Eleven New Trustees join the George Mason University Foundation Board for Fiscal Year 2026
The George Mason University Foundation (GMUF) proudly welcomes eight new members and three community representatives to its Board of Trustees, with their terms beginning in July 2025. These individuals bring leadership and experience to the foundation, with enthusiasm for the George Mason community.
“Our trustees and community representatives are vital to the growth and success of the university,” said Trishana E. Bowden, GMUF president and George Mason University’s vice president for advancement and alumni relations. “The Board of Trustees are leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries who share their valuable knowledge and expertise to our growing and vibrant community.”
Trustees:
Monica Davy, BA ’91 – Monica Davy serves as the chief culture, belonging, and impact officer at Vizient, the largest member-driven healthcare performance improvement company in the United States. She guides the overarching culture and inclusion strategy, including creating a sense of belonging for every person within the organization. She is also responsible for the corporate and social responsibility strategy (ESG), including community impact. With over 30 years of experience, Davy is a seasoned and dynamic change agent, deeply committed to the belief that people are an organization’s most valuable asset. She is an inclusive and transformational leader who develops, mentors, and coaches her team and partners to leverage their diverse talents and perspectives to achieve the company’s mission and vision. Davy earned her bachelor of arts in English from George Mason University in 1991 and her JD from the Howard University School of Law in 1994.
Gardner Gillespie III – Gardner Gillespie III is a distinguished legal professional and a dedicated philanthropist with a profound commitment to the arts and education. With a BA in history from Williams College and a JD from the University of Virginia, he has built an illustrious career in law. Gillespie has been recognized as a Telecommunications MVP by Law360 and named among America’s Top 100 Attorneys. His legal acumen is matched by his dedication to the arts, as evidenced by his active role on the Mason Arts Board and his foundational work with the School of Art Advisory Council at George Mason University. Gillespie and his wife have made significant contributions to the College of Visual and Performing Arts, their generosity exemplifying the establishment of the Gillespie Scholarship Endowment.
Raul Herrera – Raul R. Herrera is currently an attorney and a partner at Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP. Herrera focuses specifically on international matters, with an emphasis on international corporate and financing transactions in Latin America and the Caribbean. He is a member of many significant organizations and committees, and also currently serves as the commissioner of The SDSN Global, Commission for Urban SDG Finance. Herrera earned his bachelor’s degree in Latin America Studies from The George Washington University in 1981, and received his JD degree in 1984.
Jason Howell, BS ’97 – Jason Howell is the president and founder of Jason Howell Company, a family wealth management firm dedicated to guiding families through the transition from first-generation wealth to enduring family prosperity. Howell is committed to empowering families to govern themselves through fostering closer family ties, generous giving, and community enrichment. He is currently a certified financial planner, chartered SRI counselor and certified private wealth advisor, and is also an adjunct instructor at George Mason University’s Costello College of Business, focusing on financial planning and wealth management, and at American University’s Kogod School of Business, teaching personal finance. He has been recognized by George Mason as a Prominent Patriot and has received multiple awards for his service and contributions. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from George Mason University in 1997.
Muhammed S. (Boz) Malik – Muhammed Shahbaz, also known as Boz Malik, is currently the president and CEO of HB Fuller Construction Adhesives.He is a dynamic and results-oriented executive with a distinguished career in driving profitable revenue growth and enhancing shareholder value. As a top corporate officer, he excels in high-impact P&L leadership, strategic sales and marketing, and transformative operational improvements. Malik has leveraged his extensive experience in the building and construction industry to drive significant growth and value creation. With his vast amount of experience and expertise, his leadership is characterized by vision, creativity, integrity, and passion, all used to inspire and develop thriving organizations. He received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University in 1990.
Rafael Martinez, BA ’14 – Rafael Martinez is a seasoned banker with an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for connecting people. Currently the senior relationship manager at LINKBANK, Martinez has more than 15 years of industry experience in commercial and nonprofit treasury management. As a certified treasury professional, the highest designation for financial professionals in risk management and capital preservation, he is dedicated to providing working capital and treasury management solutions that support the growth of local businesses and the broader economy. Martinez holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from George Mason University and received a banking and finance diploma from the American Institute of Banking in 2012.
Melissa Peterson – Melissa Peterson is the founder and CEO of Blue Sky Innovative Solutions, with more than 20 years of experience leading organizations, assisting public and private sector clients in the areas of IT and business strategy, IT solutions, organizational design, operational design, and business success. She has worked with multiple clients in the financial services, telecommunications, retail, e-business, publishing, and entertainment industries. Previously, Peterson was CSC’s general manager for national intelligence agency accounts. She holds an MBA and a JD from Columbia University and a bachelor of science in finance from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School.
Christopher Preston, BS ’96 – Chris Preston is a distinguished leader in nonprofit development and a dedicated alum of the Costello College of Business, where he earned his bachelor of science degree with a concentration in management. Currently, Preston is the chief strategic partnerships officer at BlueSKY Collaborative Partners. Beyond his professional career and achievements, he is actively involved in community service; he serves on the board of the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium and is deeply committed to supporting initiatives like the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey and the United Way of the National Capital Area. Preston previously served as the president of George Mason University’s Alumni Association.
Community Representatives:
Kathleen Wills, BS ’15, JD ’20 (G.O.L.D. representative) – Kathleen Wills is currently an attorney at Oppenheim + Zebrak, representing clients in intellectual property matters. Previously, Wills was an associate at Perkins Coie and Sterne Kessler Goldstein & Fox in Washington, D.C, where she represented clients on complex patent litigation and trademark issues. She clerked for Judge Jimmie V. Reyna of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and interned at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and U.S. International Trade Commission. Kathleen received her JD. from George Mason University, where she was president of the Trial Advocacy Association and a member of the Civil Rights Law Journal. Before law school, Kathleen received her BS in neuroscience from George Mason University, where she was a member of the Honors College, and worked at the National Institutes of Health.
Jeff Fissel, BS ’06 (Alumni Association representative) – Jeff Fissel serves as the vice president of technology at GP Strategies, a global leader in talent transformation and learning solutions, a role he has held since 2024. Fissel drives innovation in learning technologies, spearheading the development of AI-powered platforms such as Learning Content AIQ, which are designed to streamline content creation and enhance the effectiveness of corporate learning and development initiatives. Prior to joining GP Strategies, Jeff co-founded KZO Innovations, where he played a pivotal role in product development, strategic accounts, and corporate development. He holds a BS in information technology with a concentration in information security and network administration from George Mason University, and is the president elect of the George Mason University Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Ingrid Guerra-López, Dean, College of Education and Human Development (Dean representative) – Ingrid Guerra-López is the dean of the College of Education and Human Development at George Mason University. Previously, she was interim dean of the College of Education and professor of learning design and technology at Wayne State University. Guerra-López is the founder of the Institute for Needs Assessment Evaluation, where she has worked with organizations across the globe to improve human performance systems. She has held key leadership positions in prominent professional organizations in the field, including the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI) Board of Directors, editor-in-chief of its research journal, Performance Improvement Quarterly, chair of the ISPI Research Committee, and various other key committees. Guerra-López earned her PhD, masters in instructional and performance systems, and her undergraduate in psychology with honors from Florida State University.
Story by Advancement Communications.
