The George Mason University Foundation proudly announced the appointment of six new members of its Board of Trustees, effective July 1, 2022.
The leadership of the new members, who have backgrounds ranging from business to law to academia, will help support the future of Mason. As the institution celebrates its 50th anniversary, the board will continue to ensure the university moves forward together and pushes the boundaries of what is possible.
“We are honored to welcome these amazing local leaders to serve on the Board of Trustees,” said Trishana Bowden, president of the George Mason University Foundation and vice president for Advancement and Alumni Relations at George Mason University.
“Our new trustees join a growing and diverse collection of community members dedicated to advancing the university and providing an outstanding college education for all that seek it. We have had great success in the last few years at Mason, and we look forward to building on that with our new members to serve our students and our region.”
Learn more about the mission and impact of the George Mason University Foundation at gmuf.org. New foundation Board of Trustees members include:
Julie Bowen is senior vice president, operations & outreach, and chief legal officer at The MITRE Corporation. She serves as a director of MITRE Engenuity, a foundation for the public good. Ms. Bowen is a board member of the Northern Virginia Technology Council and is an active member of the Association of Corporate Counsel. The Washington Business Journal named Ms. Bowen one of its 2021 Women Who Mean Business.
Brian C. Drummond, JD ’88, is a partner at Whitestone Young law firm. A published criminal law author, he has written chapters on trial preparation and search and seizure in the scholarly series “Inside the Minds.” In 2021, he was recognized as a “Top Lawyer” by Northern Virginia Magazine, and, in 2015, he was a recipient of the Golden Gavel Award, presented by the Fairfax Law Foundation for his exceptional service to the Northern Virginia community. Mr. Drummond is a past president of the Alumni Association Board (2002-2004). He also serves on the Patriot Club Advisory Board and the Green Machine Advisory Council. In 1994, he was honored with Mason’s Alumni Service Award.
Greg Hoffman, MRED ’16, is vice president at Rooney Properties, a real estate development company in Arlington, Virginia. Mr. Hoffman oversees Rooney’s commercial and residential projects and manages their portfolio of real estate assets in the Washington, DC metro region. He serves as chairman of the Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship Advisory Board in the School of Business at George Mason University and is active in the Arlington Chamber of Commerce.
Frank K. Major, BS ’93, is chief technology officer of Bright MLS. Mr. Major is a seasoned information technology leader with extensive experience developing strategic plans and delivering large-scale systems and services, particularly in the financial technology arena. He joined Bright MLS in October 2018 and leads the data science, software engineering, and technology and digital product teams. Mr. Major is an alumnus of the College of Engineering and Computing; he earned his BS in computer science.
Heather S. Romagnoli is chief credit officer at Sandy Spring Bank. Ms. Romagnoli leads Sandy Spring Bank’s credit risk management division, sets credit strategy, oversees transactional decisions, and manages the overall credit portfolio. She serves as the vice chair of the Virginia Bankers Association Lending and Credit Executive Committee and as a member of Business Finance Group’s Small Business Administration 504 Loan Committee. She has also been involved with the Potomac Chapter of the Risk Management Association for more than 20 years.
Dr. Fernando R. Miralles-Wilhelm, dean of the College of Science, is the incoming dean representative. Dean Miralles-Wilhelm joined Mason in July 2020, coming from the University of Maryland, where he served as chair and professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science. Dean Miralles-Wilhelm is a fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and a diplomate of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers.
– Taylor Howell, July 1, 2022