Board Membership

Appointed by Governor Youngkin to serve July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2026

Michael J. Meese is the President of the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association (AAFMAA), a non-profit association supporting the military and veterans with insurance, financial planning, investments, mortgages, and other benefits.

In 2013, he retired from the US Army as a Brigadier General.  He concluded his 32-year career teaching economics and national security courses while serving as the Professor and Head of the Department of Social Sciences at the U.S. Military Academy.  In addition to teaching, he served in a variety of strategic political-military positions including deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Bosnia for a total of 31 months.

He has been involved in higher education for over three decades, most recently serving as the Chair of the Board of Regents of Concordia College, New York.  He is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University and at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences.  Previously he taught at Princeton University and was a distinguished research fellow at the National Defense University.

He has written and lectured extensively on national security and economics including the books American National Security and the Armed Forces Guide to Personal Financial Planning. He is a graduate of the National War College, U.S. Military Academy, and holds a Ph.D., MPA and M.A. from Princeton University.

He lives in Oak Hill, VA with his wife and they have three grown children.  Both of his daughters graduated from George Mason University, one as an undergraduate and the other as a graduate student.

Appointed by Governor Spanberger to serve January 17, 2026 – June 30, 2028

Sumeet is an accomplished executive, philanthropist, and civic leader …with more than 30 years of experience in the government IT industry and a deep commitment to George Mason University and the Commonwealth of Virginia. A proud Northern Virginian and product of the Commonwealth’s public education system, he believes that when individuals have access to education and opportunity within their own communities, both people and regions thrive.

Sumeet currently serves as President and CEO of Unissant, where he focuses on delivering trusted, secure, and mission-critical data and technology solutions for federal healthcare and national security agencies. Previously, he served as Chairman and CEO of ARRAY, guiding the company through its graduation from federal small business programs, a successful management buyout, and ultimately its acquisition by CGI Federal.

Earlier in his career, Sumeet was Executive Vice President and COO of ANSTEC, facilitating its sale to Keane (now NTT DATA), where he later served as Senior Vice President for Public Sector and SVP for North American Commercial Sales and Marketing. His experience spans the full lifecycle of growth – from early-stage enterprises to competitive mid-tier organizations, with a consistent focus on workforce development, innovation, and operational excellence.

A 1994 graduate of George Mason University’s Costello College of Business, Sumeet has remained deeply engaged with Mason throughout his career. He is Past Chair of the George Mason University Foundation Board of Trustees and is a past President of the George Mason Alumni Association. His university service also includes membership on the President’s Innovation Advisory Council, the Innovation Advisory Council, and advisory roles supporting the Costello College of Business, including the Dean’s Advisory Council and the Business School Building Campaign Steering Committee. He has been instrumental in launching the Baroni Center for Government Contracting and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, advancing Mason’s role as a driver of economic opportunity and entrepreneurship in the region.

Beyond Mason, Sumeet serves as Past Chair of the Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation, where he has helped advance the creation of a world-class science center focused on inspiring STEM learning, particularly for students from Title I schools. This initiative is a $120M public-private partnership between the private Foundation, the Commonwealth (through the Science Museum of Virginia) and Loudoun County – a wonderful example of all parts of a community contributing to much-needed asset for the region. The Shrivastava Family is a Title Partner of the Science Center, including the Helios immersive gallery designed to engage young learners in science and discovery. He also serves as a Trustee of the Shakespeare Theatre Company, supporting arts education and community engagement, and is a longtime supporter and board member of CRi, which empowers individuals with disabilities and mental health needs to live independently and with dignity.

Sumeet is also Chair of the GO Virginia Region 7 Council, a bipartisan, business-led initiative focused on workforce development, economic growth, and innovation across Northern Virginia. Through this role along with his involvement in the 123 Club and broader civic leadership including as a Board member of NVC, he works to strengthen the alignment between higher education, industry, and regional economic needs.

A resident of Fairfax County since 1974, Sumeet lives in Chantilly, Virginia, with his wife, Joya (BS ’96). They are the proud parents of four children, three of whom are George Mason students or alumni.

