Preston Williams

Higher education institutions must evolve and secure mergers and partnerships to thrive, industry leaders agree

Katarina Benson — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:36:29 +0000

Higher education institutions must evolve and secure mergers and partnerships to thrive, industry leaders agree Katarina Benson Wed, 03/25/2026 - 14:36

Colleges and universities face significant demographic, financial, technological, and political changes that affect enrollment, tuition and financial aid, athletics programs, and career outcomes. The institutions that will succeed in the future are the ones today transforming their operational models and establishing robust alliances across sectors.

That was the prevailing sentiment March 17 when higher education leaders from across the country convened at Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square for the inaugural P3•EDU MAP Summit. (P3 is short for public–private partnerships, and MAP stands for mergers, affiliations, and partnerships.)

“Depending on how you count them, we have 6,000 institutions of higher education in this country, and not all of them are going to make it out of the next decade,” said U.S. Department of Education Under Secretary Nicholas Kent. “And quite honestly, not all of them need to make it out of the next decade or should. And the ones that do are going to be the ones that adapt in a variety of ways.”

The Colleges and Universities at an Inflection Point panel at the P3•EDU MAP Summit. From left, moderator Ted Eismeier, Senior Vice President, Head of Postsecondary Communications, Whiteboard Advisors; Robert Kelchen, Professor and Department Head, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Brad Wolverton, Editor, The Chronicle of Higher Education; Mike Gavin, President and CEO, Alliance for Higher Education; and Sara Custer, Editor-in-Chief, Inside Higher Ed. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Virginia Senator Tim Kaine referenced the state’s many successful public–private partnerships, including Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square itself, noting different kinds of P3s he’s brokered in his many elected offices in Virginia, including urban infrastructure, Metrorail extension, and student housing near college campuses. Higher education needs to "change course and change direction while still meeting the needs of the workforce and families,” he said.

“There's this sort of false narrative about higher ed institutions needing to do everything themselves,” said James Sparkman, the P3•EDU producer whose organization is a catalyst for higher ed alliances. “I think this is unsustainable for a lot of institutions, and it's definitely not the model for the dynamic colleges and universities that I know that thrive on partnerships.”

�鶹��Ƶ President Gregory Washington acknowledged the importance of colleges finding “a new set of solutions” by collaborating with industry, non-governmental organizations, and the public K-12 sector.

“If you have these conversations with members of government, and with many of our well-placed corporates, they will tell you there are too many universities,” Washington said. “And that the value proposition is in question. So what that means is that the calvary probably isn't coming. We’re going to have to find ways to survive, which means looking more toward partnerships and frameworks working together. Those institutions that don't do that do so at their own peril. And part of that peril is their own survival.”

Washington mentioned his “co-opetition” model in which institutions find more ways to align resources while continuing to compete against each other. But those alliances can be elusive because colleges and universities and reluctant to relinquish their autonomy.

Marjorie Hass, president of the Council of Independent Colleges, found in a previous role that it was difficult to convince neighboring colleges to sync academic calendars or library loan agreements, let alone establish the cross-institutional partnerships that higher ed survival increasingly demands.

“Our blessing is that we are not a federal higher education system,” Hass said. “Our curse is that we are individual institutions and organizations with individual histories, individual mascots, individual sports teams…. We have this radical independence, and it is, in many ways, our strength. And it does make the system more complex, more flexible, and more redundant in a way that probably increases the overall resiliency of the system. But that doesn't mean individual institutions have that resiliency.”

“We have been at inflection points before in the history of higher ed,” Inside Higher Ed editor-in-chief Sara Custer said during one of the summit panels. “This one feels completely different. One thing that is a blanket cause of where we are right now is the overcompliance and fear we’re seeing on college campuses from leadership right down to junior staff.”

Kent, who was deputy education secretary in Virginia before joining the U.S. Department of Education, said that more intentional conversations are taking place now between potential partners in and around higher ed and that the role of his department is to facilitate those partnerships through “cutting regulatory burden.”

“We are all about breaking down silos,” Kent said. “We are all about doing things in a different way. We are all about questioning the status quo in this administration. We are breaking a lot of molds in the way that we do things, and we think for the betterment of students and taxpayers, and quite honestly, for the betterment of higher education as a whole.”

