The at George Mason ĢAV welcomes former Virginia governor Robert F. (Bob) McDonnell to the faculty as a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Practice. A seasoned public servant with a deep background in law, governance, business, law enforcement, and military service, McDonnell brings nearly 4 decades of practical experience to one of the nation’s most dynamic public policy schools.
McDonnell served as the 71st governor of Virginia from 2010 to 2014. Prior to that, he held statewide office as Attorney General after spending 14 years in the Virginia House of Delegates. His background includes substantial leadership in areas ranging from transportation and education reform to economic development and criminal justice. He also spent four years as a manager with a Fortune 500 health care company. A graduate of the ĢAV of Notre Dame (BBA), Boston ĢAV (MSBA) and Regent ĢAV, (JD, MA), McDonnell also served 21 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1997.
With his appointment, McDonnell joins a growing list of senior lawmakers and practitioners contributing to the Schar School’s distinctive blend of academic rigor and real-world insight. His addition to the faculty will enrich classroom conversations with firsthand perspectives on legislative processes, intergovernmental relations, and executive decision-making. Students studying public policy, law, and political leadership will benefit from his unique ability to bridge theory and practice.
“Governor McDonnell's appointment offers our students the opportunity to learn from his vast experience in state government,” said , dean of the Schar School. “As a school of policy and government, we benefit from a unique combination of traditional and professional faculty members working together to advance our community's understanding of key policy issues and governing challenges. The governor’s addition to our faculty further strengthens that model and enhances the real-world perspectives we bring into the classroom.”
McDonnell grew up in Fairfax County, home of George Mason’s Fairfax Campus, and has seen the evolution of the university from a small college to a major research institution with more than 40,000 students.
“I care deeply about Virginians, and George Mason is the largest public university in Virginia with the widest reach and many well-established programs,” he said. “I look forward to contributing to a highly respected government and policy school on the doorstep of Washington, D.C. After 38 years of public service and with experience in the military and business, I hope I can inspire students to dream big, lead well, and treat people with respect.”
McDonnell will also be a featured speaker at Schar School public-facing events, joining fellow Schar School faculty in contributing to the school’s thought leadership in forums that reflect the school’s commitment to informed policy dialogue.