George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, has announced that four members of the university’s leadership team have stepped into expanded roles. “These positions will enhance our ability to serve students, advance our strategic vision for institutional and research excellence, and shape George Mason’s future as one of the leading public universities in the country,” said Gregory Washington, president of the university. Three women were involved in the leadership shuffle.
Rose Pascarell, who has served as vice president for university life since 2012, has been promoted to executive vice president and chief of staff. She has been on the staff at George Mason for 30 years. Pascarell is a graduate of the University at Albany of the State University of New York System, where she majored in criminology and peace studies. She holds a master’s degree in sociology and gender studies from George Mason University.
Sharnnia Artis, who arrived at George Mason in 2021 and most recently served as vice president for access, compliance, and community, has been promoted to senior vice president for organizational excellence and institutional integrity. Earlier, she was assistant dean of access and inclusion in the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences and the Samueli School of Engineering at the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Artis received bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in industrial and systems engineering from Virginia Tech.
Whitney Owen, who has served as interim special advisor to the president and chief of staff since April 2025, has been named vice president of strategy and transformation and special advisor to the president, focusing on major transformational initiatives for the university. Owen has been a staff member at the university since 2020. Owens is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she majored in international affairs. She holds a master of public administration degree from George Washington University.