“P3s are something that Virginia embraces, and we're very excited about it, being able to put all stakeholders around the table,” Kaine said. “Because without that, it's really hard to do projects. And it's just a tribute to the fact that good things in life now hardly happen by the say-so of a dynamic president or the say-so of a dynamic governor. It takes a lot of people around the table.”

This initiative supports the Advancing 21st-Century Education for All solution of George �鶹��Ƶ's Grand Challenge Initiative

Explore Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square

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

Sarah Holland — 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 Sarah Holland Wed, 03/04/2026 - 14:39

The �鶹��Ƶ 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. �鶹��Ƶ 6,000 students, or 15% of the university’s enrollment, lives on campus.

Even after that increase, George �鶹��Ƶ’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 �鶹��Ƶ 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 �鶹��Ƶ 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 �鶹��Ƶ 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 �鶹��Ƶ 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 �鶹��Ƶ Enterprise in order to support startups and commercialization of technologies that are coming out of George �鶹��Ƶ.”

One of the highlights of the meeting was a presentation on �鶹��Ƶ LIFE, an inclusive postsecondary program for students with intellectual disabilities, from program director Linn Jorgenson. �鶹��Ƶ 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 �鶹��Ƶ 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 �鶹��Ƶ 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 �鶹��Ƶ, 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 �鶹��Ƶ Now: Power the Possible campaign. She also offered a reminder for Giving Day on April 2.

“This day is about giving to George �鶹��Ƶ 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 �鶹��Ƶ 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 �鶹��Ƶ 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 �鶹��Ƶ 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 �鶹��Ƶ, 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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Winter Commencement speaker encourages graduates to keep exploring and questioning

ckearney — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 19:49:46 +0000

Winter Commencement speaker encourages graduates to keep exploring and questioning ckearney Thu, 12/18/2025 - 14:49

�鶹��Ƶ honored more than 4,900 graduates at Winter Commencement on Thursday, but before they turned their tassels, President Gregory Washington wanted them to know the caliber of university from which they were earning their degrees.

George �鶹��Ƶ is one of only five very large universities in the country that the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education have cited as excelling in opportunity, outcomes and research.

“I want each of you to leave here today knowing that you didn’t just earn your degree from any old place,” Washington said. “You actually earned your degree from a special place.”

More than 4,900 students received their degrees December 18 at George �鶹��Ƶ's Winter Commencement. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

The ceremony at EagleBank Arena, livestreamed on George �鶹��Ƶ’s YouTube channel, occurred the same month that the university’s namesake turned 300, another distinction for a graduating class with students from 87 countries and 38 states. In addition to the 4,900 graduates, more than 300 students received certificates. �鶹��Ƶ 27% of the bachelor’s degree recipients identified as first-generation graduates.

Washington in his remarks noted the scrutiny the university has been under in recent months and how he and his leadership team have relied on George �鶹��Ƶ’s core values in their management and response to these challenges. He encouraged the graduates to determine their core values to help guide responses to the complex issues they will encounter.

“When facing trials and tribulations of life, lean into who you are—who you really are,” Washington said. “Like the old saying goes, an honest man’s pillow is his peace of mind. If you make choices and decisions rooted in your core values, rooted in who you are, that peace of mind will sustain, inspire, and comfort you and those who you lead.”

Washington and George �鶹��Ƶ rector Charles “Cully” Stimson, JD ’92, presented guest speaker Ali Manouchehri, BA Philosophy ’99, with an honorary doctorate of humane letters. Manouchehri’s George �鶹��Ƶ experience began with a missed application deadline but concluded with him co-founding a business from his room in Dominion Hall at the onset of the dot.com boom.

From left, Rector Charles Stimson, Commencement speaker Ali Reza Manouchehri, and President Washington during the 2025 Winter Commencement at EagleBank Arena. Manouchehri was presented with an honorary doctorate of humane letters. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

That business, MetroStar, now has more than 500 employees and is a major source of innovation and services in the government and intelligence sectors. Manouchehri, the company’s CEO, credits the power of curiosity as a factor in his success because “it lets you imagine new beginnings when others only see endings” and it “helps you connect where fear divides.” He encouraged the new graduates to see how far their own inquisitiveness can lead them.

With an anecdote that no doubt warmed the hearts of the educators in the audience, Manouchehri recalled an inspiring Fairfax County middle school teacher who stoked his relentless curiosity and ability to dream big.

