Meet the CIE Team
Learn more about leadership, staff, and affiliated faculty.
Center Leadership and Staff
Director of Operations and Engagement, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Rebecca Howick has over 14 years of experience at George Mason and has focused over 8 years of her career on entrepreneurship education at CIE. Rebecca is a proud alumna of George Mason (M.E.d., ‘15). Her educational background in social work and counseling/human development contributes to CIE's focus on creating programs that support social impact and experiential learning. She is responsible for the leadership of the operational team and supporting the Executive Director in developing and implementing strategic initiatives.
Associate Director of Student Programs and Community Initiatives, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Crystal Fickers is an experienced entrepreneur, consultant, and educator with over 19 years of experience in social impact, including 10 years running social enterprises. As the Associate Director at George Mason University’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, she focuses on empowering underserved communities through experiential entrepreneurship education so that they may realize their vision of the future.
Professor, Management
Additional Roles: Director of Research for the Center for Innovation and EntrepreneurshipDr. Toyah Miller is a professor within the Management Area in the Costello College of Business at George Mason University.
Entrepreneur in Residence, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Additional roles: Adjunct Professor, ManagementJonathan B. Morse, CMA, CGFM, PMP is a Principal with Business Architecture Implementation LLC, where he helps organizations design business models, strengthen digital presence, and improve governance and processes. As a Senior Business Counselor with the Mason Small Business Development Center (SBDC), he advises businesses in sectors ranging from retail and food to real estate, construction, consulting, and IT. Jonathan also serves as a mentor with the Mason Enterprise Center and an adjunct faculty member at the Costello College of Business. He holds a BS in Entrepreneurship and Finance from Northeastern University and an MBA from George Mason University.
Administrative Associate, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Silvia Oliveira is the team's administrative associate. She has expertise in fiscal and budget processes, vendor coordination, events management and supports CIE programs and marketing and communications efforts.
Program Manager, Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Ryan Rivas, MBA '27 is a George Mason undergrad alumnus and current student. As the program manager, Ryan focuses on managing the Center's student internship team and works closely in the behind the scenes planning to ensure CIE's experiential learning programs and community facing initiatives run smoothly in execution.
2025 Patriot Pitch Competition
Center Affiliated Faculty
Our Affiliate Faculty are critical to our ability to offer students compelling education experiences and speak authoritatively on a range of subjects. Affiliates bring a wide range of professional teaching and research experiences and provide input to help shape the future direction of the Center.
Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Global Engagement
Additional Roles: Associate Professor, AccountingJK Aier is the senior associate dean for academic affairs and global engagement and an associate professor within the accounting area in the Costello College of Business at George Mason University.
Interim Dean, Costello College of Business
Cheryl Druehl is the interim dean of the Costello College of Business at George Mason University, where she previously served as the senior associate dean for faculty affairs and research and as a professor within the information systems and operations management area.
Director of Minor Programs
Additional Roles: Instructional Assistant Professor, Business FoundationsJeremy Plotnick is the director of minor programs and an instructional assistant professor within the Business Foundations Area in the Costello College of Business at George Mason University.
Associate Dean for Outreach and Strategic Engagement
Additional Roles: Associate Professor, ManagementPatrick Soleymani is the associate dean for outreach and strategic engagement and an associate professor within the management area in the Costello College of Business at George Mason University.
Center Advisory Council
Fran Craig’s passion and vision was and is to enrich business performance through affordable and easily accessible software.
Adjunct Faculty, Business Foundations
Teresa (Terri) Edmunds Dunbar is an adjunct faculty member within the Business Foundations Area in the Costello College of Business at George Mason University.
Managing Director, Northwestern Mutual
Board Member, Women in Business InitiativeMiranda Fulk serves as the Managing Director of Northwestern Mutual Fairfax where she manages a comprehensive financial planning firm of 12 advisors and their teams with total assets under management of $2 billion.
Executive Chairman, The Stevie® Awards
Co-Founder, ImageShield
To honor the millions of business executives and workers worldwide who quietly accomplish innovative and extraordinary things in the workplace every day, Michael Gallagher founded the Stevie® Awards in 2002.
Former Vice President of Commercial and Asset Management, ENGIE Renewables North America
Alumni Chapter Philanthropy CommitteeLisbeth is a business leader with an extensive and dynamic career in renewables, liquefied natural gas, and wholesale & retail energy.
Venkat combines over 30 years of broad experience in information technology industry senior management that includes a 14-year career as software developer and architect.
Rehan S. Mahmood is a two-time George Mason University alumnus (BS '08, MS '10) who currently serves as the Alumni Chapter President for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Through her various board roles, she contributes to strategic oversight and initiatives that connect economic development priorities with placemaking, infrastructure considerations, and long-range competitiveness.
Christopher W. Soong is Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO) at HII, a $12 billion Fortune 400 company and the nation’s largest military shipbuilder.
Adjunct Faculty, Management
Skip West is the founder of MAXSA Innovations, a member of the Management Advisory Council, and an adjunct faculty member within the Management Area in the Costello College of Business at George Mason University.