Meet George Mason’s new Provost and Executive Vice President, Marion Underwood

Marion Underwood most recently served as provost and executive vice president at Colorado State University. She previously held senior leadership roles as dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences at Purdue University and dean of graduate studies and associate provost at the University of Texas at Dallas.

What attracted you to George Mason? Was there a particular aspect of the university that made you say "I want to lead here"?

I am strongly attracted by the opportunity to lead the academic enterprise at such an innovative university on a steep upward trajectory. I am impressed by George Mason's rare distinction of earning Carnegie designations as both an R1 and an Opportunity University, by the ambition of being an opportunity research university. I am compelled by the university's core values of inclusivity over exclusivity, willingness to take risks, embracing diversity, viewing education as opportunity's great equalizer, and examining our full truths no matter how messy. I am excited to collaborate with President Washington, other leaders, and the university community to help create a national model of a large-scale, high-impact public university.

What are you most excited about or cautious about when it comes to higher education and AI?

I am excited by the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to force us all to focus on what is most uniquely human: our voices, our ability to communicate with particular audiences, our judgement and discernment, our intuition, and our creativity. AI can detect patterns and make predictions from large amounts of data that could save time and help us focus on what only humans can do. I am excited to work with faculty and staff on preparing students to lead in a world fueled by AI and to use AI ethically and responsibly. My greatest fear about AI is that we will not move fast enough to put ethical guardrails in place, that it will make our work more homogenous if we are not careful, that it will perpetuate harmful stereotypes, and that the burden of the tremendous resources it consumes will be borne by already marginalized groups and communities.

During your presentation you mentioned the importance of the university building public trust as a modern anchor institution. Can you explain what that means and why it's important?

I learned about this idea from EAB, an educational consulting firm. Modern anchor institutions build trust because they make lives better for the people in their communities and their regions. Modern anchor institutions are outward looking, connected, inclusive, engaged in the community, and proud to do applied research that solves real-world challenges. More traditional ivory tower universities are inwardly focused, set apart from the community, take pride in being exclusive, and do research that is more pure than applied.

What's your approach to input and collaboration with faculty and staff?

Shared governance begins with respecting each other's expertise and roles at the university. I believe in communicating early, often, and transparently, and being open to feedback. I strive to create an atmosphere of psychological safety in conversations, where proposals are made stronger by people voicing different perspectives, where it is safe to disagree and voice fears as well as hopes. We need to be open to innovation, which means we have to end what is not thriving. I always hope that we can think together creatively and strategically about new ways of working, but consider carefully what to do first and what investments will have the greatest impact. I try to encourage being university minded, focusing on the larger missions of student success, research excellence, access, and community engagement, but realize that is hard when people care about their own work so passionately and are such outstanding champions for the parts of the university they lead.

Where do you see immediate opportunities to impacts the student experience and ensure our graduates are prepared for the future?

As a clinical psychologist who studies the pain of social exclusion, I know that human beings have a fundamental need to belong. I am excited to collaborate with the faculty and with University Life to make George Mason an even more inclusive, welcoming community where all students can learn and experience the joy of feeling part of the community in close relationships with their peers, staff, and the faculty. A huge opportunity to make sure our graduates are prepared for the future is to always be strengthening and modernizing the academic curriculum, to make it even more challenging, inspiring, and future-oriented. We also need to consider the co-curriculum, students' opportunities to participate in organizations on campus but also to be at the forefront of creating knowledge in a research lab or an artist's studio, learning about the world of work in an internship or a practicum setting, or studying abroad.

What are you most looking forward to in your first year at George Mason?

I am most excited to get to know the people of George Mason, the faculty and staff and students and academic leaders, to start to understand what you all have done to enable this young university to grow and thrive and excel, and to work with you all to envision new ways to advance the excellence of the university.

What's one thing people might not know about you?

I was born in Beirut, Lebanon, when my Texan parents were living in Baghdad, Iraq, and went to kindergarten and first grade in Tripoli, Libya, where my father had some of his first jobs teaching geology at U.S. universities. I spent my elementary school years in Canyon, Texas, and my junior high and high school years in Manhattan, Kansas. Looking back on it, my family lived in locations others might find unappealing, but I thought we were so lucky because my parents always did a great job of helping us form relationships and appreciate what each place had to offer. They taught me that you can create a rich and interesting life in all kinds of places.

George Mason University selects Marion Underwood as provost and executive vice president

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