“He taught me a lesson that feels more important today in a world overwhelming with information, opinions, politics, and technology,” Manouchehri said. “Don’t just consume what you see. Explore it for yourself. Research it. Understand it. Because the truth isn’t always what’s the loudest or the highest likes on social media, it’s about what you take time to discover for yourself.”

Student speaker Ayham Elayan, an Honors College student graduating with a degree in bioengineering, said an introductory course group project that entailed designing a 3D-printed prosthetic hand fueled his interest in the humanitarian impact of that field. One of his two George �鶹��Ƶ study-abroad trips was to Ecuador, where a group of student and faculty volunteers assembled 22 prosthetic legs for amputees.

Elayan, who also has interned at a pharmaceutical company, acknowledged bouts of self-doubt during his time in college but encouraged his fellow graduates to always focus on the future. He is the fourth child in his family to attend George �鶹��Ƶ.

“Don’t get stuck in chapters that have already closed, because you can’t change what’s been written in ink,” Elayan said. “Because there’s blank page upon blank page ready to share the new untold chapters of the stories of your lives. But the real kicker is that you hold the pen.”

Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) majors accounted for 30% of students earning bachelor’s degrees at Winter Commencement as well as 37% of students earning advanced degrees.

Scott Hine, BS Decision Sciences ’85, president of the �鶹��Ƶ Alumni Association, welcomed the new graduates to an alumni network of more than 250,000 worldwide. He encouraged the Winter Class of 2025 to follow him on LinkedIn to further build the alumni network, attend their first homecoming this winter, and to volunteer at George �鶹��Ƶ.

“The strength of our university is built on accomplishments and engagement by alumni like you,” Hine said. “Your success strengthens the George �鶹��Ƶ degree for all who hold it and for all who will earn it in years ahead.”

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George �鶹��Ƶ honoring almost 5,300 graduates at Winter Commencement

ckearney — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 19:10:19 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ honoring almost 5,300 graduates at Winter Commencement ckearney Mon, 12/15/2025 - 14:10

�鶹��Ƶ will honor nearly 5,300 students graduating or earning certificates at Winter Commencement at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at EagleBank Arena on the Fairfax Campus.

The event will be livestreamed on George �鶹��Ƶ’s YouTube channel. Doors open an hour before the ceremony.

The winter graduates hail from 87 countries and 38 states, and 27% of bachelor’s degree recipients identify as first-generation graduates.

The guest speaker will be Ali Reza Manouchehri, BA Philosophy ‘99, co-founder and chief executive officer of MetroStar, a company he started as a George �鶹��Ƶ student. The student speaker is Ayham Elayan, an Honors College student earning a bachelor’s of science in bioengineering.

Degree celebrations for nine George �鶹��Ƶ schools and colleges also will take place this week at EagleBank Arena and those too will be livestreamed.

Tickets are required for all guests at Commencement and degree celebration ceremonies.

The top five majors among the 3,107 undergraduates in the winter Class of 2025 are business; computer science; psychology; information technology; and criminology, law and society.

Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) majors account for 30% of students earning bachelor’s degrees and 37% of students earning advanced degrees, indicative of how George �鶹��Ƶ is a top producer of tech talent for Northern Virginia and the state.

For the 1,647 students earning master’s degrees, the top five majors are data analytics engineering, special education, computer science, accounting, and business administration.

The top majors for the 190 students earning doctoral degrees are education, computer science, psychology, biosciences, economics, and statistical science.

The winter graduating class also includes three law school graduates.

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Manouchehri is this year’s Winter Commencement speaker

Katarina Benson — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 14:28:06 +0000

Manouchehri is this year’s Winter Commencement speaker Katarina Benson Fri, 10/17/2025 - 10:28

Ali Reza Manouchehri, BA Philosophy ‘99, co-founder and chief executive officer of MetroStar, a company he started as a �鶹��Ƶ student, will be the featured speaker at Winter Commencement on December 18 at EagleBank Arena on the Fairfax Campus.

Manouchehri will be the Winter Commencement speaker.

Manouchehri launched MetroStar, a digital transformation company serving government agencies and the private sector, in 1999 from his residence hall room. The company now has a team of more than 500 engineers, designers, and innovators who assist clients in staying abreast of the latest technologies to modernize operations.

The Iranian-born Manouchehri also is co-founder and chairperson, and former CEO, at software company Zoomph. Both MetroStar and Zoomph are based in Reston, Virginia.

