A Legacy of Impacting Generations of Future Patriots
After nearly 45 years of service to the Commonwealth of Virginia and over 10 years at Mason, Mark E. Smith, Executive Director of State Government Relations is retiring at the conclusion of the Fall 2023 semester. His career began as an intern in the Lieutenant Governor’s Office in the summer of 1979. The 2023 Virginia General Assembly session was the 44th one in which he served.
He serves as the chief liaison between Mason and entities of the Commonwealth, including elected and appointed officials in the executive and legislative branches and numerous state agencies that interface with various University offices. In concert with the University’s leadership team, he facilitates the establishment of the University’s legislative priorities and plans and executes strategies to advance Mason’s agenda year-round in Richmond.
Mark’s advocacy led to significant progress for Mason including significant increases in state financial aid packages for students, transformational capital projects for Mason’s campuses, and increases in compensation and operating funds.
“Mark’s work has helped so many needy and worthy students and is a legacy that will help generations of students that come to Mason,” said Paul Liberty, Vice President of Government and Community Relations.
“I’m quite proud of the budget victories, against ALL odds, that secured construction funding for Petersen Hall, Horizon Hall and the Life Sciences and Education Building,” Smith reminisced. “On a related matter, serving on the team that helped ensure that Mason was at the table and an active participant in the Amazon HQ2 project is something that I will carry with me."
He’s looking forward to spending more time with his wife and children. He’ll also spend his newfound free time tending to his apple orchard, raising oysters, and managing his bee hives.