Appointed by Governor Youngkin to serve July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2027

Mr. Alacbay is Chief of Staff & Senior Vice President of Strategy for the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA), a nonprofit organization supporting academic excellence, academic freedom, and accountability in higher education. Mr. Alacbay’s research on higher education policy issues has been featured in outlets including The Wall Street Journal, the Associated Press, Fox News, and Forbes, and he has provided guidance on institutional governance to boards of trustees across the country. Prior to joining ACTA, he worked in private practice as a trial attorney and later managed an educational services startup company. Mr. Alacbay received a B.A. in Economics and English from the University of Virginia and his J.D. from George Mason University School of Law, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the George Mason University Civil Rights Law Journal.

Appointed by Governor Spanberger to serve January 17, 2026 – June 30, 2029

Anne Altman is Co-Founder and CEO of Everyone Matters, Inc., a social impact enterprise founded in 2017 dedicated to ensuring that everyone has equal access to citizen- based services, healthcare and education.

Anne is an experienced and respected business executive, thought leader, and corporate director serving on numerous public and private boards. She is Board Chair of Siemens Government Technologies, Inc.; Board Vice Chair of Maximus, Inc.; and independent director of Techflow, Inc. and Gunnison Consulting, Inc. She serves on the advisory board of Blue Delta Capital Partners. Her committee responsibilities include Nominating and Governance, Technology, Compensation and Audit.

Additionally, Anne serves on the boards of the Northern Virginia Technology Council, The National Symphony Orchestra, The George Mason University(GMU) Leadership Council, The GMU Costello College of Business Advisory Council, GMU Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the GMU Baroni Center for Government Contracting.

Anne is known for her expertise and leadership in the business of government and technology; bringing together best practices and capabilities to address the challenges facing our nation. During her 35-year IBM career she served as General Manager US Federal and Government Industries; General Manager Global Public Sector; and General Manager, System z Mainframe. In these capacities, Anne managed global P&L’s, sales, operations, manufacturing and development.

Anne and her husband Dan reside in Oakton, Virginia with their dogs, Surrey and Rixey.

Appointed by Governor Spanberger to serve January 17, 2026 – June 30, 2028

Bruce Caswell assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer and Director of Maximus on April 1, 2018, and has served as President since October 2014. Bruce has held several senior leadership roles overseeing all segments of the Company’s business since joining Maximus in 2004.

Bruce leads the Company’s strategy for helping governments navigate major policy reform and modernization efforts and implement solutions to meet challenging requirements supporting some of the largest programs globally including Medicaid, Medicare, the Decennial Census, pandemic response, and disability benefit assessments for U.S. veterans and U.K. citizens. Through its 3-5 Year Strategic Plan, the company continues to expand its core capabilities to include a growing level of clinical expertise, providing digital citizen services, and delivering technology solutions to meet the mission requirements of its customers including in the Defense & National Security arena. Underpinning this plan was the successful completion of several large acquisitions in 2021, including Attain Federal and Veterans’ Evaluation Services. With more than 37,000 employees worldwide and $5.4B in annual revenue, the company continues to build on its heritage as a leader in performance-based contracting.

Bruce brings 35 years of public sector health and human services program and operational experience, which includes management consulting, systems integration, and operations for government clients at all levels. Prior to joining Maximus in 2004, Bruce worked in several capacities for IBM including Vice President of State and Local Government and Education, as well as Director of Federal Business Development within IBM’s Business Consulting Services. He started his career at Price Waterhouse’s Office of Government Services.

In addition to the George Mason University Board of Visitors, Bruce serves on the Boards of the Greater Washington Partnership (GWP), as immediate past Chair of the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), Vice Chair of the Professional Services Council (PSC), and on the Inova Health System board. His commitment to philanthropy includes serving on the Board of the Wolf Trap Foundation. A four-time (2019-2022) winner of the Wash100 award recognizing the most influential leaders in the GovCon sector, Bruce was also selected as CEO of the Year for 2022 (Public Company) by Washington Executive and Executive of the Year for 2020 by the Northern Virginia Chamber.

Bruce holds a B.A. in economics from Haverford College and a Master of Public Policy degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Appointed by Governor Spanberger to serve January 17, 2026 – June 30, 2029

Tom Davis is a partner at the Holland & Knight law firm, where he focuses his practice on handling a variety of congressional and regulatory affairs, including congressional investigations, land use and legislative strategy.

Tom served 14 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing the 11th Congressional District of Virginia. He served as chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform from 2003 to 2007, where he led a number of high-profile investigations. In addition, he was elected chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee and served in that role from 1999 to 2002.