In 2023, Manouchehri was named Executive of the Year in the $75 Million-$300 Million category at the Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards. In 2022, he received WashingtonExec's 2022 Chief Executive Officer Award in the Private Company, Annual Revenue less than $150M category. In 2024 he was appointed director of MainStreet Bank. 

Named a College of Humanities and Social Sciences Distinguished Alumnus in 2012, Manouchehri has been active in several capacities at George �鶹��Ƶ, including as philanthropist, a judge at the Accelerator Investor Conference, and currently as an advisory board member for the Costello College of Business Baroni Center for Government Contracting.

Manouchehri spoke at the CHSS degree celebration in 2016.

Winter Commencement details

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Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square powers research and innovation through collaboration

ckearney — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 20:16:02 +0000

Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square powers research and innovation through collaboration ckearney Mon, 09/29/2025 - 16:16

�鶹��Ƶ celebrated Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square with the same collaborative spirit that will fuel decades of innovation at the state-of-the-art facility in Arlington, Virginia. Hundreds of representatives from industry, academia, government, and the community came together for the grand celebration at Fuse on Thursday, which included Governor Glenn Youngkin speaking at the ribbon cutting for the Energy Exploration (E2) Center.

“Igniting a fuse signifies the moment where possibility transforms into inevitability,” George �鶹��Ƶ President Gregory Washington said during the main program celebration that culminated the grand opening event. “It's that razor-thin instant where preparation meets decision and hesitation gives way to action. What we have done today is strike that initial flame. And that initial flame is a declaration that the future will no longer be passive. It will unfold because you dare to set it in motion.”

Fuse, which anchors the Arlington Innovation Corridor that runs from Rosslyn to Ballston, is a “a factory of dreams, factory of ideas,” said Takis Karantonis, chair of the Arlington County Board. Fuse will house research and economic opportunities in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, power/energy, Next G communications, nuclear small reactor control systems, and data center engineering.

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Much of that work will support the university’s Grand Challenge Initiative. In addition, �鶹��Ƶ Enterprise will support thousands of entrepreneurs in tech and other fields on their path to commercialization and adoption of their ideas and inventions.

Washington singled out several key figures in the completion of the Fuse project, including College of Engineering and Computing dean Ken Ball; Liza Wilson Durant, associate provost for strategic initiatives and community engagement; and �鶹��Ƶ Innovation Partners, a development consortium led by Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate. The event also included acknowledgment of the key role philanthropy plays at George �鶹��Ƶ, giving thanks to Kimmy Duong and Long Nguyen, whose names grace Virginia’s first School of Computing.

“We are celebrating more than a building,” said Trishana E. Bowden, vice president of advancement and alumni relations and president of the �鶹��Ƶ Foundation. “We are celebrating a bold vision come to life, a place where ideas, partnerships, opportunities will shape our future. So consider this an open invitation. Partner with us, invest with us. Help us ensure that the energy we celebrate today continues to inspire generations of thinkers, doers, and leaders.”

Ball said that 44 engineering and computing faculty have moved into their offices at Fuse and are setting up their labs, and 120 PhD students are there as well. Hundreds of students are already enrolled in classes at Fuse, where there are labs for robotics and autonomous systems, virtual reality, power engineering, networking, cybersecurity, and other innovative pursuits. With Fuse fully open, every school and college at �鶹��Ƶ now has a presence at �鶹��Ƶ Square.

From left, Vice President Trishana E. Bowden, Long Nguyen, Kimmy Duong, President Gregory Washington, and Dean Ken Ball at the Grand Celebration for Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

“You'll see the best minds in higher education and private industry together tackling some of society's toughest ethical and technical challenges,” George �鶹��Ƶ Board of Visitors Rector Charles “Cully” Stimson said. “And most importantly, you'll see our students gaining the kinds of hands-on experience that will carry them into the workforce ready to lead.”

Ball was one of multiple speakers to thank the university’s philanthropists, including Kimmy Duong and Long Nguyen, who gave a $20 million gift to establish the state’s first School of Computing in their name. Duong and Nguyen also provide scholarships to students at George �鶹��Ƶ and other colleges and universities in the Washington, D.C., region through the Kimmy Duong Foundation.

