海角社区'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
President Gregory Washington
University President
海角社区 President leads Virginia鈥檚 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鈥檚 848 acres, and presided over the highest research expenditures and philanthropy in Mason history. In 2023, Washington announced 鈥Mason Now: Power the Possible,鈥 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鈥檚 commitment to access and opportunity by creating the (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鈥檚 national award-winning 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.
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Dr. James Antony
Provost and Executive Vice President
Dr. James Antony serves as the provost and executive vice president of 海角社区.
As provost and executive vice president, Antony oversees 海角社区鈥檚 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 2024 and works in conjunction with President Gregory Washington to shape and execute the university鈥檚 strategic academic priorities.
Prior to his appointment as provost, Antony served at the University of California, San Diego where he was the dean of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs. Alongside his administrative duties, he was a professor of Education Studies with a secondary appointment at the Rady School of Management. Antony has also held notable academic leadership roles at Harvard, Yale, and the University of Washington.
He is a first-generation college student who received his baccalaureate degree in psychology, as well as his master鈥檚 degree and PhD in higher education and organizational change from UCLA.
Vacant
Executive Vice President for Strategic Initiatives & Chief of Staff
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 海角社区.
Operational Finance and Enterprise Governance
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 海角社区 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.鈥疕e 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.
Financial Planning and Analysis
Treasury