Board Membership

Reappointed by Governor Northam to serve July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2024

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 chaired the successful Faster Farther Campaign which closed at approximately $700 million; $200 million more than the original goal.

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. 

Reappointed by Governor Northam to serve July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2025

Horace Blackman leads the Defense, Intelligence and Space Business Unit at CGI Federal, a wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of CGI Inc. In this role, he is responsible for strategy development and delivering business and information technology solutions to a diverse set of clients within this market.   

For over twenty years, Mr. Blackman has worked with government and public sector organizations to support their missions and deliver impactful change through business and information technology solutions. This includes supporting mission-critical programs within the DOD and Intelligence sectors. Prior to joining CGI, Mr. Blackman held leadership roles focused on business development, program execution and strategic planning at major defense contractors. Additionally, he spent six years in various IT leadership roles at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Mr. Blackman received the Federal Computer Week Federal 100 Award and is a three-time FedHealthIT100 awardee. Appointed by the Governor of Virginia to serve on the George Mason University Board of Visitors, Mr. Blackman currently serves as the Vice Rector. He also serves on the board of 1455 Literary Arts.

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 at the University of Virginia.

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

Simmi Bhuller serves as the Publisher & Chief Revenue Officer at The Chronicle, the nation’s largest newsroom dedicated to covering colleges, universities and the philanthropic enterprise. In this capacity, Simmi oversees all of the business and marketing operations within the organization. Prior to joining The Chronicle, from 2020-2021, Simmi served as the VP of Sales & Operations at PerfectServe, a healthcare company.  From 2018-2020, she served as the Executive Director at POLITICO, LLC, establishing and leading POLITICO’s new agency division, AgencyIQ.

The majority of Simmi’s career (16 years) was spent at the Advisory Board Company, and subsequently, EAB (formally the Education Advisory Board).  Simmi helped to establish and create EAB, and 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 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.

Reappointed by Governor Northam to serve July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2025

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, in January 1991 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.

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

The Honorable Juan Carlos Iturregui, Esq. is an experienced attorney, corporate affairs professional, entrepreneur and business diplomat based in Washington, DC.  He focuses on business, project development, regulatory, and public policy issues in the Americas.  Juan Carlos works closely with decision-makers and stakeholders in the US Congress and executive branch, multilateral entities, and private companies in the United States and countries in the Latin America & Caribbean region (LAC) to promote business initiatives, investments, closer hemispheric links, and public-private sector partnerships.  He dedicates significant efforts to infrastructure investments in the Caribbean and Latin America, with an emphasis on clean energy and renewable power.  In tandem, Juan Carlos works with various NGO’s in promoting development and innovative social investments in the LAC region.

Juan Carlos arrived in the nation’s capital area three decades ago after graduating from the flagship institution of a large public university system.  He has worked on Capitol Hill and at the White House, and has traveled throughout the Western Hemisphere and Europe advancing USG’s and clients’ interests and projects since 1990.   He is a former member of the President’s Export Council, the United States’ top advisory panel on international trade and overseas markets, and has served as senior director of governmental affairs at two international law firms and partner at a national law firm.  He continues to serve as Vice Chair of the Board at the United States Inter American Foundation (IAF), a specialized independent federal agency that galvanizes innovative grassroots development throughout the LAC region.  He was unanimously confirmed to this post by the US Senate in 2015. In 2019, Juan Carlos concluded five years of service as Vice Chair of the American Red Cross — National Capital Area (headquartered in Fairfax).  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.

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.

Reappointed by Governor Northam to serve July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2024

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.

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

The Honorable Ignacia S. Moreno has practiced environmental and natural resources law for over 30 years.  She is the Chief Executive Officer and a founding Principal of The iMoreno Group, PLC, where she provides legal services and strategic counseling on environmental and natural resources matters.  In 2009, Ignacia was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in a 93 to 0 vote to serve as the Assistant Attorney General of the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (Division).  She headed the Division from 2009 to 2013, where she was recognized for her outstanding service in leading the Division’s response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, defending government actions to combat climate change, negotiating historic settlements in tribal trust litigation, and working with government agencies, communities, and industry to consider and integrate environmental justice principles into the resolution of cases and matters handled by the Division.  From 1994 to 2001, Ignacia served as a presidential appointee in the Division during the Clinton Administration.  From 2006 to 2009, she was Counsel for the Northeast/Midwest Regions and International, Corporate Environmental Programs, at the General Electric Company, and previously practiced at two prominent Washington, D.C. law firms, including as a partner.

