Dr. Gregory Washington
President of George Mason University
Gregory Washington became George Mason University’s eighth president on July 1, 2020. Since then, he has led the institution through a period of significant growth and innovation—expanding access to a college education, accelerating research, and deepening George Mason’s influence as a talent pipeline for the region and state. The Wall Street Journal ranks George Mason as a Top 30 public university nationally.
George Mason, with campuses in Fairfax, Arlington and Manassas, is Virginia’s largest and most diverse public university and one of only five institutions nationwide to be classified as both High Access and High Outcomes by the Carnegie Foundation. Under President Washington’s leadership, the university has grown its undergraduate enrollment by more than 3 percent year-over-year, graduated its largest classes in history, and launched the Grand Challenge Initiative—a $15 million commitment to tackle pressing global issues across climate, health, education, technology, democracy, and space exploration.
Why Us? Why George Mason University?
“If you set out to construct what a great public research university should be, you’d come up with a university like the one we have. George Mason is one of the greatest human development initiatives in the history of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Who has greater impact? The university that helps the few, or the university that helps the many?”
— Dr. Gregory Washington
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Under Dr. Washington's leadership, George Mason brings new life and economic vitality to Northern Virginia
George Mason broke ground on Fuse, a 345,000-square-foot building on the Mason Square campus dedicated to producing the next generation of Northern Virginia's technology workforce. The building, which launched commercially in December 2024 and will welcome students in Fall 2025, features specialized labs for robotics, virtual reality, and data visualization, as well as office spaces, retail, co-working areas, and classrooms. Fuse will house faculty and students working with the Institute for Digital Innovation and their partners, and graduate programs from George Mason’s new School of Computing, the first of its kind in Virginia. In 2024, President Washington was one of the first college presidents in the country to appoint a chief artificial intelligence officer.
On the Science and Technology campus (SciTech) in Manassas, the university has developed partnerships that led to simultaneous groundbreaking for the new Life Sciences and Engineering Building, the Innovation Town Center, and the University Village at Innovation.
The Life Sciences and Engineering Building, a 132,000-square-foot facility opened in 2025, supports students enrolled in STEM-H majors, including kinesiology, materials science, forensic science, bioengineering, and mechanical engineering. It will also enhance research collaboration with the Forensic Science Research and Training Laboratory—commonly known as the Body Farm—a nationally distinctive facility that enables hands-on forensic research and training for George Mason students and law enforcement professionals.
"The most surefire way to strengthen an innovation ecosystem is for a top-tier research university, local industry, and the community to join together in partnership. George Mason University catalyzes our region like no other entity. Whether it’s the I-66 corridor or any other avenue of progress in Northern Virginia, all roads lead through George Mason."
— Dr. Gregory Washington
Expanding Opportunity Through Access, Innovation, and Impact
Under President Gregory Washington’s leadership, George Mason University is redefining prosperity by ensuring that all Virginians—regardless of background—have access to opportunity. Through a student-first, innovation-driven approach, George Mason is strengthening the Commonwealth’s tech workforce, driving economic mobility, and preparing graduates to lead in a rapidly evolving world.
As part of the Commonwealth’s Tech Talent Investment Program (TTIP), George Mason is on track to produce 25,000 additional graduates in computer science, software engineering, and computer engineering over the next 20 years, solidifying Virginia’s role as a natural hub for technology and innovation.
To expand educational access and economic mobility, President Washington created the Mason Virginia Promise (MVP), a bold commitment to provide every Virginian with a pathway to a George Mason degree or the support to launch a business. MVP, which partners with community colleges around the state, is an extension of ADVANCE, a nationally recognized transfer partnership with Northern Virginia Community College. The university also offers direct admission to qualified students from select high schools in six Northern Virginia school divisions.
This long-standing commitment to access begins well before college. For nearly four decades, the university’s Early Identification Program (EIP) has prepared middle and high school students from seven local public school systems for higher education. Today, EIP serves more than 800 students annually, offering mentorship, academic resources, and leadership training to help them thrive in college and beyond.
Mason Enterprise, the university’s statewide hub for entrepreneurial support, further expands this ecosystem of opportunity. In 2024, its services generated $3.7 billion in economic impact providing:
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40,000 entrepreneurs, small business owners, students and research faculty with 900+ workshops and educational programs and a variety of support
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Services including individual counseling, assistance with product development, residence in one of five incubators and intellectual property advice
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Support for businesses 62% women-owned, 42% minority-owned, and 15% veteran-owned
George Mason also plays a vital role in Virginia’s national reputation as the top state for business and education (CNBC, 2023). About 86% of our 2023 graduates are employed in the Washington, D.C., metro area, including 73% in Virginia, and more than 40% of degrees are awarded in high-demand STEM and health fields. George Mason is delivering on its promise to fuel the state’s workforce and future.
Access to Excellence
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.
Latest Episode
Episode 68: A Future We Want: One Grand Challenge, Six Bold Solutions.
Dive deep into George Mason's bold new research strategy with President Gregory Washington and Andre Marshall, vice president for research, innovation, and economic impact. In this episode of Access to Excellence, discover how the Grand Challenge Initiative is positioning George Mason at the forefront of humanity's most pressing issues while maximizing competitiveness for research funding. Learn more about the ecosystems of experts, partners, and infrastructure being built at the university to move the needle on global issues.