George Mason University Office of the President

George Mason University's roots can be traced to the University of Virginia (UVa) Extension Division's Northern Virginia University Center. The Extension Division, under the direction of George B. Zehmer, established UVa's Northern Virginia University Center in September 1949 with John Norville Gibson Finley (1899-1971) as the Center's first director. The Center's administrative offices and "campus," were located on the campus of Washington - Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia. During the Center's beginning years, it offered college-level courses for adults.

By 1956, sensing the public need for a college in Northern Virginia area for recent high school graduates, the Extension Division proposed and created, with the help of the Virginia State Legislature, a new two-year branch college alongside the Northern Virginia Center. The branch was called the University College. Finley was appointed director of the new college, whose administrative office was also located on the campus of Washington - Lee High School. Finley remained director of both schools through the 1950s.

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