In 2016, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe appointed Ignacia to serve a four-year term on the State Air Pollution Control Board and she was elected Chair of the Board in 2019.  In 2018, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam appointed her to serve on the Board of Governors of George Mason University and she was elected to the Executive Committee in 2019 and also serves as Vice Chair of the Audit Committee.  Ignacia serves on the Advisory Board of the New York University School of Law Institute for Policy Integrity where she serves as Chair of the Environmental Justice & Equity Committee.  Ignacia serves on the National Board of Directors of the Trust for Public Land where she is Chair of the Advocacy Committee.  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.

Ignacia earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from New York University in 1986, and a Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law in 1990.  She was born in Cartagena, Colombia, grew up in New York City, and lives in McLean, Virginia with her family.

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.

Appointed by Governor Northam to serve July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2025

Dolly Oberoi is the founder of C² Technologies, an Education, Aerospace and Defense company specializing in Online Education, Training, Modeling & Simulation, Artificial Intelligence, Analytics, and information technology. As a pioneer in online education, thought-leader, innovator, and an entrepreneur, Ms. Oberoi has dedicated her company’s mission to improving human performance.

Her pioneering work in helping academic and professional organizations transition from the traditional learning environments to online learning and developing transformative enterprise-wide learning has improved organizational and individual performance.

As an entrepreneur, she has served the academic, public and privates sectors with distinction in the areas of online education, training, air crew training, Modeling & Simulation, Artificial Intelligence, Analytics, and information technology, completing more than 18,000 projects for 130 plus clients, employing 500 employees in more than 22 locations globally, and winning over 150 industry awards including OPM’s Benchmark partner of the year and two-time recipient of Department of Transportation’s Business of the year.

Ms. Oberoi has dedicated her professional life to both academia and business. She has been affiliated with George Mason University for the last 25 years as Trustee, Board Member, Adjunct Faculty, Mentor for the entrepreneurship program, and Speaker. She founded the Chief Learning Officer’s Certificate Program in partnership with GMU’s School of Business, which is a popular Executive Development program.

Ms. Oberoi is published and a frequent speaker at international conferences. She serves on several academic and corporate boards, including the George Mason University (GMU) President’s Innovation Council, Foundation Board of Trustees; Barnard College of Columbia University; University of Maryland Baltimore County, School Education, Board of Advisors; Smithsonian AAPI Board, WHAAPI Small Business Council, and TiE Global Board.

She is also the recipient of several international awards, including Northern Virginia Chamber’s prestigious Gov Con Entrepreneur of the Year; Pride of India; E&Y’s Entrepreneur of the Year, Women Who Mean Business; Washington Business Journal’s Innovation Award, and the prestigious Spencer Logan award.

Ms. Oberoi holds an Ed.M. in Education Technology and Innovation from Harvard University.

Appointed by Governor Northam to serve July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2024

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.

Reappointed by Governor Northam to serve July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2025

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 36 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 30, and 12 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 38 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 24 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 Peloton, pickleball, tennis, yoga, reading, and travel.

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.

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.

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.

Reappointed by Governor Northam to serve July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2024

Bob Witeck is President of Washington, DC-based Witeck Communications, Inc., for three decades 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, and the board of directors of the Matthew Shepard Foundation. 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.

Erin’s journey with Mason began in 2008 as a student in the undergraduate program of Tourism & Events Management. Erin became plugged into the Mason community after joining the University Life SciTech campus staff in 2010 as the Special Events Coordinator Assistant. She continued to serve in multiple event and hospitality capacities through her four years and stayed on with Mason after graduation in her current classified staff position as Events Coordinator at the Science & Technology campus.

Erin became a member of the Staff Senate in 2016, and before long was nominated as Vice Chair in 2018 and now serves as Chair of the Staff Senate. As Chair and a member of the Staff Senate Erin works hard to maintain communications across all campuses, and build a collaborative relationship with Mason leadership.

Erin is currently working on obtaining her CMP, Certified Meeting Planner certificate, and enjoys spending her free time going on hikes with her husband and friends.

