George Mason University

Thomas M. Davis , Rector

Reappointed by Governor McAuliffe to serve July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2021

The Honorable Thomas M. Davis was first elected to office in 1979, winning a hard-fought campaign to represent Mason District on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. This would be the first of 12 straight victories, a winning streak spanning three decades.

In 1991, after spending 12 years as the Mason District supervisor, Mr. Davis defeated the incumbent chairman of the county board, taking the top elected office in Fairfax County, Virginia. Despite a severe economic downturn and a county budget deep in the red, he was able to implement a number of reforms that resulted in Fairfax being named the best-managed county in the country by Governing Magazine.

In 1994, Mr. Davis successfully took on another incumbent, this time winning a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives to represent the 11th Congressional District of Virginia. He was the first freshman in 50 years to be given a subcommittee chairmanship, taking the gavel of the Subcommittee on the District of Columbia.

Mr. Davis also served as Sr. Vice President and General Counsel of PRC, Inc. and Advanced Technology, Inc.

He earned national recognition as chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee in 2000-02, when was instrumental in maintaining his party’s majority in the House of Representatives. He is known for his encyclopedic knowledge of political minutia, often teaching members of Congress on the electoral history of their own districts. He has also twice won the Political Trivial Pursuit challenge sponsored by the Hotline and National Journal.

After the 2002 election, he was named chairman of the House Committee on Government Reform, gaining national prominence once again by chairing hearings on the use of performance enhancing substances in professional sports. Other notable accomplishments include his hard-hitting but objective report on the federal response to Hurricane Katrina; his sponsorship of legislation giving the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate tobacco; and passage of the National Capital Transportation Amendments Act, which authorizes needed capital reinvestment in the Washington Metro system.

Mr. Davis now serves as a Director for Deloitte & Touche in which he continues his effort to bring effective, common sense solutions to government.

Mr. Davis is a cum laude graduate of Amherst College and earned a JD degree at the University of Virginia Law School. He is married to Jeannemarie Devolites Davis and has two step daughters, Nicole, and Ashley who are George Mason Graduates.

James W. Hazel

Appointed by Governor McAuliffe to serve July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2020

Jimmy Hazel, named Board of Visitors development committee chair in 2016, is a 1984 graduate of the George Mason University School of Law. Upon graduation, he clerked for United States District Court Judge, Albert  V. Bryan, Jr. and then joined the Hazel/Peterson Companies. In 1989 he moved to Richmond to help start a new lobbying firm in the state capitol, The Vectre Corporation. He was later recognized by the Richmond Times Dispatch as one of the top ten lobbyists in Virginia. He joined Williams Mullen Government Affairs as its CEO and had an office in Tyson’s Corner where he represented many Northern Virginia interests with a focus on technology issues. In 2002, he joined the administration of Governor Mark R. Warner as an advisor on economic development and technology and served as the Governor’s lobbyist. After his time with the Governor’s office he left his lobbying career behind and helped to start several family businesses.

Mr. Hazel has been actively involved at George Mason University since his graduation from law school. He previously served on the Board of Visitors from 1994 to 2002 and is a past president of the Mason Alumni Association. Mr. Hazel established the Hazel History and New Media Endowment in 2001, the Virginia E. Hazel and Art History Junior Faculty Award in 2004, and the Hazel Scholars Endowment in 2011. He served on the George Mason Foundation Board of Trustees for 12 years and is the immediate past Chair of the Foundation. He continues to serve as the chair of the Faster Farther Campaign, Mason’s comprehensive $500 million campaign to support students, faculty, and research, and to continue building the Mason community.

Mr. Hazel has served on many statewide boards and chaired several of them. These include the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries where he served for 10 years and chaired the Agency for three years. Other boards include the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, The Virginia Historical Society, The Virginia Public Safety Foundation, Virginia Free, The Wildlife Foundation of Virginia, Virginia 21 and the Potomac Science Center. 

Horace Blackman

Appointed by Governor McAuliffe to serve July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2021

Horace Blackman is Vice President of Healthcare at Cognizant – a Fortune 200 global Information and Technology Services company.  In this role he is responsible for the strategy development and delivery of digital business, digital operations and digital systems and technology to commercial healthcare payers, government and public health programs.

