Gregory Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gregory Washington
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Washington in March 2024
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| 8th President of George Mason University | |
| Assumed office July 1, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Anne Holton (interim) Ángel Cabrera |
| Dean of the Henry Samueli School of Engineering at the University of California, Irvine |
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| In office August 1, 2011 – 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Dimitri Papamoschou (interim) |
| Succeeded by | Magnus Egerstedt |
| Personal details | |
| Education | North Carolina State University (BS, PhD) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mechanical engineering |
| Institutions | |
| Thesis | Modal control of reflector surfaces for far-field power maximization (1994) |
| Doctoral advisor | Lawrence Michael |
Gregory N. Washington is a university professor and leader. He became the 8th president of George Mason University on July 1, 2020. Before this, he was the Dean of Engineering at the University of California, Irvine from 2011 to 2020. He was the first African-American person to lead an engineering school in the University of California system. His work involves studying how things move and change, and creating smart materials and devices.
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Early Life and Education
Gregory Washington was born in New York City. He went to William G. Enloe High School in Raleigh, North Carolina. He graduated from high school in 1984.
College Years
Washington studied mechanical engineering at North Carolina State University. He earned his first degree in 1989. He then earned his advanced degree in 1994. He was the first person in his family to get a university degree.
While in college, he helped start The Nubian Message. This was a newspaper for African-American students.
Career Highlights
In 1995, Washington started teaching at Ohio State University. He was an assistant professor of mechanical engineering. He became a full professor in 2004.
Leadership at Ohio State
At Ohio State, he led a group focused on clean energy. He also became an associate dean in the engineering college in 2005. Later, in 2008, he became the interim dean. He worked on designing light antennas and self-driving vehicles. He also researched smart materials that can control vibrations.
Leading at UC Irvine
In 2011, Washington became the Dean of Engineering at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). He was the first African-American to be a dean of an engineering school in the University of California system. As dean, he helped the engineering school grow. He also created research chances with countries in the Middle East and China. He started a program to teach new students about product design.
Supporting Students
In 2015, he led a group at UCI to help African-American students. This group worked to create a special resource center. This center helps students from the Black African diaspora with their studies and campus life. It is now called the Center for Black Cultures, Resources & Research. Washington also helped get money to encourage more diverse students to study science and engineering.
President of George Mason University
On February 24, 2020, Gregory Washington was named the 8th president of George Mason University. This university is in Fairfax, Virginia. He started his new role on July 1, 2020. He became the university's first African-American president.
He led the university during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also started a special group to make sure university rules are fair for everyone.
Washington also advises important groups. These include the Air Force Research Laboratory and the National Science Foundation.
