Pence joins George Mason as distinguished professor

Former Vice President Mike Pence has joined George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government as a distinguished professor of practice, the university announced Tuesday.

Pence will begin teaching undergraduate courses and public-facing seminars starting in the spring semester. The former vice president will also be available via moderated discussions and mentorship programs to students pursuing degrees in political science, law, public administration and related fields. 

In the school’s announcement, Pence said it was a “privilege” to join the George Mason community.

“Throughout my years of public service, I have seen firsthand the importance of principled leadership and fidelity to the Constitution in shaping the future of our nation,” Pence said. “I look forward to sharing these lessons with the next generation of American leaders and learning from the remarkable students and faculty of George Mason University.”

Pence, 66, was vice president throughout President Trump's first term, but his relationship with the president turned dark in its final days.

During a joint session of Congress on Jan. 6, 2021, Pence certified former President Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election, over objections from Trump and a mob of his supporters, who stormed the Capitol building. Some of the rioters chanted for Pence to be hung. 

Pence ran for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, but dropped out of the race in October of 2023 — months before primary voting began. He argued that Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election made him unfit for office.

Last month, the Education Department said it found George Mason to be in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act due to its use of race and other immutable characteristics in hiring practices. George Mason is one of dozens of universities subject to such investigations since Trump returned to office in January, targeted "DEI" efforts in public institutions.

In order to resolve the alleged violations, the department is demanding the university, among other stipulations, revisit its hiring policies and documents, conduct annual trainings for those involved in recruitment, hiring, promotion and tenure and allow the federal government access to records that show whether it is in compliance with the agreement. 

Without these steps, George Mason could stand to lose federal research funding. According to the university’s 2023-24 fiscal year executive summary, it received $182.3 million in direct federal funding for research proposals in 2023.