George Washington University Board Reviewed President
The Board of Trustees has launched a leadership review of University President Ellen Granberg.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in People
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The George Washington University Board of Trustees has initiated a formal leadership review of President Ellen Granberg. This evaluation comes as Granberg enters her fourth year in office.
Why it matters
The Board of Trustees conducts these periodic reviews to assess presidential leadership and monitor institutional progress. This process is intended to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the universitys current direction.
President Ellen Granberg is currently in her fourth year of tenure at the university. Her existing contract is expected to remain in effect until its expiration in 2028.
The players
Ellen Granberg
She serves as the president of George Washington University and is currently the subject of a Board-led leadership review.
Mark Chichester
He is the Board of Trustees Chair at George Washington University and began his current three-year term on June 1, 2026.
WittKieffer
This executive search firm was hired by the Board to assist with the presidential review process.
Thomas LeBlanc
He is a former president of George Washington University who underwent leadership reviews in 2019 and 2021.
The details
To assist with the assessment, the Board has engaged the executive search firm WittKieffer. The firm will facilitate the review through confidential surveys, focus groups, and interviews with faculty, staff, students, and alumni throughout the fall semester.
Timeline
2019: First leadership review of Thomas LeBlanc.
2021: Second leadership review of Thomas LeBlanc.
January 2023: Ellen Granberg was selected as president.
June 1, 2026: Mark Chichester began his three-year term as Board chair.
Fall 2026: The Board will collect feedback from the university community.
Market Landscape
This leadership review follows the established precedent of periodic oversight previously applied to former president Thomas LeBlanc in 2019 and 2021. The process reflects the Board's ongoing administrative strategy for ensuring executive alignment with institutional goals.
Faculty, staff, students, and alumni have the opportunity to participate in the review process through surveys and focus groups. These contributions directly influence how the Board evaluates the president's performance and the university's future trajectory.
The takeaway
This review serves as a standard administrative tool to maintain transparency in higher education leadership. Stakeholders should engage with the provided survey channels to ensure their perspectives are considered by the Board of Trustees.
Further reading
For more information on university administration, visit the Washington People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The GW Hatchet.
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