Prior to joining Cognizant in April 2018, Mr. Blackman served as the Senior Vice President of Leidos Veterans Health Line of Business subsequent to the merger of Lockheed Martin’s Information System and Global Solution business with Leidos.  In this role, he was responsible for leading the Program Area with a focus on securing and extending core federal business in the health arena — offering development through Operations and Sustainment (O&S) to our customers across the globe. And provide mission-critical advanced technology systems and services for federal government customers within the Department of Veterans Affairs.

At Lockheed Martin, Mr. Blackman served as the Vice President of the Health & Life Sciences (H&LS) organization within Lockheed Martin’s Information Systems & Global Solutions Civil business. He led a team of 2,500 employees who engineer solutions that enable federal healthcare agencies to be more secure and efficient. The team supported the important missions of customers such as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; the Department of Health and Human Services; the Social Security Administration; the Food and Drug Administration; and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Prior to joining Lockheed Martin in March 2014, Mr. Blackman served as the VA Central Office (VACO) chief information officer (CIO) and director of VACO Information Technology (IT) Support Service, as well as a senior advisor to the VA Assistant Secretary for IT and the Undersecretary for Benefits. In this role, he managed the delivery of customer-facing IT services across the National Capital Region. He also supported the Deputy CIO for Service Delivery and Engineering on matters pertaining to capital planning, program management and infrastructure analysis.

Before joining the VA in 2008, Mr. Blackman spent 20 years in IT strategy planning in the private sector. Positions previously held by Mr. Blackman include serving as a director of Healthcare Services for High Performance Technologies Inc.; management consultant in the Communications Media and Technologies Practice at Booz Allen Hamilton; and program manager for Interactive Marketing at America Online.

Federal Computer Week named Mr. Blackman a 2014 Federal 100 Award winner, which honors government, industry and academic leaders in information technology for the federal government. Other recognitions include ComputerWorld magazine’s 100 IT leaders in 2013, the Project Management Award for Green IT from the Association for Federal Information Resources Management and the Project Management Award for Green IT from the Government Information Technology Executive Council (GITEC).

Mr. Blackman earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from George Mason University, double majoring in American studies and English. He earned a Master of Business Administration in management from the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia.

Simmi Bhuller

Appointed by Governor Northam to serve July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2023

Simmi Bhuller serves as the Executive Director of New Product Development at POLITICO, LLC.  Simmi joined POLITICO in March of 2019, after spending 16 years at the Advisory Board Company, and subsequently, EAB (formally the Education Advisory Board). Throughout her tenure at the Advisory Board and EAB, she oversaw the launch of 18 products within the education industry, working at the intersection of product, sales and account management.  During her time there, she also oversaw management teams in sales and account management, and assisted in the growth from serving the first university member to 1,100 universities, colleges and K-12 Districts.

Prior to her time at the Advisory Board and EAB, Simmi was on the staff of a gubernatorial campaign in Connecticut.

Simmi holds a bachelor’s degree from George Mason University. In her free time, she volunteers with SALDEF, a legal defense and education organization and serves as the President of the Marlborough Nantucket Citizens Association.

Anjan Chimaladinne

Appointed by Governor McAuliffe to serve July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2021

Anjan Chimaladinne is the Vice President of Consulting Services for UDYOGA LLC (DBA ANSHULTECH), which is an Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) started by Mrs. Shri Chimaladinne. Anjan has more than 20 years of experience in providing management consulting services to the government and private sectors through organizations like Booz Allen Hamilton, CGI, SAIC, and others.

Anjan came to the US from India 26 years ago to attend graduate school with the dream of building a better life. After graduating from University of Oklahoma with a master’s degree in environmental engineering, Anjan moved to the Washington, DC metro area in 1993. Anjan earned his second master’s degree in Technology Management from George Mason University in June, 2010. Anjan attended the Political Leadership Program at Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, University of Virginia and also earned several professional certifications.

In his continued commitment and dedication towards public service, Anjan served as the Director of the Technology Committee in Governor-elect McAuliffe’s transition team, managing a team of 40 industry experts to make key policy recommendations. Anjan served as a Board Member on Governor McAuliffe’s Information Technology Advisory Council (ITAC), advising the Secretary of Technology and Chief Information Officer on planning, budgeting, acquiring, managing, and administering IT in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Anjan ran for local office in Loudoun County for the School Board and the Board of Supervisors.

