The George Washington University’s leadership team—composed of the board of trustees, president, provost, vice presidents, deans and department chairs—manages day-to-day operations at the university and is firmly committed to ensuring a top-quality educational experience for GW students.  View the leadership organizational chart (pdf).

Board of Trustees The George Washington University is governed by a board of trustees, which has overall legal and fiduciary responsibility for the university.  The board works with the leadership team of the university comprised of the president, provost, vice presidents, deans and department chairs.  All are firmly committed to ensuring a top-quality educational experience for GW students. The current chair of the Board of Trustees is Nelson A. Carbonell, Jr., a 1985 alumnus of the university.

Office of the President Steven Knapp became the sixteenth president of the George Washington University in August 2007.  His priorities include enhancing the university’s partnerships with neighboring institutions, expanding the scope of its research, strengthening its worldwide community of alumni, enlarging its students’ opportunities for public service, and leading its transformation into a model of urban sustainability.

Office of the Provost The provost of The George Washington University is the chief academic officer for the 10 colleges and schools. The deans of the colleges and schools report to the provost. In addition, the provost oversees all programs and offices associated with student life and learning and serves as second-in-command of the university. The current provost is Steven R. Lerman, who has more than 35 years experience in higher education.

Vice Presidents

Vice presidents collectively oversee the George Washington University’s vast infrastructure, providing senior leadership and strategic vision across all aspects of GW life. Vice presidents are appointed by and report directly to the president.

Deans

The dean of each school serves as its chief administrative officer and is responsible to the president through the vice president for academic affairs. Deans serve at the pleasure of the president, provided they retain the confidence of their faculty.

Department Chairs

The chair of a department serves as the communications channel for all regular business between the faculty of the department and the University’s administration. Department chairs are appointed by the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, acting on nominations from the department that are recommended by the dean of the school.

University Offices & Staff

The George Washington University is the largest institution of higher education in the nation’s capital. More than 6,000 faculty members, administrators and support personnel keep the university’s wheels turning.