03/27/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 03/28/2026 17:17
George Mason University President Gregory Washington received the Incheon Mayor's award for his contributions in helping to raise Incheon's international profile through global cooperation, including the university's Mason Korea campus.
Washington was recognized for his contributions in elevating Incheon's international standing through global cooperation, promoting the Incheon city brand through U.S. media, and contributing to various fields including the establishment of the Center for Korean Culture and Society at Mason Korea.
From left, Vice Provost Renate Guilford, Interim Provost and Executive Vice President Ajay Vinzé, Mason Korea Dean Joshua Park, President Gregory Washington, Junho Jeon, special advisor to the mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City, and Vice Provost Janette Muir. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University BrandingSince opening its Korea campus in 2014, George Mason has maintained a cooperative relationship with Incheon City across a range of areas including research and community service. The university is currently conducting the Driving Urban Transitions (DUT) Project, an international joint research initiative on future-oriented urban planning, together with Incheon City and Seoul National University.
Through its Mason Cares program, the university also carries out ongoing community service activities, such as mural painting, global career camps, coastal cleanups, donations of daily necessities to local orphanages, and fuel briquette donations to low-income households.
"This award is a meaningful reflection of the close collaboration between George Mason University and Incheon City," Washington said. "We will continue to contribute to elevating Incheon's international standing through global education and research cooperation, andremain committed to expanding exchanges between our two countries."
Junho Jeon, special advisor to the mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City and chief of strategic content planning, and Mason Korea Campus Dean Joshua Park attended the award ceremony at the Fairfax Campus on March 26. "This award will serve as an opportunity to further strengthen our partnership with Incheon City," said Park. "We will contribute to nurturing Korea-U.S. global talent and local development, andfulfill our role as a trusted Korea-U.S. global hub where students, researchers, businesses, and institutions collaborate and grow together."
Mason Korea is an extended campus of George Mason, the largest public research university in Virginia. George Mason's proximity to Washington, D.C., makes it a talent pipeline for government agencies, global corporations, and leading IT companies, providing students with a favorable environment for building internship and employment networks in the United States.
George Mason ranked 32nd among U.S. public universities and 71st overall among the Wall Street Journal's best colleges rankings. The Korea campus offers the same curriculum and degrees as the U.S. campus, and students have the opportunity tospend one year studying at the U.S. campus to gain global experience.