Anjan lives in South Riding, VA with his wife, Shri and son, Sudhish.

Juan Carlos Iturregui

Appointed by Governor Northam to serve July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2023

Juan Carlos Iturregui is a practicing attorney and a Partner at Nelson Mullins, LLP, a national full service law firm with over 115 years in operations and 25 offices throughout the U.S.  Prior to being elected Partner at his current firm, he served as Senior Advisor at a global law firm, working with leadership on strategic projects.  He specializes in business, regulatory and public policy issues impacting the Americas.  Juan Carlos works very closely with decision makers and sponsors in the United States and various Latin American countries to promote business initiatives, investments, sustainable development, closer hemispheric links and public-private sector partnerships. He is a former Member of the President’s Export Council (PEC), the nation’s top advisory panel on international trade and overseas markets.

He also fosters more private sector development and investments in the Caribbean and Latin America, with a focus on renewable energy and infrastructure projects.  In years past he founded and managed his consulting firm, rendering project development and advisory services to a select group of United States based clients. Juan Carlos has served in various national non-profit boards. He is the currently a Member and Vice Chair of the Board of U.S. Inter American Foundation (IAF), an independent federal agency.  He joined the Board in 2015.  IAF Board Members are appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Juan Carlos recently concluded five years of service as Vice Chair of the American Red Cross, National Capital Region. He is a past fellow of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. He has 30 years of experience in the nation’s capital, having served in the Legislative and Executive branches as well as in several of the top-rated law firms and public affairs firms. He earned his law degree in 1990 from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and his bachelor’s in political science from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Mehmood S. Kazmi

Appointed by Governor Northam to serve July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2023

Mehmood Kazmi is the Director of the Office of Business Development at the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM). He leads a global team syndicating broadcast content from the Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty, and other US international media networks, to over 3000 television, radio and digital affiliates around the world. This programming reaches an audience of over 250 million people outside the United States each week.

Mehmood joined USAGM after two decades of senior leadership and strategic advisory roles in media, technology and investment sectors in the US and internationally. As a private consultant, he most recently led business transformation projects in Asia for media producers, digital services companies, and NGOs active in the development of democratic institutions.

Mehmood previously founded an international private equity advisory firm and directed network inventory strategy at America Online. He served two terms on the Fairfax County Consumer Protection Commission, and one term on the Board of Visitors of Virginia Tech.

Mehmood earned his MBA from Harvard Business School and his BA in Economics from the George Washington University.

Wendy Marquez

Appointed by Governor McAuliffe to serve July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2020

J. Wendy Thompson-Marquez is the President and co-founder of the Onyx Media Group, a film production company and President Emeritus of EVS Communications, a social marketing company which focuses primarily on the Latino community.   In 2013, she released her first film, HARVEST OF EMPIRE, which opened to great reviews in major newspapers such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post and was the winner of the prestigious International Documentary Association award, Golden Eagle Cine Awards and the IMAGEN Awards.  She is currently working on her second documentary, Music Got Me Here, which illustrates the power of music to transform, inspire and enrich lives — and the tremendous impact of music therapy. Prior to founding the Onyx Media Group, she was the Vice President and General Manager of ZGS Broadcast Holdings, a broadcasting company where she supervised the daily operations and advertising sales of eleven Telemundo network affiliates. Ms. Thompson-Marquez has been featured in several newspapers such the Washington Post and the Washington Business Journal.  In 2013, in recognition for her work in the Latino community, she was awarded the Bridge Builder Award by the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.  She is currently on the board of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, 100 Women Strong and the George Mason University Board of Visitors.

Ignacia Moreno

Appointed by Governor Northam to serve July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2022

The Honorable Ignacia S. Moreno is the Chief Executive Officer and a founding Principal of The iMoreno Group, PLC, a law firm that offers legal services and strategic counseling on environmental and natural resources, corporate, criminal defense, and immigration matters.  Ms. Moreno is recognized as one of the nation’s leading environmental and natural resources lawyers.  During her 28-year career, she has served as the top environmental lawyer at the U.S. Department of Justice, been corporate environmental counsel at a Fortune 10 company, practiced environmental law and litigation at prominent national law firms, and been an adjunct professor of law.