One scholarship recipient is Rakibul Alam, an Honors College student in the Costello College of Business. Alam has served in Student Government and as a student ambassador at the business school, launched a startup called Project Hope to improve the availability of menstrual health products in Bangladesh, and studied abroad in Morocco and India. Alam also is president of �鶹��Ƶ Consulting Group and interned with the Department of the Navy and KPMG.

“The generosity of our donors, including the Kimmy Duong Foundation, has not only helped me with the financial challenges of tuition, books, and living expenses, but has also help me accomplish my dream of a global education,” Alam said in thanking Duong and Nguyen, telling them, “You are changing lives and creating a generation of students who will be giving back. You are making this world a better place. And I hope that I can be part of that change and to represent you well.”

The Fuse celebration included the dedication and ribbon cutting of the Energy Exploration (E2) Center, the largest small modular reactor (SMR) control room simulator of its kind in the country, and one of 11 in the world.

E2, in partnership with NuScale Power Corporation, will provide students with opportunities to learn on the latest technology to become leaders and innovators in the sustainable energy workforce, a shared vision among higher education, government and industry.

Virginia Clean Energy Innovation Bank funded E2 as part of the Virginia Department of Energy’s investments in the state’s nuclear energy workforce development.

“You all are about to engage in a step function change in your ability to understand the power of nuclear power,” Youngkin said, singling out the students and faculty in attendance at the dedication on the seventh floor of Fuse. “Because you're no longer going to be reading about SMRs. You're no longer going to wish that you could work on one. You are going to be able to walk into that room….and do something incredible, which is prepare yourself for an extraordinary career.

“We have a collective moment to celebrate, a collective moment to say this is a step that we will all remember that the workforce of the future in order to drive the power of the future was right here at �鶹��Ƶ.”

Glenn Davis, BA Economics ’93, is the state’s energy director. He joined Youngkin, Washington, and NuScale Chief Commercial Officer Clayton Scott at the dedication.

“�鶹��Ƶ has been an exceptional partner building curriculum, recruiting talent, and opening this space to educators, local leaders, and the public. It’s the right capacity and capability in the right place at the right time,” Davis said.

At a VIP reception that preceded the E2 event, Washington thanked several groups for their involvement in Fuse, including the President’s Innovation Advisory Council, which includes representatives from industry, community, and government.

Washington specifically cited Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, for the extensive role he has played in championing Fuse and lifting technological innovation in Northern Virginia, including attracting Amazon HQ2 to the region.

“His efforts to drive economic growth, jobs, and investment across Northern Virginia has been recognized and championed all throughout the country,” Washington said. “He has been a huge supporter of us, putting George �鶹��Ƶ literally at the center of that development, and has been incredibly helpful in helping to move it forward.

“He has provided leadership and vision in shaping Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square as a model for collaboration among business, government, and academia.”

George �鶹��Ƶ faculty and students presented interactive demonstrations involving drones, robots, and other tools of technological advancement.

“When the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Northern Virginia community, and �鶹��Ƶ work together, there is absolutely no limit to what we can achieve and achieve together,” Washington said.

Learn more about Fuse at �鶹��Ƶ Square

George �鶹��Ƶ highlighted for creating workforce partnerships

ckearney — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 14:50:59 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ highlighted for creating workforce partnerships ckearney Mon, 09/15/2025 - 10:50

�鶹��Ƶ President Gregory Washington was a panelist at an American Council on Education (ACE) briefing on Capitol Hill that focused on universities partnering with industry to address shortages in the health care workforce.

From left, George �鶹��Ƶ President Gregory Washington, Inova Health System's John Moynihan, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Labouré College of Healthcare President Lily Hsu, Ascentria Care Alliance President and CEO Angela Bovill. Photo by ACE

The event also highlighted George �鶹��Ƶ as one of the Carnegie Foundation and ACE “Opportunity Colleges and Universities: Higher Access, Higher Earnings.”

Among the other panelists at the Sept. 9 briefing was Inova Health System President and Chief of Clinical Enterprise John Moynihan. George �鶹��Ƶ partners with Inova and others in the industry to provide pathways to careers for George �鶹��Ƶ graduates. The �鶹��Ƶ Center for Health Workforce serves as a catalyst and facilitator of community action for health workforce development across Virginia.

“This is ultimately about creating opportunity for the next generation,” Washington said. “Opportunity should be at the heart of every partnership we build.”