Prior to serving in Congress, Tom represented Mason District as a supervisor on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors from 1980 to 1991, and as the board chairman from 1991 to 1994.

Tom has served as a director on the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) and a member of the George Mason University Board of Visitors, from 2013 to 2021, including six years as Rector. He taught at GMU as an adjunct professor of political science for several years and is also as a distinguished professor of Public Policy at the Schar School of Policy and Government.

He is the author of a book, The Partisan Divide: Congress in Crisis, which he co-wrote with former Democratic Congressman Martin Frost, about the polarization of the U.S. Congress.

Mr. Davis holds a B.A. from Amherst College (cum laude) and a J.D. from the University of Virginia Law School.

Appointed by Governor Spanberger to serve January 17, 2026 – June 30, 2028

Paul Misener is the Founder and Principal of Misener Innovation LLC, a consultancy dedicated to helping organizations innovate, advocate, and communicate.

Paul is an engineer/scientist (Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Princeton University, 1985; senior research in the Department of Physics). He is also an attorney (Juris Doctor, George Mason University, 1993; GMU Distinguished Achievement Award, 2001). In 2023, GMU awarded Paul the degree of Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.

A global vice president at Amazon.com for 23 years, most recently Vice President for Global Innovation Policy and Communications, Paul represented Amazon to external organizations and internal colleagues worldwide. The founder of Amazon’s global public policy organization, Paul built and led this team and served as the company’s Vice President for Global Public Policy from February 2000 to May 2016. Paul has testified before the United States Congress over 30 times and many dozens of times before other policymaking bodies around the world. He has delivered hundreds of speeches and media interviews.

Paul has met hundreds of times with political leaders around the world, including heads of state, cabinet ministers, and legislators. In the US, Paul has met with hundreds of Representatives and Senators, as well as dozens of times with the governors of US states. Paul successfully negotiated policy agreements with many of these governors. Paul also established and for several years oversaw Amazon’s economic development incentives program. For the two years (2015-16) that Amazon’s CEO chaired The Business Council (a CEO-only group), Paul was his sole staffer.

In 2013, Paul chaired the technical subcommittee of the US Federal Aviation Administration’s advisory committee that recommended allowing commercial airline passengers to use portable electronics during taxi, takeoff, and landing. Prior to the recommendation from Paul’s subcommittee, airline passengers around the world were barred from using electronic devices during taxi, takeoff, and landing; today electronic devices may be used gate to gate. Paul is an inventor named in three patents.

Formerly a partner in the law firm of Wiley, Rein & Fielding, Paul previously served as the Senior Legal Advisor to a commissioner of the US Federal Communications Commission, and as Intel’s Manager of Telecommunications and Computer Technology Policy. In the mid-1990s, he co-founded and led the computer industry’s Internet Access Coalition, which included Intel, Microsoft, and IBM, and which successfully blocked the imposition of telecom access charges on Internet access. In the early 1990s, he was the assistant to the chairman of the Emmy Award-winning FCC Advisory Committee on Advanced Television Service, which established the system that underlies modern TV and computer displays.

Paul serves on the Board of Trustees of the Inova Health System; George Mason University’s President’s Innovation Advisory Council; and the Advisory Board of the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation. For three years ending in mid-2024, Paul chaired the Board of the foundation known as the Partnership Fund for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), a nationally top-ranked STEM-focused public school in Northern Virginia. Paul also previously served on the Advisory Board of the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives (where he co-chaired the Board’s Advancement Committee); on the FCC’s Technological Advisory Council; on the Advisory Board of Princeton’s Center for Information Technology Policy; on the Board and Executive Committee of the Northern Virginia Technology Council; and on the Board of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

Paul loves to read, and his physical book library holds well over 1500 volumes, including hundreds of antiquarian books on 18th/19th Century history, politics, natural philosophy, and methods of science. He established and co-leads The Misener Foundation, which supports organizations that foster and promote science and history education. Paul is an FCC-licensed amateur radio operator at the highest level (Amateur Extra Class, Call Sign KO4EUR). He also is a keel sailboat skipper certified by both the United States Sailing Association (US Sailing) and the American Sailing Association (ASA). He and his family live in the United States near Washington, DC.