In 2009, President Obama nominated Ms. Moreno to serve as Assistant Attorney General of the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (Division).  The U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed her (93 to 0) and she served as head of the Division from 2009-2013.  During her tenure she managed the budget and operations of a 650-person (430-lawyer) litigation division ranked as one of the top five “Best Places to Work in the Federal Government” in 2010, 2011, and 2012.  She oversaw a nationwide docket of approximately 7,000 civil, criminal, defensive, and appellate cases and policy matters on behalf of numerous executive branch agencies.  Ms. Moreno was recognized for her outstanding service, including her leadership of the Division’s response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.  Ms. Moreno also served in the Division from 1994 to 2001 as an appointee in the Clinton Administration where she focused on environmental enforcement policy matters and litigation.

Before her appointment as Assistant Attorney General, Ms. Moreno was Counsel for the Northeast/Midwest Regions and International in Corporate Environmental Programs at the General Electric Company.  At GE, she handled a wide range of environmental matters under federal and state laws in connection with sites in a twelve-state region and abroad, and managed complex environmental litigation.  Ms. Moreno also has more than a decade of experience in private practice, having previously practiced law at two prominent Washington, D.C. law firms, including as a partner.

In 2016, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe appointed Ms. Moreno to serve a four-year term on the State Air Pollution Control Board.  She is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and serves on the Council of the American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources.  Ms. Moreno also serves on the National Board of Directors of the Trust for Public Land; the Advisory Board of the New York University School of Law Institute for Policy Integrity; and the Board of Directors of Green 2.0.  She has served as President of the Hispanic Bar Association of the District of Columbia and as General Counsel of the Hispanic National Bar Association.

Ms. Moreno was awarded the AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell in 2016.  She received the Edmund J. Randolph Award in recognition of outstanding service to the U.S. Department of Justice and the nation in 2013.  Ms. Moreno also received the Meritorious Public Service Award and Medal from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security—U.S. Coast Guard for her outstanding service in initiating and conducting litigation in connection with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and protecting human health and the environment.  In 2009 and 1995, Hispanic Business Magazine named her as one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in the United States.

Ms. Moreno received a Bachelor of Arts degree from New York University and a Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law.  She was born in Cartagena, Colombia and is a naturalized citizen.  She lives in McLean, Virginia with her husband and son.

Carolyn J. Moss

Appointed by Governor Northam to serve July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2023

The Honorable Carolyn J. Moss, is a native of Charlottesville, Virginia, and now a resident of McLean, Virginia, has over 30 years of experience in senior leadership and executive positions with major corporations and state and federal government.

She recently retired as Managing Director of Dominion’s State & Local Affairs for the Mid-Atlantic region.  She was responsible for government/external affairs and strategic policy support on issues related to natural gas, natural gas transmission, and pipeline storage.  Carolyn led state and local strategies and activities to successfully gain approval of a $3.8 billion dollar project, Dominion’s Cove Point LNG Project based in Calvert County Maryland.  This was the largest construction project ever undertaken in the state of Maryland.  She also served as Director of Federal Affairs and Corporate Public Policy, managing Dominion’s Washington Office.

Prior to joining Dominion Resources, Carolyn served as a senior executive with Mobil Oil Corporation (now Exxon Mobil Corporation) for 10 years.  She was responsible for State Government Affairs in the Midwest and Southern regions of the United States and held assignments with the company including Manager of Corporate Compensation and Relocation.

Her government experience includes serving as Secretary of Administration in the Governor’s Cabinet in Virginia and Deputy to the Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce.  While serving in the Virginia state government, Carolyn received more than 20 awards and recognitions, including being named “Outstanding Woman of Virginia” in 1988.  In June 2016, Carolyn was the recipient of the Chairman’s Award given by the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

Carolyn has served on numerous boards in Virginia, including 8 years as Trustee on the Inova Health Care Services Board, Member of the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance, Member of the Dulles Corridor Rail Association, Member of Virginia Capitol Square Preservation Board, Member of the Executive Committee of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce and others.  She currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Arts Council of Fairfax County and Secretary of Board of Voices for Virginia’s Children.

Carolyn holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Howard University, cum laude.

