The four presidents of George Mason University's first 25 years as an independent university are described below. If you'd like to learn more about the university leaders before 1972, take a look at the GMU Special Collections and Archives site put together by the university libraries.

Lorin A. Thompson, first president of George Mason University (1972-73)

Dr. Thompson had been an economist and demographer at the University of Virginia before coming to Mason. He was well aware of the duties of a university president, having lived as a student in the home of his uncle, the president of Ohio State University. At Mason, Dr. Thompson was recognized as a visionary and a builder of coalitions with people and groups outside the university. He pushed for independent university status for George Mason, and had the prescience that it would become the major institution of higher education in Northern Virginia.

Dr. Thompson retired from George Mason in 1973 and returned with his wife Amelia to Charlottesville, where he pursued his interests in community, civic, and cultural affairs. He recently celebrated his 95th birthday.

Vergil H. Dykstra, second president (1973-77)

Dr. Vergil H. Dykstra came to George Mason University in July 1973 from the State University of New York at Binghamton, where he had taught philosophy and held several administrative posts. When he assumed the presidency of George Mason, the university enrolled 4,926 students; when he left, it enrolled 9,610. Mason's phenomenal growth during Dr. Dykstra's tenure was further seen in the university's program and building development. The nursing program, along with several graduate programs, was added during 1973-77. The Fenwick Library tower, Robinson Hall A, Student Union I, and the first student apartments were built. Dr. Dykstra was the first president to advance the idea of a law school for Mason.

Dr. Dykstra placed special emphasis on recruiting minority students and staff to Mason, and hired the first minority director of admissions, Clinton Blount. He also encouraged faculty participation in the governance of the university.

After Dr. Dykstra left Mason, he worked for several years as a senior consultant with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities in Washington, D.C. He then took a post as an administrative vice president at Montgomery College in Rockville, Md.

Dr. Dykstra, who lives in Maryland, has enjoyed traveling since his retirement in 1989. He plans to attend the inaugural ceremony for Dr. Merten.

Robert C. Krug, third president (1977-78)

Dr. Robert C. Krug came to George Mason College from Virginia Tech in 1965 and held several "first" positions--first dean of the faculty, first dean of the graduate school, first provost, and first vice president for academic affairs. He also served as professor of chemistry, chairman of the department of chemistry, director of the summer session, and drafter of the plan to change George Mason College from a two-year community college to a four-year institution. He became acting president in April 1977 after Dr. Dykstra resigned, and a year later was declared president by the Board of Visitors.

As dean and as president, Dr. Krug was known as a builder of academic standards and faculty quality. He, along with then-registrar Michael McDermott, brought Mason's administrative functions into the computer age and, by one professor's account, served the fledgling university "heroically" in its progression to a major doctoral institution. He stayed on for another year at Dr. George Johnson's request after Johnson became the fourth president to assist in the transition, and saw the university acquire a law school and doctoral status.

Dr. Krug retired in September 1979 and moved to Nelson County, Va., to raise beef cattle. He later moved to Gloucester County, Va., where he still lives with his wife Kathryn. In retirement, Dr. Krug served as Gloucester County's representative and vice chairman of its Community Services Board, and serves now on the county's education committee. He plans to attend the inaugural ceremony for Dr. Merten.

George W. Johnson, fourth president (1978-96)

George W. Johnson was appointed president of George Mason University in 1978 with the mandate "to make things happen." So Dr. Johnson set out to ground George Mason on the strengths of the region and persuade the state legislature to support new programs, degrees, and schools. And he achieved those goals: under his leadership, the university more than doubled in size and enrollment, and has become a major university with a national reputation for innovation and entrepreneurship.

In Dr. Johnson's time at George Mason, the university acquired doctoral status, established a law school, instituted 34 new programs, including 11 doctoral programs, and promoted arts education, with his wife Joanne, at Mason as well as in Northern Virginia. George Mason also built campuses in Arlington and Prince William counties, and extended its presence and influence throughout Virginia with such initiatives as the Virginia Economic Bridge, which brings together businesses from all regions of the commonwealth.

Major facilities built during his tenure include the Patriot Center, the Center for the Arts Concert Hall, Student Union II, extensions to the library, student residence halls, six new classroom buildings, and a building unique to George Mason, the Johnson Center.

The introduction of bachelor's and master's degrees in independent studies, the hiring of the eminent Robinson Professors to teach interdisciplinary courses to undergraduates, and the establishment of New Century College built on the idea of loosening the confines of traditional education.

Other high points in the academic progress of the university during Dr. Johnson's tenure include the acquisition of the economics think tank, the Center for Study of Public Choice, in 1983, and the award of the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1986 to its director, James G. Buchanan; the designation of the School of Law by U.S. News and World Report in 1990 as "up and coming" because of its unique law and economics emphasis; the endowment of 41 chairs; the establishment of the School of Information Technology and Engineering to prepare students to work in Northern Virginia's burgeoning information technology industry; and the creation of six interdisciplinary degree-granting institutes.

Dr. Johnson also instituted the Early Identification Program to offer the university's support to minority high school students to help them succeed in college, and the Mason (now University) Scholars program to identify outstanding Virginia students for four-year scholarships.

Dr. Johnson retired in June 1996 and was named President Emeritus by the Board of Visitors. Since his retirement, he has been in demand as a lecturer and a consultant.