Melissa A. Broeckelman-Post is a Professor and the Basic Course Director in the Department of Communication at George Mason University and also currently serves as Chair of the Faculty Senate.  She earned a B.A. in English, a Graduate Certificate in Technical Writing and Professional Communication, and M.A. in Speech Rhetoric and Communication from Kansas State University.  She earned a Ph.D. in Communication Studies from Ohio University and was an Assistant Professor and Basic Course Coordinator and T.A. Supervisor at California State University, Los Angeles, for four years before beginning her faculty role at Mason.

As Basic Course Director in Communication, Dr. Broeckelman-Post is responsible for planning, supervising, assessing, and improving the communication courses that meet the general education requirement at GMU.  Each year, she is responsible for recruiting, training, and supervising a staff of 40-60 instructors who teach 3500-4000 undergraduate students per year in these courses.  As part of this role, she also established the Communication Center in 2018, which became part of the new Lab for Writing and Communication in Fall 2021.  In 2016, her program was the recipient of the NCA Basic Course Division Program of Excellence Award, which recognizes introductory communication course programs that can serve as best practice models for programs across the country.  In 2015, she was the recipient of the NCA Basic Course Division Textbook of Distinction Award for the textbook that she extensively adapted to meet the specific needs to GMU’s students, instructors, and program.  Dr. Broeckelman-Post also served as the co-chair of the Social Science Research Council’s Measuring College Learning Project Panel on Public Speaking and was a co-recipient of a National Communication Association Advancing the Discipline Grant for A National-Level Assessment of Core Competencies in the Basic Communication Course.   She was also the recipient of the John Toups Medal for Excellence in Teaching in 2021, George Mason University’s highest teaching honor.

Dr. Broeckelman-Post’s research includes applied and integrative research that helps to answer key questions about how to most effectively communicate in the classroom (instructional communication) and how to most effectively teach communication skills (communication education), at times by borrowing from and intersecting with research in other disciplines. Most of this research is also done to answer practical questions about how we can best serve our students in the introductory course and to test innovations that directly shape what we do in the classroom.  Broeckelman-Post is the co-author of 36 peer-reviewed journal articles and three national communication textbooks (Inclusive Public Speaking, The Speaker’s Primer, and Communication Pathways), and numerous other chapters and invited articles.  She has also served on the editorial boards of Communication Education (currently as Consulting Editor for Forums), Communication Teacher, The Basic Communication Course Annual, Journal of Communication Pedagogy, Western Journal of Communication, and the Texas Speech Communication Journal.

Dr. Broeckelman-Post has served on George Mason University’s Faculty Senate since 2014 and has served on the Executive Committee since 2018.  She has served on the Mason Core Committee from 2013-2021 (including as co-chair), served as chair of Nomination from 2018-2021, and is currently co-chairing the Task Force on Reimagining Faculty Roles and Rewards.  Additionally, she has served on the Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence Curriculum and Pedagogy Subcommittee, the ADVANCE Advisory Committee, the Faculty Interests Working Group for Online University Expansion, and many other committees, task forces, and working groups. She was elected Chair for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 academic years.

Natalia Kanos is a senior double majoring in Government and International Politics and Conflict Analysis and Resolution.

During her time at Mason, she has been involved in Student Government as a Senator, Vice-Chair of the Administration and financial affairs commit, Chair of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, and Speaker Pro Tempore. Outside of Student Government she has been involved as a Research Assistant at the Carter School and Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation, a Resident Advisor for housing, in ASA as treasurer, the ARIE taskforce, and a student athlete.

As an international Student from Jos, Nigeria she has loved getting involved on campus. She looks forward to continuing amazing work as student body president and to making Mason a better place.

Upon graduating she hopes to pursue a Master’s degree to provide her with more knowledge on helping developing nations create and actualize policy.

Steven Zhou is a PhD student in industrial-organizational psychology at George Mason University, where he researches and teaches in topics related to leadership, teamwork, motivation, and statistics. Prior to coming to Mason, he worked in college student affairs (in student leadership development) and in HR data analytics at a large international consumer goods startup. At Mason, he has previously served as the Psychology Representative for GAPSA’s General Assembly, and as Director of Communications on GAPSA’s 2020-2021 executive board.

Steven is passionate about teaching and higher education administration, with a focus on career preparation and collaboration. He won the psychology department’s award for 2021 Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor, and writes regularly about higher education for Mason’s Fourth Estate newspaper and other national outlets. As the 2021-2022 GAPSA President, he is excited to serve his fellow students by building GAPSA to be a prominent role in advocating for student interests and partnering with administration to pursue student-oriented initiatives.