George Mason University's leaders exemplify how people of various backgrounds can come together to build something greater than they could alone.
George Mason's leadership looks beyond the expected as they share responsibility and commitment to the success of students, faculty, and staff in their academic, personal, and professional goals, careers, communities, and whatever other endeavors they may choose to pursue.
Leadership Structure
View the Org Chart ➡
President Gregory Washington
University President
George Mason University President Gregory Washington leads Virginia’s largest and most diverse public university into its second half-century.
Since launching his George Mason presidency in July 2020, Washington has created new academic and entrepreneurial pathways, opened or broken ground on academic facilities on all three Virginia campuses across the university’s 848 acres, and presided over the highest research expenditures and philanthropy in Mason history. In 2023, Washington announced “Mason Now: Power the Possible,” a one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign to support student success, research, innovation, community, and sustainability.
"What drew me to Mason 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 Mason’s commitment to access and opportunity by creating the Mason Virginia Promise (MVP), a pathway to a George Mason degree or help starting a business for any Virginian who aspires to either goal. MVP expands George Mason’s national award-winning ADVANCE Program Partnership with Northern Virginia Community College to select community colleges throughout the state. The Mason Virginia Promise Grant helps provide opportunities to students from low-income backgrounds.
Read his entire bio | Connect with the Office of the President
University Leadership
Dr. Ajay Vinzé
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President
Dr. Ajay Vinzé serves as the interim provost and executive vice president of George Mason University, the largest public research university in Virginia and a Carnegie R1 institution.
As interim provost and executive vice president, Vinzé oversees George Mason University’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 Mason’s FY23-FY27 Strategic Plan in addition to facilitating other university-wide initiatives.
Ms. Owen was the lead project manager for George Mason’s Safe Return to Campus effort during the COVID-19 crisis, ensuring that critical voices across Mason came together to plan for public health and operational needs on tight timelines. Prior to joining George Mason, 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 George Mason University. 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 Mason 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 Mason was recognized as a national leader in pandemic management, exemplifying how Mason 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 George Mason University.
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 George Mason University 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.