Appointed by Governor Spanberger to serve January 17, 2026 – June 30, 2027

Trevor Montano is the Founder and Managing Member of West Potomac Capital LLC, a private investment firm focused on the financial services, business services and energy sectors as well as sustainable finance. Prior to founding West Potomac Capital, Mr. Montano spent 20 years in investment banking and portfolio management. As a strategic and financial advisor, he advised on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising and other financing transactions and worked closely with U.S. and foreign banks, community development financial institutions, specialty finance companies, financial technology businesses, and governments.  He also spent 3 years in public service as the Chief Investment Officer at the U.S. Department of the Treasury from 2014-2017.

Mr. Montano received his MBA from Columbia Business School and is a graduate of the Costello College of Business at George Mason University. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a member of the Economic Club of Washington D.C. Mr. Montano previously served nine years as a member of the Board of Trustees for the George Mason University Foundation and founded the Montano Student Investment Fund in 2018.

Appointed by Governor Spanberger to serve January 17, 2026 – June 30, 2029

Jim represented the Northern Virginia communities of Arlington, Alexandria, and Fairfax County for 24 years in the United States Congress, where he was known for his bipartisan leadership and ability to resolve complex issues. He served on the Appropriations and Foreign Affairs committees during his 12 terms in the U.S. Congress.

Jim was a founder of the New Democrat Coalition (NDC), which is now the largest Democratic caucus in the U.S. Congress. The NDC is defined by its work to bridge the partisan divide with a solutions-oriented approach to politics. He also served as a member of the Steering and Policy Committee of the House Democratic Leadership.

Prior to joining Congress, Jim served as Mayor of the City of Alexandria, Va. (1985–1990).

Appointed by Governor Spanberger to serve January 17, 2026 – June 30, 2026

Delbert Parks is the vice president and site executive of Micron Technology Virginia, Micron’s premier 300mm high-tech manufacturing facility for leading DRAM, NAND and NOR memory products. The Manassas site employs more than 1,400 team members and is one of the largest exporters in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Delbert’s career started off at Philips Electronics where he managed both engineering and manufacturing teams. In 2004, he moved to Texas Instruments, where he started the new 200mm/300mm facility and later took on increasing leadership responsibilities including site manager over multiple factories. Delbert holds a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics from Stephen F. Austin State University.

Under the visionary leadership at Micron, the Virginia site is set to embark on a transformative journey with a $275 million CHIPS Act direct funding award. This investment will expand and modernize the Manassas fab, introducing Micron’s advanced 1-alpha DRAM node to the region. This initiative highlights Micron’s dedication to bolstering key sectors such as industrial, automotive, defense and aerospace, and medical devices. The project, commencing in 2025, is a testament to the collaborative efforts of federal, state, and local partners, including U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, City of Manassas Mayor Michelle Davis, and Virginia’s previous Governor, Glenn Youngkin. Their support underscores Virginia’s leadership in advanced manufacturing and its commitment to fostering a resilient, innovation-driven economy.

Delbert maintains an active presence in statewide and regional leadership roles, serving on the boards of the Virginia Business Higher Education Council, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, and Opportunity Scholars. In January 2026, he was appointed by Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger to the George Mason University (GMU) Board of Visitors, further underscoring his commitment to advancing higher education in the Commonwealth. His previous board service includes the Norfolk State University Board of Visitors, GMU Foundation Board, Northern Virginia Technology Council, Virginia Microelectronics Consortium, GO Virginia Northern Virginia Regional Council, and the Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) President’s Business Advisory Council. Delbert’s impact and leadership have been widely recognized. He has been named to the Virginia 500 Power List—a distinction honoring the Commonwealth’s most influential leaders—in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.

Under his leadership, Micron in Virginia received numerous awards and recognitions, most recently the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award, Platinum Award from the Virginia Water Environment Association, Community Leadership Award from the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, and Business Partner of the Year recognitions from the City of Manassas, Virginia Community College System, NOVA, GMU, and Virginia Tech’s National Society for Black Engineers.

Delbert currently resides in Manassas, VA, and is passionate about being involved in the community.

Appointed by Governor Youngkin to serve July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2028

Jon M. Peterson is the Chief Executive Officer of Peterson Companies, one of the largest, most-admired privately-held real estate companies in the Washington, DC area. Founded more than  54 years ago, the company is responsible for some of the most prominent and successful mixed-use retail, residential and office developments in Northern Virginia and Maryland including Fairfax Corner, Fair Lakes, National Harbor, Virginia Gateway, Downtown Silver Spring, RIO, Burke Centre and Tysons McLean Office Park.

