajay Vinzé serves as the interim provost and executive vice president of �鶹��Ƶ, the largest public research university in Virginia and a Carnegie R1 institution. 

As interim provost and executive vice president, Vinzé oversees �鶹��Ƶ’s academic mission, including supporting scholarly excellence among faculty and fostering academic success for over 40,000 students on all four campuses. He joined the university in 2022 and works in conjunction with President Gregory Washington to shape and execute the university’s strategic academic priorities.

Vinzé previously served as dean of the Donald G. Costello College of Business, one of the largest business schools in Virginia. With over 35 years of experience in higher education, Vinzé is committed to advancing the university’s mission—preparing successful graduates, fostering exceptional scholarship, and making a positive impact regionally, nationally, and globally.

Whitney Owen

Executive Vice President for Strategic Initiatives & Chief of Staff

Whitney Owen, PMP is the Interim Special Advisor to the President & Chief of Staff, having previously served as the Executive Director of University Business Consulting, an internal team of trusted advisors focused on innovation, turning data into insights, and improving operational efficiencies, all in pursuit of the university’s strategic goals. She is currently overseeing the implementation of George �鶹��Ƶ’s FY23-FY27 Strategic Plan in addition to facilitating other university-wide initiatives. 

Ms. Owen was the lead project manager for George �鶹��Ƶ’s Safe Return to Campus effort during the COVID-19 crisis, ensuring that critical voices across �鶹��Ƶ came together to plan for public health and operational needs on tight timelines. Prior to joining George �鶹��Ƶ, Ms. Owen was the Director of the Health & Human Services Market at LMI, where she led a $40M annual portfolio and a 150-person team supporting healthcare clients across the federal government. She holds a Master of Public Administration from The George Washington University and a B.S. in International Affairs with a Minor in Public Policy from Georgia Tech. 

Ms. Owen is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and ScrumMaster, and she is certified in Leadership Coaching for Organizational Well-Being through �鶹��Ƶ. In her free time, she enjoys watching her boys play baseball, volunteering with local organizations, and playing with her family’s black lab, Peyton.

Julie Zobel

Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Julie A. Zobel serves as senior vice president and chief operating officer, overseeing Administration and Operations functions, including information technology, facilities, regional campuses, auxiliary services, business analysis, enterprise project management, enterprise risk management, emergency management, and safety programs. 

Joining George �鶹��Ƶ in 2000, Zobel served in a progression of safety and risk leadership roles, culminating in her tenure as vice president and chief risk officer, before her appointments as interim SVP in August 2024 and permanent SVP and COO in April 2025. Notably, Zobel provided operational stewardship of the university's response to COVID-19, for which George �鶹��Ƶ was recognized as a national leader in pandemic management, exemplifying how �鶹��Ƶ delivers solutions that are All Together Different. 

Zobel earned dual bachelor's degrees in Hazardous Materials/Environmental Management and Civil Engineering from the University of Findlay and the University of Akron, respectively. She earned a master of science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Akron and a doctorate in Biodefense from �鶹��Ƶ. 

Daniel Stephens

Interim Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President

Daniel Stephens serves as interim chief financial officer and senior vice president, overseeing university-wide finance functions, including accounting, budget, procurement, treasury, and fiscal compliance.

Stephens has served as vice president of finance since December 2024, when he came to �鶹��Ƶ with more than 35 years of senior financial leadership.  Most recently, Stephens had served as the CFO of the University of West Georgia Foundations, after seven years as vice president for Finance and Administration at Illinois State University. He had previously held various senior financial leadership roles at several universities, including the University of North Texas System, University of Idaho, and Central Michigan University.  

Before devoting his career to higher education, Stephens spent 15 years in senior financial leadership roles at several corporations, focusing on strategic financial planning and multi-year forecasting, beginning as a CPA with Deloitte.