George Mason University President Gregory Washington leads Virginia's largest, most innovative, and most diverse public university, a top-tier research institution ranked among the top public universities nationally by the Wall Street Journal and one that has rapidly emerged as a national leader in upward mobility for students of all backgrounds.

Since launching his presidency in July 2020, Washington has formed new partnerships, created academic and entrepreneurial pathways, and increased research activity. He has also expanded student support services, including mental health resources.

Washington, the former engineering dean at Ohio State University (interim) and the University of California, Irvine, has strengthened George Mason’s commitment to access and opportunity by creating the Mason Virginia Promise (MVP), expanding pathways to higher education and entrepreneurship across the state.

Washington, George Mason’s eighth president, has established initiatives that bring together industry, government, and education to drive innovation and economic growth. He has also led major public-private partnerships and expanded the university’s role as a hub for research and workforce development.

An accomplished researcher, Washington specializes in dynamic systems, with an emphasis in the modeling and control of smart material structures and systems. He has conducted research for organizations including the National Science Foundation, NASA, General Motors, and the U.S. Army Research Office.

In fall 2023, Washington was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering.

A first-generation college graduate, Washington earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD in mechanical engineering from North Carolina State University