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Gregory Washington

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Gregory Washington
Washington in March 2024
8th President of George Mason University
Incumbent
Assumed office
July 1, 2020
Preceded byAnne Holton (interim)
Ángel Cabrera
Dean of the Henry Samueli School of Engineering at the
University of California, Irvine
In office
August 1, 2011 (2011-08-01) – 2020 (2020)
Preceded byDimitri Papamoschou (interim)
Succeeded byMagnus Egerstedt
Personal details
EducationNorth Carolina State University (BS, PhD)
Scientific career
FieldsMechanical engineering
Institutions
ThesisModal control of reflector surfaces for far-field power maximization (1994)
Doctoral advisorLawrence Michael

Gregory N. Washington is an American university professor and academic administrator who became the 8th president of George Mason University on July 1, 2020.[1] Prior to becoming a university president, he was the Stacey Nicholas Dean of Engineering in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering at the University of California, Irvine from 2011 to 2020. He was the first African-American person to be made dean of an engineering school in the University of California system. His research considers dynamical systems, smart materials and devices.

Early life and education

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Washington was born in New York City. He attended William G. Enloe High School in Raleigh, North Carolina, graduating in 1984.[2][3] Washington studied mechanical engineering at North Carolina State University. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1989 and his doctoral degree in 1994.[4] In the early 1990s he assisted in creating The Nubian Message, an African-American student newspaper. He was the first person in his family to obtain a university degree.[2][3]

Career

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In 1995, Washington joined Ohio State University as an assistant professor of mechanical engineering.[5][6] He was promoted to associate professor in 2000 and professor in 2004. At Ohio State University, he led the Institute for Sustainable Energy and the Environment, He assumed the role of associate dean for research in the college of engineering in 2005, and in 2008, was promoted to interim dean of the college of engineering.[7][8] He has been involved with the design of lightweight, structurally active antenna, self-driving vehicles and smart materials that can provide vibrational control.[8][9]

In 2011, Washington was appointed Dean of the Henry Samueli School of Engineering at the University of California, Irvine (UCI).[5] He was the first African-American to be made of dean of any engineering school in the University of California system.[7] In his capacity as dean Washington has expanded the engineering school and created research opportunities with the Middle East and China.[7] He designed an engineering induction program that introduced freshmen to product design.[10]

In 2015, he chaired the UCI Task Force on Ensuring Positive Campus Climate for the African American community.[11] The task force was established after the UCI Black Students Union sent a letter outlining the "structural deficiencies in institutional support for Black students on this campus".[11] The task force looked to establish a Black Resource Center, similar to the BRC at the University of California, San Diego, which looks to help with the recruitment and retention of students who identify as part of the Black African diaspora.[11] The center has since become the Center for Black Cultures, Resources & Research.[12] Washington secured a $9.5 million grant to engage students from more diverse backgrounds through science and engineering outreach.[10] He was awarded a second term in 2016.[13]

On February 24, 2020, Washington was announced as the 8th president of George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Effective July 1 of that year, at the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Washington became the university's first African-American president.[14] He led the university during the pandemic and launched the university-wide task force on anti-racism and inclusive excellence to identify and correct inequities in university policies and practices.[15]

Washington serves on the Air Force Research Laboratory and National Science Foundation Directorate for Engineering Advisory Committees.[16][17]

References

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  1. ^ "Gregory Washington named George Mason University's 8th president | George Mason". www2.gmu.edu.
  2. ^ a b "Emanating Leadership". NC State News. 2021-02-04. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  3. ^ a b Suggs, Benny (2013). "Red & White for Life" (PDF). NC State (Summer ed.). NC State Alumni Association. pp. 6–7. Retrieved January 13, 2020.[dead link]
  4. ^ "Gregory Washington | The Henry Samueli School of Engineering at UC Irvine". engineering.uci.edu. Retrieved 2020-01-12.
  5. ^ a b "Gregory Washington Named Dean of The Henry Samueli School of Engineering | The Henry Samueli School of Engineering at UC Irvine". engineering.uci.edu. Retrieved 2020-01-12.
  6. ^ "Greg Washington Accepts New Role at UC Irvine". 7 July 2011. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. ^ a b c "Second University provost candidate announced". The Minnesota Daily. Retrieved 2020-01-12.
  8. ^ a b "Gregory Washington". CHM. Retrieved 2020-01-12.
  9. ^ National Academy of Sciences' decadal plan for aeronautics : hearings. DIANE Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4223-2244-4.
  10. ^ a b "Gregory N. Washington | Global Engineering Dean's Council". www.gedcouncil.org. 2019-11-21. Retrieved 2020-01-12.
  11. ^ a b c "Ensuring Positive Campus Climate for the African American community" (PDF). UCI. Retrieved 2020-01-12.
  12. ^ "Welcome | UCI Center for Black Cultures, Resources, & Research (CBCRR) | UCI". blackcultures.uci.edu. Retrieved 2020-01-12.
  13. ^ "Engineering dean appointed to second term". UCI News. 2016-07-01. Retrieved 2020-01-12.
  14. ^ "Gregory Washington named George Mason University's 8th president". George Mason University News. George Mason University. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  15. ^ "A Conversation with Gregory Washington". Mason Spirit. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  16. ^ "Directorate for Engineering (ENG) Advisory Committee" (PDF). NSF. Retrieved 2020-01-12.
  17. ^ "Gregory Washington, Ph.D." U.S. News STEM Solutions. Retrieved 2020-01-12.
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