Jon has been instrumental in the development of National Harbor from an underutilized waterfront property to a mixed-use waterfront destination that is home to Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, MGM National Harbor, Tanger Outlets and The Capital Wheel.

In 2016, he became Chairman of Peterson Companies’ Executive Committee, which oversees all aspects of the retail, residential, commercial and mixed-use development and management. Prior to that, Jon served as Senior Vice President of Commercial and Business Development which allowed him to develop close ties to the entire metropolitan real estate community. He has led all aspects of build-to-suit, purchase and acquisition, sale, leasing and financing of commercial properties, as well as the ground up development of approximately 3.5 million square feet of commercial office product in the Washington Metropolitan area.

Jon graduated from Middlebury College, and he and the Peterson Family believe passionately in giving back to the communities they serve. Jon was appointed to the George Mason University (GMU) Board of Visitors for the term July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2024.  He served as the Board of Visitors’ Vice Rector and GMU’s Board of Trustees from 2014-2018. He was also a board member of Washington First bank from 2014-2018. Currently, Jon serves on numerous philanthropic boards and committees including National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP); NAIOP Northern Virginia; Youth for Tomorrow Board of Trustees; George Mason Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship; Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance; The 2030 Group; The 123 Club; GMU Patriot Club Advisory Board; Mason Housing, Inc.; President’s Council of The Real Estate Roundtable; Virginia Association for Commercial Real Estate; and Prince George’s County Roundtable Board.

Appointed by Governor Spanberger to serve January 17, 2026 – June 30, 2029

Shawn Purvis serves as President and CEO of Sabel Systems, part of the Sagewind Capital Portfolio. As CEO of Sabel Systems, Ms. Purvis is responsible for all aspects of Sabel’s growth, M&A, product development and people strategy. Sabel is a leading provider of digital engineering, acquisition, manufacturing, supply chain and logistics solutions.

Over the course of Shawn’s 30 years of P&L responsibilities, she has led billiondollar organizations in the areas of defense, intelligence and cyber security technical solutions in support of the warfighter and intelligence customers both domestically and globally. Ms. Purvis has in-depth skills in driving strategy, policy, corporate strategic campaigns and financial/non-financial goals across the company. She actively participates in corporate governance in areas of risks, benefits, cyber and policies and engagements with the Board of Directors. She has a passion for customer service and delivery in support of our nation’s most critical missions.

Ms. Purvis’ prior roles include President, CEO for QinetiQ US; at Northrop Grumman: Corporate Vice President (CVP), President of Enterprise Services (ES); Chief Information Officer (CIO), Sector Vice President and General Manager for Northrop Grumman’s cyber division, and Vice President for the Integrated Intelligence Systems (IIS) business unit. A leader in these roles, she was responsible for all aspects of the business strategy, growth, customer relationships and program execution – delivering global full-spectrum cyber and security and technology solutions to intelligence, defense and civilian customers. Prior to joining Northrop Grumman, Ms. Purvis held management positions at SAIC and Lockheed Martin.

Ms. Purvis earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Hampton University and a master’s degree in information systems from George Mason University. She attended the Executive Program at Darden School of Business: University of Virginia and earned a certificate from the Accelerated Management Program at Yale School of Management. Ms. Purvis was selected for the 2020 cohort for Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Women’s Global leadership Program.

Ms. Purvis currently serves as a Board of Trustee for Dodge and Cox and previously served on the boards the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, Northern Virginia Family Services Council and the Board of Visitors for George Mason University. In 2019 she was named to the Black Enterprise™, Most Powerful Women in Corporate America. In 2020 she received the 2020 Distinguished Black Alumni Award from the George Mason Black Alumni Chapter and the 2021 & 2025 Alumni of the year award, College of Engineering and Computing, GMU. She is a WASH 100 award recipient from Executive Mosaic “Top 100 Leaders” in 2021, 2022 and 2023 & 2024.

Appointed by Governor Youngkin to serve July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2027

Jeff Rosen is Of Counsel at the law firm of Cravath Swaine & Moore, based in its Washington, D.C. office, where he advises clients on regulatory enforcement, investigations, litigation, and other business-critical legal concerns.  He is also a Nonresident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and an appointed Public Member of the Administrative Conference of the United States.

