The First Woman to Lead George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia

The board of visitors at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, has selected Anne Holton as interim president of the university. When she takes office on August 1, Holton will be the first woman to lead the university.

George Mason University enrolls more than 25,000 undergraduate students and nearly 11,000 graduate students, according to the latest statistics on file at the U.S. Department of Education. Women make up 50 percent of the undergraduate student body.

Holton served as Virginia Secretary of Education from 2014 to 2016. She has served as a visiting professor in both the Schar School of Policy and Government and the College of Education and Human Development at George Mason University since May 2017. Holton is the wife and the daughter of former governors of Virginia.

In accepting the position, Holton stated that “George Mason University is a special place for me and my family, and I look forward to serving the institution during this interim period. The university has made tremendous strides for such a young institution, and it’s my privilege to continue that momentum and ensure a smooth transition to the next president.”

Holton is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School.