Nancy Gibson Prowitt

Appointed by Governor McAuliffe to serve July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2021

In January 2015 Nancy became President and Chief Operating Officer of Alcalde & Fay, located in Arlington, Virginia after serving as the firm’s Managing Partner since 1995.  Alcalde & Fay is one of the oldest and largest government and public affairs firms in Virginia.

During the course of her 32 years at the firm she has had the opportunity to lead or work on every type of client — private and public sector. Education issues have been of particular interest, and Nancy leads the firm’s higher education practice focusing especially on community college workforce development programs.  Nancy’s network of contacts on Capitol Hill and throughout the Executive Branch is extensive. She has been especially involved throughout her career in Virginia interests having represented the City of Virginia Beach and Fairfax County in Washington for 25, and 9 years respectively.  Nancy’s advocacy on behalf of clients has afforded her opportunities to serve as a media spokesperson in grassroots campaigns around the country.  While originally from Chicago, Virginia has been Nancy’s home for 34 years.  She started her career in Washington as a legislative aide for a Virginia Congressman spending 4 years handling his appropriations committee work.  Following this, she spent two years in Chicago serving as the Midwest Regional Communications Manager for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  She is a graduate of DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana with a B.A. in Psychology.

Nancy has been actively involved in volunteer activities her entire adult life. While raising 2 sons in Arlington Nancy was very involved in the PTA, and as the manager of both boys’ youth basketball teams.  Her older son Peter graduated from, and played basketball for Stanford University, and her younger son Tim graduated from, and played basketball for Amherst College. She has been actively involved in the Arlington Women’s Civic Alliance, a community service organization for 20 years, and recently served a 2 year term as President. She also served on the Board of the Congressional Award Foundation in the 90s. In her spare time she enjoys practicing yoga, reading, and travel in her spare time.

Paul Reagan

Appointed by Governor Northam to serve July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2022

Paul J. Reagan is a Senior Vice President and Director of Federal Public Affairs at McGuireWoods Consulting in Washington, where he assists clients with matters before Congress and executive branch agencies.  Prior to rejoining McGuireWoods Consulting, Mr. Reagan served as Chief of Staff to Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe.  He also led the Governor’s Transition Team following Governor McAuliffe’s election in 2013.

A 35-year veteran of Virginia politics and government, Mr. Reagan served more than 25 years on Capitol Hill, including as the Chief of Staff to former Senator Jim Webb (2007-2013); Communications Director to Governor Mark Warner (2002-2005); Chief of Staff to Rep. Jim Moran (1996-2002); and in the offices of Virginia Representatives Owen Pickett, L.F. Payne and Rick Boucher.  From 1993-1994, he was the Counsel to the Subcommittee on Research of the House Science and Technology Committee.

In 2006, Governor Warner appointed Mr. Reagan to serve on the State Board for Community Colleges.  His other public service has included membership on the boards of the Thomas Jefferson Program at the College of William and Mary, the Fairfax County Consumer Affairs Commission, and the Northern Virginia Health Education Center.

Mr. Reagan holds a B.A. from the College of William and Mary (1982) and a J.D. from the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University (1991).  In 2017, he received the law school’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

A native of Norfolk, Mr. Reagan resides in Springfield with his wife, Margaret.  The couple has two adult children, Paul of Richmond, and Rebecca of Arlington.

Edward Rice

Appointed by Governor Northam to serve July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2022

Edward Rice is a computer scientist by training, having studied at The Johns Hopkins University from 1966-1971. He later obtained a Master of Science in Computer Science from The American University (1982). He worked with hospital and medical systems at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; was involved in the competitive sourcing of computers to the Federal government for Honeywell Information Systems; support of the largest computer system in the Pentagon for the US Air Force and Office of the Secretary of Defense; and development of extensions to database management and operating system software for CACI, Inc.-Federal and the US Geological Survey (USGS). He designed and developed ultra-large database management facilities for the USGS Topographic Division, analyzed financial information flow for the USGS Water Resources Division, and created a real-time performance monitoring tool for Honeywell software. For Information Systems Consultants, he designed major operating system modifications to allow for high-performance transaction processing. Working for Honeywell and afterward, he started and directed the activities of a BSA Explorer Post that guided high school students in studying computer science, the leading group of its kind in Virginia (and possibly the United States).