In 2022, Mr. Rosen served as Chair of Virginia’s Commission to Combat Antisemitism.

From 2019 to 2021, Mr. Rosen served as Acting Attorney General of the United States and Deputy Attorney General of the United States.  His prior roles included serving as the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation, as General Counsel and Senior Policy Advisor at the White House Office of Management and Budget, and as General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Transportation.   Outside of public service, Mr. Rosen had worked for nearly thirty years at the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, including service on that firm’s global management committee.  He is also a former Chair of the American Bar Association’s Section of Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice.

Mr. Rosen has been a distinguished senior fellow at GMU’s Scalia Law School Gray Center since 2021, and in the past was an adjunct professor at Georgetown University’s law school.  He is also a member of Northwestern University’s Arts & Sciences Board of Visitors.  Mr. Rosen holds a B.A. with highest distinction from Northwestern University and a J.D. magna cum laude from Harvard Law School.

Appointed by Governor Spanberger to serve January 17, 2026 – June 30, 2026

George D. Schindler currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of CGI, one of the leading global business and strategic IT consulting services firms in the world. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of OpenText, a leading Cloud and AI company that provides organizations around the world with a comprehensive suite of Business AI, Business Clouds, and Business Technology.

Most recently, Mr. Schindler served as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CGI from 2016-2024. In this capacity, he led the development and implementation of the company’s “Build and Buy” profitable growth strategy to strengthen CGI’s market position. During his tenure as CEO, he and his global leadership team profitably grew the company to over $14 billion in annual revenue, doubled the share price and increased the company’s market capitalization by more than 70%.

Mr. Schindler joined CGI through its acquisition of American Management Systems, Inc., in 2004. Prior to his appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Schindler served as President and Chief Operating Officer of CGI from 2015-2016 and as President, United States and Canada Operations from 2011-2015. From 2006 to 2011, Mr. Schindler served as President of CGI Federal, a wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary serving U.S. government clients. In prior leadership roles, Mr. Schindler led the company’s Canadian operations, its portfolio of banking and investments intellectual property (IP), and was responsible for operations in the Greater New York region.

Mr. Schindler is a prominent industry leader and a champion of collaborative, inclusive team building as well as philanthropy and community engagement in local communities. A recognized industry leader, Mr. Schindler has twice been named a Top 100 Leader by Federal Computer Week and was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from WashingtonExec in recognition of his contributions to the GovCon community. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Purdue University and a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, from McGill University in recognition of his contributions to the betterment of society. In 2024, Mr. Schindler also received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from George Mason University.

Appointed by Governor Spanberger to serve January 17, 2026 – June 30, 2027

Dr. Sean A. Spence is an appointed member of the George Mason University Board of Visitors and a seasoned leader with extensive experience across the public, private, and academic sectors. He currently serves as one of seven directors on the Dumfries Economic Development Authority.

His professional background includes serving as a Senior Manager at BDO, a Lead Associate at Booz Allen Hamilton, and a Senior Consultant at Deloitte. These roles in strategy and corporate finance are complemented by his 20-year career as a retired U.S. Army Reserve, Engineering Officer.  Dr. Spence also contributed to the academic community as an Adjunct Professor of Finance at George Mason University’s Costello College of Business, Southern New Hampshire University, the University of Maryland Global Campus, and Rice University.

In the public sector, Dr. Spence previously served as the Chair of the Prince William County Public Schools Superintendent’s Advisory Council on Sustainability (SACS). His past civic engagements also include serving on the Cherry Hill Development Authority and volunteering as a mentor with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington.

Dr. Spence earned a Doctorate in Engineering from George Washington University, with a focus on Systems Dynamics. He holds an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and a Master of Science in Energy Management, along with a graduate certificate in Environmental Management, from the New York Institute of Technology. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Central Florida, earning a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology with a minor in Military Science, and received his commission as a First Lieutenant through the UCF ROTC program.

A lifetime member of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Dr. Spence remains dedicated to civic advancement throughout Northern Virginia.

Appointed by Governor Spanberger to serve January 17, 2026 – June 30, 2026

Jennifer Taylor is President & CEO of the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), the nation’s largest and most influential technology trade association, representing more than 500 member organizations across Northern Virginia and the National Capital Region. A recognized technology, innovation, and nonprofit executive, she brings more than 35 years of experience leading complex organizations, high-performing teams, and impactful public–private partnerships.