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George �鶹��Ƶ welcomes record number of incoming students for fall 2025

ckearney — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 19:28:59 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ welcomes record number of incoming students for fall 2025 ckearney Mon, 08/25/2025 - 15:28

�鶹��Ƶ welcomed the largest incoming class in university history at New Student Convocation on Friday, with administrative, faculty and student speakers encouraging the newcomers to take full advantage of their academic and social opportunities, including robust campus involvement.

Students gathered in EagleBank Arena for the New Student Convocation. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

“Students like you come to George �鶹��Ƶ to receive a world-class education, graduate with little or no debt, and land a fantastic job on the back end,” President Gregory Washington told the enthusiastic throng at EagleBank Arena. “That is the reason why George �鶹��Ƶ is No. 1 in the state…for upward mobility. It does not matter where your Point A is. We get you to a spectacular Point B.”

Washington reminded students that they now attend the largest and most diverse public university in Virginia, a top-tier research institution that has leapt 110 spots in the Wall Street Journal rankings since 2020 and is one of only two universities in the nation to be both top 20 in free speech and a five-star Campus Pride Index university.

“We don’t just look different,” Washington said. “We think different. We act different. And you know what? We figure out a way to make it all work together, and we do that better than anyone else in the country.”

Isaiah Grays, student body president, shared his experiences as an out-of-state student. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Washington advised students to use PatriotAI as a strategic tool and not a shortcut, and to find ways to get involved with the Grand Challenge Initiative by studying the six areas of focus and working alongside faculty members who are tackling these issues.

Keith Renshaw, senior associate provost for undergraduate education, told the incoming students that the communication, problem-solving and other skills they learn will enable them to adapt and switch jobs and careers—including occupations that do not yet exist.

“It’s not your major that’s going to dictate where you will or will not go,” Renshaw said. “It’s what you do with your major, and what you do with the opportunities you can take advantage of here. At George �鶹��Ƶ, we don’t want you to just gain knowledge. We want you to use knowledge.”

Keynote speaker Randy Lioz, founder and consultant for Depolarizing Organizational Cultures, encouraged students to move beyond the isolation of a “phone-based life” to engage with others, particularly fellow students of different backgrounds, to promote greater understanding and spur new connections.

“The research is unmistakable,” said Lioz, who is pursuing a master’s degree in conflict analysis and resolution at the university. “The more we avoid each other, the more we misunderstand each other. That avoidance is taking a very personal toll, especially on our relationships. What I want you to realize about being at a place like George �鶹��Ƶ is it’s about the people who surround you and the opportunities they bring to broaden your view of the world.”

Undergraduate student body president Isaiah Grays echoed that theme. Grays recalled coming to the university last year as an out-of-state freshman full of uncertainty about what life might be like in his new environment. All students, he said, should realize they have at least one thing in common—George �鶹��Ƶ as a “shared destination.”

“Many of you may feel a sense of apprehension from the unknown,” Grays said. “But your college experience is shaped by your willingness to branch beyond what you are familiar with.”

Students learned about the many physical and mental health resources available to them, as well as the university’s more than 500 registered student organizations, from Vice President for University Life Rose Pascarell.

“You are going to thrive here, and we’re going to do everything we can to support you in that,” she said.

They also got a crash course from Doc Nix and the Green Machine on learning the university fight song,

“You’re in a family now,” Washington said. “We affectionately call it ‘the �鶹��Ƶ Nation.’ And you’re a big part of that.”

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George �鶹��Ƶ 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 �鶹��Ƶ 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 �鶹��Ƶ 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 �鶹��Ƶ 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 �鶹��Ƶ 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 �鶹��Ƶ 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 �鶹��Ƶ 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 �鶹��Ƶ’s role building the largest workforce talent pool across the commonwealth’s critical fields and efforts to upskill students and the region through the �鶹��Ƶ 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 �鶹��Ƶ’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, �鶹��Ƶ Korea dean, provided an update on that campus, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. �鶹��Ƶ 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 �鶹��Ƶ 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 �鶹��Ƶ’s record-breaking Class of 2025 packed the house at Spring Commencement

ckearney — Thu, 15 May 2025 19:10:24 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ’s record-breaking Class of 2025 packed the house at Spring Commencement ckearney Thu, 05/15/2025 - 15:10

�鶹��Ƶ honored its largest ever graduating class at Spring Commencement, turning the event’s “This Is Your Moment” theme into a tassel-turning time to remember for a record-breaking class of more than 12,000 degree and certificate earners.

