Board of Visitors

Three new members appointed to Mason Board of Visitors

On July 12, Governor Bob McDonnell announced three new appointments and one reappointment to George Mason University's Board of Visitors.

Kelly McNamara Corley, Tom Davis, and Anne C. Gruner will join the 16-member board. John M. Jacquemin has been reappointed. 

Mason's Board of Visitors is the governing body of the unversity. All members are appointed by the governor and serve four-year terms.

Overview of March 20 Board of Visitors meeting

Dining contract delayed

At a March 20 meeting, the Board of Visitors delayed a final decision to its ongoing dining contract negotiations. The university had been deciding whether or not to renew Sodexo’s contract or to choose a new company, Chartwells.

As of December 2012, Sodexo has been working with Mason for 25 years.

Board of Visitors approves new strategic vision

On March 20, the George Mason University’s Board of Visitors unanimously passed a resolution to adopt President Ángel Cabrera’s new strategic vision for the university.

The Mason Vision is intended to provide groundwork for the administration to make decisions regarding the future of the university.

“We have worked in drawing a picture of what we hope will be inspirational and aspirational picture of the type of university we want to build in the future,” Cabrera said to the Board.

Cabrera on open search: 'Probably not'

Incoming university president Ángel Cabrera told a Faculty Senate member Wednesday that if the presidential search was open, he likely wouldn’t have continued through the process.

“Probably not,” Cabrera told Faculty Senate member Stanley Zoltek at an informal meet-and-greet. “It would have damaged my reputation.”

BOV rector calls search confidentiality practice ‘infraction,’ not ‘violation’

Rector Ernst Volgenau responded at a recent Faculty Senate meeting to faculty concerns about the contractual nature of the Faculty Handbook, which outlines processes not observed in the selection of Ángel Cabrera as Mason's sixth president.

The remarks come amongst debate about confidentiality and whether or not closed search processes return "better" candidates.

‘Doc Nix’ embracing new role with faculty committee

Michael Nickens, better known as “Doc Nix,” is most recognized for his presence at Mason basketball home games as director of the pep band, the “Green Machine.” This semester, Nickens is taking his knowledge from within the Mason’s School of Music to the Board of Visitors as a new faculty committee representative.

Nickens attended his first meeting as a faculty representative on Jan. 25 and said the environment was a shift from what he’s used to seeing at the Patriot Center.

Mason names sixth university president: Ángel Cabrera

George Mason University named its next university president on Dec. 15: Ángel Cabrera. Here's a little bit more about the big news, including links to all our coverage following the announcement.

Merten to resign in 2012

George Mason University president Alan Merten will resign in June 2012, the university announced on March 23.

“Today the Board of Visitors accepted Dr. Alan Merten's request to retire 
as President of George Mason University, effective June 30, 2012,” Rector Ernst Volgenau said in an e-mail sent to students. “The 
fifteen years of Dr. Merten's presidency have been remarkable and 
transformative.”

UPDATE: Board of Visitors convenes for first meeting of the semester

Story updated 09/29/2010 - 20:40:

The George Mason University Board of Visitors approved several measures and welcomed five new members to its ranks at its meeting Wednesday.

“Things went very smoothly,” said Peter Pober, the chair of Mason’s Faculty Senate. “The meeting was very productive.”

The Board approved the formation of the Office of Global Strategy, which will act as a liaison between Mason and various international institutions, Pober said.