Starting in 1984, Mr. Rice worked for the Linguistic Society of America, developing management systems for a network of Macintosh computers to allow their employees to manage membership, produce complex documents for print and online, and automated the distribution of their publications through US and numerous foreign postal systems. During the period 1984-1987 he volunteered time to various non-profit organizations that needed his specialized skills.

From 1986 to 1990, Mr. Rice was East Coast Coordinator for a large (2000+ members) grassroots organization called the Earthstewards Network which worked on “Track II diplomacy”: citizen efforts to encourage peaceful and productive relations between country-pairs or interest-pairs such as Irish Catholics and Protestants; Indian and Pakistani people of various faiths; and the United States and the Soviet Union. This required travel to other countries to establish relationships and plan for citizen exchanges, support of hosting for large numbers of foreigners when they came to the United States, and arranging their activities and logistical support while they were in the US. This included the Washington, DC-regional support for Soviet “youth” (late high-school and college students) who stayed in American homes during their visits to Northern Virginia, an historic first. While he was working on these projects, he became involved in the Center for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at GMU (later ICAR and then S-CAR).

In 1991, starting with the birth of his first child, Mr. Rice stepped back from high-intensity, travel-oriented activities and became a full-time father to his two children. He did volunteer computer work for the Green Hedges School and supported each of their secondary and college careers. During this period, Mr. Rice and his brother-in-law assumed responsibility for real estate investments and planning that resulted from his late father’s business activities in New York City, Dallas, Phoenix, Hawaii, Pennsylvania and other locations. He remains an active and involved parent, but is now also an experienced investor in commercial real estate.

Mr. Rice was appointed to the Board of Visitors of James Madison University in 2014, and served a four-year term on that Board. He declined a reappointment to James Madison’s Board and was then appointed to serve on the George Mason University Board of Visitors, starting in July, 2018. He remains on excellent terms and in close contact with James Madison University, with Radford University (where his son is an undergraduate), and has ongoing interests at Johns Hopkins University, New York University, Yale, the University of Virginia, and other institutions of higher education.

Mr. Rice is a member of the Board of Directors of WETA and the Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association, and is on the Advisory Board of the GMU School of Conflict Analysis and Resolution. He has held Board positions for several homeowners associations and volunteer groups. He is involved through the Rice Family Foundation (of which he is co-President and a member of the Board) with many educational and other non-profits throughout the United States. He works with grassroots political organizations and with community organizers. He has been a member and officer of the culinary society “Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs” for 26 years.

Denise Turner Roth

Appointed by Governor Northam to serve July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2022

As chief development officer of WSP USA, Denise Turner Roth is responsible for creating and implementing strategic and long-range planning for one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms.

Throughout her career, Ms. Turner Roth has held leadership positions in federal and local governments, where she specialized in driving economic development and administrative change. Known as a creative, solutions-oriented leader, her legacy is highlighted by key process and system advances. She is frequently called on by national and international organizations to share her expertise on leading change in large operations as well as in economic and urban redesign.

Prior to joining WSP, Ms. Turner Roth was appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the US Senate as the chief executive in charge of the General Services Administration (GSA). In that role she led a workforce of 12,000 full-time employees with responsibility for a $27 billion budget and more than $80 billion in federal contracting activity. The GSA provides federal building, acquisition and technology services to federal agencies.

Ms. Turner Roth is passionate about supporting strong operations in public and private organizations to achieve better results and create thriving communities.

Ms. Turner Roth is a graduate of George Mason University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and government and received an honorary Doctorate of Letters in recognition of her distinguished public service. She is a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.

Robert Witeck

Appointed by Governor McAuliffe to serve July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2020

Bob Witeck is President of Washington, DC-based Witeck Communications, Inc., for over 25 years a pioneering communications expert helping design strategies that respect and reach lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities around the world. He is a seasoned communicator, counselor, public affairs professional, speechwriter and crisis communications expert. In this role, he consults with corporations, nonprofits, associations and leaders.

On their 25th anniversary, American Demographics magazine selected Bob Witeck as one of 25 global  leaders ’who have made significant contributions to the worlds of demographics, market research, media and trend spotting for his early work on America’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population. In 2006, he authored the first book on LGBT marketing, Business Inside Out. He was the first LGBT consultant retained by the U.S. Census to help inspire participation in the 2010 Census.