The ceremony, livestreamed on George �鶹��Ƶ’s YouTube channel Thursday morning from EagleBank Arena, honored graduates from 117 countries and 49 states as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and military installations.

�鶹��Ƶ President Gregory Washington told graduates they are stepping into a time of “profound challenge and change” and urged each to determine their core values to help them make decisions, particularly the difficult ones.

“Your core values are your roots,” Washington said. “In ways large and small, they provide a foundation of support that will enable you to tackle challenges with a clear mind, a clear heart, and a clear conscience.

“When you know who you are, when you know what you stand for, you can proceed with purpose and dignity. Your values are your path. And your path will lead you to strategies and solutions.”

The Class of Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

During the ceremony, Washington asked three different groups to stand and be recognized—first-generation graduates (which accounted for 25% of the class), students who came to George �鶹��Ƶ via a community college, and students who are current or former military members, or military dependents. Each sizable group received a warm ovation and underscored the individual paths each graduate took to earning their degree.

One of the most noteworthy singular paths that Washington shared was the one taken by Yevin Goonatilake, who in December became the university’s youngest graduate to earn a 4.0 GPA, at 15 years old. This spring, at 16, he became the youngest person in university history to earn a master’s degree (computer science), a feat that elicited astonishment from graduates and attendees alike. His path will continue at George �鶹��Ƶ as he pursues his PhD.

The guest speaker, Martina Cheung, president and CEO of S&P Global, advised the graduates to not think of their career arc as a ladder, because sometimes the wisest decision is to move laterally, not vertically. That has been her experience within S&P. She left the position as president of the market intelligence division to become president of the company’s credit rating agency, exposing her to other aspects of the business and to new colleagues inside and outside the organization.

Double major Duy Ha Vu. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

“Looking back now, I realize leading two divisions instead of one actually better prepared me for becoming CEO,” Cheung said. “So the lesson here is: Don’t collect promotions. Collect experiences. That’s going to make you smarter, better prepared for what comes next, and it’ll give you a more reliable gut sense of what you ought to do when the answer isn’t especially clear.”

Board of Visitors Rector Charles “Cully” Stimson, JD ’92, presented Cheung with an honorary doctor of humane letters degree.

Student speaker Duy Ha Vu, a double major in public administration and business who moved to the United States from Vietnam, recalled personal triumphs, such as working at the Schar School of Policy and Government, founding a billiards club, and spending a semester at �鶹��Ƶ Korea.

But Vu also recalled times of struggle and loneliness, particularly during the pandemic when he first arrived at George �鶹��Ƶ.

“I stand before you not because I am the perfect student,” Vu said. “It’s because I never let those mistakes define me. And today, as I look at all of you in your caps and gowns, I see a room full of people who did that just that [too]. If you have made it this far, you have what it takes to go even further.”

Vu’s supporters included his mother, who had flown in from London to attend the ceremony.

Rector Stimson presents the George �鶹��Ƶ Medal to Robert E. Buchanan. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Spring Commencement also provided an opportunity for the university to honor some of its most enduring champions. Stimson awarded the George �鶹��Ƶ Medal, the university’s highest honorary award, to Robert E. Buchanan, a leading real estate developer who has served the university and Washington, D.C., civic causes for decades while also working with other business leaders to shape the region’s economic direction.

Receiving honorary degrees were civic and business leader Albert Dwoskin, another long-time university partner and advocate who has supported George �鶹��Ƶ priorities across access, innovation, and inclusive excellence, and Carolyn Peterson, a passionate advocate for education and the arts whose steadfast support for George �鶹��Ƶ also spans decades. Peterson accepted her honor at the Board of Visitors meeting earlier this month.

Scott Hine, BS Decision Science ’85, president of the �鶹��Ƶ Alumni Association, welcomed the new graduates to a network of nearly 250,000 alumni and encouraged them to stay connected to the university by attending events, guest-speaking in classes, mentoring students, and supporting George �鶹��Ƶ through philanthropy.

“There is likely an alum in any industry you are joining, and there is likely an alum in any location in which you’re settling,” Hine said. “This is an incredible network that you should leverage.”

Some 41% of undergraduate degree earners in the Class of 2025 are in STEM and health sciences fields, as are 48% of advanced degree earners, an indication of the university supplying workplace-ready talent in high-demand fields.

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