A New Chapter: the Appointment of Dr. Ángel Cabrera
Dr. Alan Merten’s retirement after sixteen years as president of George Mason University was not a shock to the institution, but rather like inevitable graduation. By announcing his retirement in March of 2011, Merten gave the University a chance to adjust and prepare for the change in leadership and possibly a change in direction. [1] Sally and Alan Merten’s last year at George Mason was full of celebrations, tears, and remembrances, [2] culminating in a dinner for 700 guests at Patriot Center to celebrate both the Mertens’ service and the 40th Anniversary of Mason’s independence from the University of Virginia. [3]
The engines were already moving in the search for a new president in the summer of 2011, and the university website even featured a page where one could follow some of the process. However, as is the case of most modern high-level job searches, the details were kept secret to protect the individuals being considered. Rumors of who was in the running for the position were rife all over the campus, as the names of well-known politicians and retired military leaders were among the many believed to be “in-play” by curious members of the Mason community.
The guessing game reached a fever pitch when the Board of Visitors (BOV) called a press conference for the morning of December 15, 2011. Early that morning at the Mason Inn representatives of the regional print, television, and radio media rubbed elbows with interested members of the campus community while awaiting the announcement. The Rector of the Board of Visitors, Dr. Ernst Volgenau, announced that the committee had recommended, and the BOV had unanimously approved Dr. Ángel Cabrera as the sixth president of George Mason University. [4]
Dr. Cabrera, a native of Spain, brings to the office of University President impressive credentials as an educator, a business school leader, a scholar on global business practices, and an international figure concerned with ethical practices in business. He earned a BS and an MS in engineering at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. While a Fulbright Scholar at the Georgia Institute of Technology, he earned his MS and PhD in psychology and cognitive science. Cabrera worked as a professor and later as Dean of the IE Business School in Madrid before accepting the presidency of the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Phoenix, Arizona in 2004. During his tenure at Thunderbird, Cabrera set the institution on a solid financial footing while initiating successful fund raising programs. He published papers and books on global management, helped to start foundations that funded women entrepreneurs in Asia, and led “an international initiative to establish a code of conduct for business leaders.” [5]
Dr. Cabrera’s service officially began July 1, 2012, although he was frequently seen around the campuses in the months leading up to the change in leadership, speaking with university officials and other stakeholders. In his initial e-mail message to the faculty and staff of July 2, 2012, Dr. Cabrera announced that he was “planning a process to gather and test ideas with faculty, staff, students, alumni, community leaders and friends of the university over the coming months.” [6] He added that “I do not believe we have to choose between inclusive decision-making and decisive strategic action. My goal is to achieve both in the spirit of shared governance and constructive debate that is the hallmark of a great university.” [7]
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