Gregory Washington facts for kids

Gregory N. Washington is an American university professor and a leader in education. He became the 8th president of George Mason University on July 1, 2020. Before that, he was the Dean of Engineering at the Henry Samueli School of Engineering at the University of California, Irvine. He held that position from 2011 to 2020. He was the first African-American person to become a dean of an engineering school in the University of California system. His research focuses on how things move and change, and on smart materials and devices.

Early Life and Education

Washington was born in New York City. He went to William G. Enloe High School in Raleigh, North Carolina, and finished in 1984. He studied mechanical engineering at North Carolina State University. He earned his first degree in 1989 and his advanced degree (called a doctorate) in 1994. In the early 1990s, he helped start The Nubian Message. This was a newspaper for African-American students. He was the first person in his family to get a university degree.

Career Highlights

Starting at Ohio State University

In 1995, Washington began working at Ohio State University. He started as an assistant professor of mechanical engineering. He was promoted to associate professor in 2000 and then to full professor in 2004. At Ohio State, he led a group called the Institute for Sustainable Energy and the Environment. In 2005, he became an associate dean for research in the engineering college. By 2008, he was the interim dean of the college of engineering. He worked on designing lightweight antennas and self-driving vehicles. He also studied smart materials that can help control vibrations.

Leading at UC Irvine

In 2011, Washington was chosen to be the Dean of the Henry Samueli School of Engineering at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). He was the first African-American person to be a dean of any engineering school in the University of California system. As dean, Washington helped the engineering school grow. He also created chances for students to do research with groups in the Middle East and China. He started a program to help new engineering students learn about product design.

Supporting Students and Diversity

In 2015, he led a special group at UCI. This group worked to make the campus a better place for the African American community. This task force was created after the UCI Black Students Union shared concerns. The group aimed to create a Black Resource Center. This center would help recruit and support students from the Black African diaspora. The center is now called the Center for Black Cultures, Resources & Research. Washington also helped get a large grant. This money was used to encourage more diverse students to study science and engineering. He was given a second term as dean in 2016.

President of George Mason University

On February 24, 2020, it was announced that Washington would be the 8th president of George Mason University. This university is in Fairfax, Virginia. He officially started on July 1, 2020. This was during the global COVID-19 pandemic. He became the university's first African-American president. He guided the university through the pandemic. He also started a university-wide group to fight racism and promote fairness. This group works to find and fix unfair rules and practices at the university.

Washington also serves on important committees. These include groups for the Air Force Research Laboratory and the National Science Foundation.