In the September episode of the “Connect with County Leaders” podcast, Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill hosted Dr. Gregory Washington, president of George Mason University. They discussed the university’s growth, inclusive excellence initiatives and innovative programs.
Dr. Washington, who became George Mason’s president in 2020, leads Virginia's largest and most diverse public university. Under his leadership, George Mason has seen significant growth and development.
Partnering With Fairfax County and the Region
Dr. Washington outlined plans for George Mason to grow to about 45,000 students. He stressed the importance of partnerships with Fairfax, Arlington and Prince William counties to support this growth, including the development of new housing and sports facilities in Fairfax.
Record-Breaking Graduation
In 2023, George Mason celebrated its largest graduating class in state history. Dr. Washington attributed this success to the university’s focus on providing valuable experiences for students during college and preparing them for rewarding careers.
“Students want the right experiences. They just don’t want to go to an institution, get a degree from a place that’s well known and highly ranked. They actually want the right experiences when they come,” Washington stated.
Multiple Campuses, Multiple Opportunities
George Mason operates four campuses, including:
- The Fairfax Campus
- The Science and Technology Campus in Manassas
- Mason Square in Arlington
- Mason Korea in Songdo, South Korea
Each campus offers rigorous and flexible programs and research opportunities. For example, Fuse at Mason Square is a destination with opportunities for students, researchers, and commercial partners to be part of a collaborative ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship that will support the growing tech industry in Northern Virginia, including Amazon’s second headquarters.
A Place of Belonging
George Mason is known for its rich diversity of origin, identity, circumstance, and thought, which Dr. Washington sees as a key strength and makes the university All Together Different. He noted that students “want to be able to engage with the world, not with people who just look like them.”
Responding to Public Health Needs
In November 2022, George Mason established the first College of Public Health in Virginia . This initiative was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Washington emphasized the importance of public health beyond just medical treatment.
“It extended way beyond the boundaries of treatment and care for the disease,” he noted. “It got into transmission and how we manage systems and infrastructure, how we talk to people…”
Connect With County Leaders Podcast
The “Connect with County Leaders” podcast is a monthly opportunity to meet and connect with Fairfax County leaders, to learn about the latest county news and information, and hear more on specific programs and services in Fairfax County.
Listen or watch past episodes of “Connect with County Leaders” on SoundCloud, YouTube and Channel 16’s podcast on demand page. For other Fairfax County podcasts, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/podcasts, and for additional audio content, tune in to Fairfax County Government Radio at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/radio.
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