Since assuming leadership of NVTC in 2020, Taylor has led a comprehensive turnaround and modernization of the organization. Under her leadership, NVTC strengthened governance, rebuilt operations, restored financial health, and significantly expanded its reach and relevance. The organization increased operating revenue by more than 35 percent, grew membership by over 80 percent during the global pandemic, expanded engagement to more than 7,500 professionals annually, and reversed a multi-year deficit trend to deliver consistent operating surpluses and clean audits.

A trusted convener and advocate, Taylor works at the intersection of industry, government, academia, and the workforce ecosystem to advance the innovation economy of Virginia and the greater Washington, D.C. region. She is a leading voice on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, data centers, workforce development, and innovation competitiveness, and maintains strong relationships with state and federal policymakers. Her advocacy efforts have helped protect Virginia businesses and workers, including playing a central role in halting a proposed $1 billion digital goods tax.

Taylor previously served as Vice President of Industry Affairs at the Consumer Technology Association and held leadership roles at AARP, the American Red Cross, and technology startups. Appointed by Governor Abigail Spanberger in January 2026, she serves on the George Mason University Board of Visitors. Taylor holds a BA from the University of Michigan and an MBA from George Mason University.

Taylor has been widely recognized for her leadership and impact, including honors from Virginia Business, Washingtonian, and Northern Virginia Magazine.

Jonathan Dubois is a second-year student at George Mason University studying International Security and Law. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, his background shapes his interest in global security, justice, and international affairs and serves as Mason’s undergraduate student body president.

Nilima Hakim Mow is an international doctoral student in the Linguistics PhD program within the Department of English in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS). Originally from Bangladesh, she holds a master’s degree in Linguistics and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from Ball State University in Indiana. Her research focuses on the documentation and revitalization of endangered and Indigenous languages.

Nilima is deeply committed to linguistic justice and fostering inclusive academic practices. She has served in several leadership roles within the Mason community, including as the graduate representative for the Linguistics PhD program and as a member of the International Student Advisory Board. She is excited to serve as President of the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GAPSA) for the 2025-2026 academic year. As GAPSA President and Graduate Student Representative to the Board of Visitors, Nilima is committed to advocating for graduate and professional students across all campuses at Mason. She is focused on amplifying student voices in university decision-making, increasing awareness of GAPSA’s resources among graduate and professional students, and enhancing the overall graduate student experience. Her goal is to strengthen the connection between Mason’s graduate and professional student body and university leadership to ensure meaningful representation and engagement.

Solon Simmons is the director of The Narrative Transformation Lab (TNT Lab) at George Mason University’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. A sociologist by training, he is the author of many books and articles on narrative and storytelling in peace and politics, including Conflict Resolution after the Pandemic Building Peace, Pursuing Justice (2021), Root Narrative Theory and Conflict Resolution; Power, Justice and Values (2020),  and The Eclipse of Equality: Arguing America on Meet the Press (2013). He is currently finishing a book about story grammar and basic plot types. At The Narrative Transformation Lab, Solon is leading efforts to develop cutting-edge narrative tools for use in practical applications in both adversarial struggles for justice and collaborative journeys toward peace. Solon served as interim dean for the Carter School in 2013, and Vice President for Global Strategy for George Mason from 2014-2017, and he teaches classes on the craft of peace writing, conflict theory, narrative, media, discourse and conflict, human rights, quantitative and qualitative methodology, global conflict, and critical theory.

Rachel Spence is the Academic Manager for International Enrollment Partnerships and the Chair of Staff Senate. In her current role, she is an integral part of campus internationalization efforts spearheaded by the Global Education Office. As academic manager, she builds the academic components of programs and pathways for international students to earn George Mason degrees. Her role involves collaboration across many facets of the university including academic departments, Admissions, the Registrar’s Office, INTO Mason, and University Life.

Rachel has been a George Mason employee since 2017 and has served on the Staff Senate since 2022, becoming chair in January 2025. As a formerly remote employee, she is committed to advocating for all staff, regardless of their campus or location around the world. Her priorities as Chair are supporting professional development, well-being, and work-life balance initiatives to enhance the overall staff experience at George Mason University.