Vice Presidents
Eight 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.
Provost and Vice President for Health Affairs John F. “Skip” Williams
John F. “Skip” Williams is responsible for the administration and oversight of the academic health center, including the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, the School of Public Health and Health Services, the Office of Health Research, Compliance and Technology Transfer and The George Washington University Hospital.
Dr. Williams, MD ’79, EdD ’96, was promoted to provost and vice president for health affairs in January 2003. He had served as GW’s vice president for health affairs and executive dean since 1997. Prior to that, he was medical director of GW Hospital (1996-1997), associate vice president for graduate medical education at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences (1993-1997) and associate dean for admissions at the medical school.
Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Donald R. Lehman
Donald R. Lehman, PhD ’70, serves as the University’s chief academic officer with administrative oversight of GW’s nine schools and other academic divisions. Dr. Lehman is responsible for strategic academic planning and educational policy in the areas of admissions, curriculum, research, the libraries, academic computing, distance learning and faculty personnel administration.
Dr. Lehman first came to GW in 1965 as a doctoral student in physics and returned as an assistant professor in 1972. A noted theoretical physicist, he chaired GW’s Department of Physics from 1987 to 1993 and served as the founding director of its Center for Nuclear Studies from 1990 to 1993. He was appointed associate vice president for research and graduate studies in 1993. From 1996 to 2002, he was the University’s vice president for academic affairs. He was promoted to his current position in January 2003
Executive Vice President and Treasurer Louis H. Katz
Louis H. Katz is the University’s chief financial officer. He carries primary responsibility for the management of GW’s financial, physical and information systems resources. He oversees strategic, operating and capital planning and budgeting. And he advises the president and the board of trustees on financial and strategic matters affecting the development and operations of the University.
Katz joined GW in 1990 as vice president and treasurer. He was promoted to executive vice president and treasurer in 2003. A long-time manager of academic institutions with medical centers, he previously spent eight years as vice president for administration and treasurer at Tulane University.
Senior Vice President and General Counsel Beth Nolan
Beth Nolan is the chief legal officer for the University. She directs all legal services for GW, providing legal counsel, preventive legal guidance and related services in support of the University’s teaching and research mission.
Nolan joined GW as senior vice president and general counsel in December 2007. A former GW law professor, she returned to the University after serving as a partner in Crowell & Moring LLP in Washington, D.C. From 1999 to 2001, she was counsel to President Bill Clinton, making her the first woman to serve as counsel to the president of the United States.
Senior Vice President for Student and Academic Support Services Robert A. Chernak
Robert A. Chernak manages 20 GW departments and programs serving students’ academic, personal, social and community-related needs. His portfolio encompasses undergraduate admissions, student financial assistance, athletics and recreation, university police, dean of students, parent services, the counseling center, student health services and campus life.
Dr. Chernak, EdD ’97, joined GW in 1988 as vice president for student and academic support services. He was promoted to senior vice president in 2003. A veteran in higher education administration with nearly four decades of service to his credit, Dr. Chernak came to GW from the University of Hartford. He spent 11 years at Hartford, rising to vice president for administration and student services.
Interim Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations John Kudless
John Kudless leads the University’s fundraising campaigns and oversees the diverse programs that make up the development and alumni relations division.
Kudless has more than 35 years of experience embracing all aspects of development. He joined GW in 2007 after serving as executive director for principal gifts at The Johns Hopkins University and then as a senior vice president at the major development consulting firm Grenzebach Glier and Associates. Earlier in his career, he served in vice presidential roles at both Georgetown and Virginia Commonwealth Universities.
Vice President for External Relations Lorraine Voles
Lorraine Voles, BA ’81, joined GW in February 2009 as vice president for external relations, a new position that brings communications and government relations into one division. Voles guides GW’s government and community relations efforts and communicates the University’s goals and accomplishments to a wide variety of constituents, both inside and outside GW.
A professional in the corporate and political communications fields, Voles most recently served as senior vice president of communications and marketing services for Fannie Mae. Prior to that, she was deputy press secretary for former President Bill Clinton, director of communications and chief spokeswoman for former Vice President Al Gore, director of communications for former U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton and press secretary for U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin.
Vice President for Research Leo M. Chalupa
Leo M. Chalupa became the University’s first vice president of research on April 1, 2009. He serves as GW’s chief research officer, charged with overseeing the strategic and operational development of our rapidly growing research enterprise.
An accomplished scientist and administrator, Dr. Chalupa comes to GW following a 34-year career at the University of California, Davis, most recently serving as the chair of neurobiology, physiology and behavior in the College of Biological Sciences. A distinguished professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at UC Davis, he founded the university’s Center for Neuroscience in 1992, as well as the Mind and Brain Center, the Brain Imaging Center and the Center for Visual Sciences.
Sustainability, Affordability and Community
The three strategic initiatives GW is focusing on to enhance our academic, research and service programs. Learn more about them.
The GW Experience
Students
All in the Family
Greg and Heather Hachenburg talk about their undergraduate experience at GW, one of many sibling pairs to share in the Colonials legacy.
Creating Next Generation Leaders
GW program helps female students connect with leading women across a variety of fields and develop their roles as future women in leadership.
Where the City is a Classroom
Freshman volunteers experience life beyond Foggy Bottom...
Faculty
Fighting Neglected Diseases
GW professor works to eradicate diseases that affect the health, education and economic development of the world's poorest people.
Building the Super Computer
Pioneering lab puts GW at the forefront of high-speed computing and offers GW students unprecedented access to science and skills of the future.
Blast From the Past
Students map an ancient—and dramatic—eruption as part of a geological research program in the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains.
Alumni
Giving Back to the District of Columbia
D.C. public health director calls GW education the foundation of his career.
GW Opens Doors
A chance encounter with a GW alumna helped give one GW undergraduate, an aspiring broadcast journalist from Texas, his big break.
The Legend Lives On
The $2 million bequest commitment caps a lifetime of philanthropy and service to GW, establishing the Elyse B. and Donald R. Lehman Endowed Professorship in Theoretical Physics.