Mr. Witeck is a graduate with distinction of the University of Virginia, named an Echols Scholar with major studies in Economics and Philosophy. Following his undergraduate degree, he served in the Office of the Legal Adviser at the U.S. Department of State. On Capitol Hill for over a decade, Witeck also served as communications director for the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation as well as a Senate press secretary and legislative assistant.  Before opening his firm in 1993, he was senior vice president for Hill & Knowlton Public Affairs.

A frequent speaker and writer, in addition to his book, “Business Inside Out” (Kaplan 2006) he has contributed a diverse range of opinion columns, professional articles and contributing chapters to journals. He has served on a variety of voluntary and professional boards including the NEA Foundation, and currently serves on the Human Rights Campaign’s Business Council. In 2015, he was named to Virginia Governor McAuliffe’s first-ever LGBT Tourism Task Force.

Bob Witeck is a lifelong Virginian, and lives in Arlington, Virginia with his spouse, Bob Connelly, Jr.

Lisa Zuccari

Appointed by Governor McAuliffe to serve July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2020

Lisa Zuccari, an Alumna of George Mason University, is a philanthropist focused on women in film and education.

Ms. Zuccari has produced short films, served on film advisory boards, and committees including Chesapeake Film Festival and George Mason University Film School Advisory Board (FAVS 2012- 2016).

She has served on the West Virginia University Student Affair Capital Campaign Committee. She is currently serving on the Development Committee of Women of West Virginia University Leadership council, a program that supports women programs in education.

Zuccari’s personal philanthropic focus has been children with learning disabilities. She has served on the committee for the Blind & Dyslexic (2010). Having earned a degree in designing programs for children, she has gravitated to programs that enrich children’s lives in education and positive outlook.

Ms. Zuccari currently lives in McLean, Virginia, with her husband, Alan. They have three grown children.

Shannon N. Davis

Dr. Davis received her BA in Sociology in 1997 with distinction as an Undergraduate Research Scholar from the University of North Carolina at Asheville.  She received her Ph.D. in Sociology in 2004 from North Carolina State University.  She also spent two years as a Postdoctoral Scholar at the Carolina Population Center.

Her research has two foci.  One vein of her work focuses on the creation of families and the negotiation of family life.  Specifically, she is interested in how family members negotiate the intersection of paid and unpaid work in their daily lives, how gender inequality is reproduced in families, and on the construction and maintenance of beliefs about gender, or gender ideologies. She is also interested in how gender ideologies inform decisions about education, work, and relationships. Other recent research has examined the processes through which inequality is reproduced or undermined in higher education with an eye toward understanding the role that undergraduate research can play in changing the future of the professoriate. She was the recipient of a 2012 OSCAR Mentor Award for her mentorship of undergraduate scholars, a 2013 Teaching Excellence Award, and a 2019 OSCAR Mentoring Excellence Award for Sustaining Mentorship. In 2018, she received the Kathleen S. Lowney Mentoring Award from the Society for the Study of Social Problems. She currently serves as Chair of the Faculty Senate (2019-20).

Natalie Gelbvaks is a graduate student in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, pursuing her master’s degree in Arts Management. Born in Beer-Sheva, Israel she relocated to Brazil at 6 years old where she was raised and obtained her high school diploma at  A.Liessin Scholem Aleichem and Bachelor’s degree in Social Communications at Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio).

Natalie has gained a wealth of experience in the Arts working for Walt Disney as a cast member in the Entertainment Department. As well as a member of various choral and Musical Theatre performance groups in Brazil. She also performed for the 2019 Rio Olympic Games during the opening ceremony, which sparked her passion in the Arts.

During Natalie’s time in the States she has worked in Arts Management through numerous volunteer experiences in diverse arts and fundraising events. She enjoys connecting with those who share a passion for the Arts. Natalie currently works at and attends Mason’s Arlington campus. As President of the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GAPSA) Natalie is eager to be involved in graduate student life and education, while honing her leadership skills.

Camden Layton is a senior at Mason majoring in Public Administration. Originally from Horseheads, New York, he is currently serving in multiple leadership roles with various organizations on campus, and is President of the Student Body.  After his graduation from the Schar School of  Policy and Government, he plans on following his passion for education policy.