Meet the Staff

Professional Staff

Dr. Nick Lennon, Director

Nick grew up in and around New York City and received his B.A. in Psychology from Hamilton College and his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin (UT). Nick started working at George Mason University in June 2011 and is the Director of the Center for Leadership and Intercultural Engagement (CLIE). As Director, Nick oversees a wide variety of leadership programs that help students, faculty and staff to learn about themselves, work together in teams, and make positive contributions to society. Many of CLIE’s programs are tailored to different levels of leadership development and provide opportunities to develop a strong sense of self, augment critical thinking and interpersonal skills, develop global and cultural competencies, and cultivate organizational skills for transition into the professional world. Much of Nick’s work is focused on the intersection of ethics and leadership, especially since ethics is all about the question: “How should we live & lead?”

Nick is also an affiliate faculty member at George Mason University’s School of Integrative Studies and teaches a 4-credit “Ethics and Leadership” course (INTS 404), which is part of Mason's leadership concentration and minor. He has taken students to Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic multiple times for a study abroad program called “Ethics and Leadership: Lessons from the Holocaust.” He has also taken students to Spain multiple times for a study abroad program called “Leadership Across Difference: Lessons from Medieval Spain.” Nick facilitates workshops on a wide variety of leadership topics, and he has lived and traveled extensively in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

Dr. Tamara Thomas, Director

more info coming soon...

Sonia Furuya, Business Manager

more information coming soon...

Phil Rippa, Office Manager

more information coming soon...

T. Garey Davis, Associate Director

more info coming soon...

Jamrensze J. De Leon, Associate Director

more information coming soon...

Lisa Snyder, Associate Director (Pronouns: She, Her, Hers)

Lisa Snyder serves as an Associate Director for the Center for Leadership and Intercultural Engagement, where she provides leadership education, training, and development opportunities for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members. With over 20 years of experience in higher education, she has a strong background in student leadership development, strategic thinking, fundraising, community engagement, and mentorship. Lisa is also highly skilled in event planning, working with K-12 schools, graphic design, web design, and marketing.

Before joining the Center, Lisa served as the Associate Director for Family Programs within New Student and Family Programs and Services at Mason, where she played a key role in fostering connections between the university and its students' families.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Integrative Studies with a focus on Family and Child Development from George Mason University and a Master of Education in College Student Personnel Administration from James Madison University. While a student at Mason, Lisa was actively involved on campus where she served in multiple student leadership roles. She was the Chair of the Honor Committee, Orientation Leader, and Family Program Coordinator for New Student and Family Programs and Services.

As a first-generation college student raised by a single mother, Lisa understands the challenges of navigating the college experience and is deeply committed to creating inclusive and supportive learning environments for our Mason students. Email: [email protected]

Caroline Jacques, Assistant Director

more information coming soon...

Jonathan Nguyen, IT Specialist & Operations Manager

more info coming soon...

Graduate Professional Assistants

Susan Grunder, Graduate Professional Assistant

Susan is a full time doctoral student in Higher Education focusing on college student spiritual and interfaith development and the intersection of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning and Student Affairs. She is the Graduate Professional Assistant for Spiritual Capacity Building and Pluralism Initiatives. She works to support students through engagement in the university Spiritual and Interfaith Center.

Maya Pesjak Richardson, Graduate Professional Assistant (Pronouns: She, Her, Hers)

My name is Maya Pesjak Richardson. I am a first year graduate student studying International Security. I am a Graduate Professional Assistant for Civic Engagement and Service. As a local to the Northern Virginia area, I am very excited to get more involved in community outreach through the Center.

CliftonStrengths:

1. Harmony

2. Deliberative

3. Analytical

4. Consistency

5. Focus

Abhigya Pandey, Graduate Professional Assistant

more info coming soon...

2025-2026 Leadership Consultant Team

Afsana Ahmadi, Leadership Consultant (Pronouns: She/Her/Hers)

My name is Afsana Ahmadi, and I’m a junior majoring in Government and International Politics at George Mason University with a minor in Business Analytics. From speaking at global conferences like UN to advocating locally, I’ve focused my work on raising the voices of girls and immigrant communities.

On campus, I’ve been involved in the Bonner Leadership Program, where I partnered with organizations like Just Neighbors and VoteRiders to support access to legal aid and voting rights. I also serve as the founder of Al Amanah, an initiative dedicated to supporting Afghan girls in accessing education and mentorship.

Academically, I presented my research at NCUR 2025 and am currently leading an OSCAR-funded project examining the exclusion of women from peace negotiations.

As a Leadership Consultant, I’m looking forward to helping students lead with authenticity, ask the hard questions, and build a more inclusive Mason community.

CliftonStrengths:

Arranger
Connectedness
Includer
Input
Responsibility

Andy Brown, Leadership Consultant (Pronouns: He/Him/His)

Hello! My name is Andy Brown, and I’m thrilled to be returning as a Leadership Consultant! I’m a senior studying theater and psychology and I’m a founding father of George Mason’s chapter of The Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. I serve as the secretary for The GhostLight Players. I’m also involved with multiple of the School of Theater’s productions, including this year’s production of Light Up The Sky which I’m Co-Directing! Make sure to say hi if you see me around campus!

CliftonStrengths:

Strategic
Context
Adaptability
Relator
Responsibility

Jadon Teh, Leadership Consultant (Pronouns: He/Him/His)

Hello, my name is Jadon Teh. I am currently a sophomore this upcoming semester. My major is International Security & Law. I serve on several e-boards at school, which include Collegiate Black Men (Co-PR Director) and Data Storm (Content Coordinator). I am also an Air Force ROTC cadet at the University of Maryland. Aside from academics, I am very much a people person and enjoy connecting with others! Some of my hobbies include running, cooking, and playing basketball. I am looking forward to hopefully leaving a lasting impact with everyone I encounter and reaching our goals together!

CliftonStrengths:

Futuristic
Positivity
Communication
Developer
Empathy

Minsoo Kim, Leadership Consultant (Pronouns: He/Him/His)

Major: Computational and Data Sciences Accelerated Masters: Elementary Education

Hello, everyone! My name is Minsoo Kim, and I am a senior majoring in Computational and Data Sciences (CDS) at George Mason University. I am also part of the BAM (Bachelor’s-Accelerated Master’s) program, where I am pursuing a Master’s in Elementary Education. Recently, I have been involved as a project assistant and mentor for international education initiatives, such as the 2025 Incheon-New York Student Exchange Program and the 2025 Incheon-ASEAN Global Youth Camp. As a Leadership Consultant (LC) at the Center for Leadership and Intercultural Engagement (CLIE), I look forward to supporting fellow students, fostering an inclusive learning environment, and helping to bridge connections among various students and cultures.

Gallup Strengths:

Responsibility
Discipline
Consistency
Relator
Harmony

Nicholas Cuevas, Leadership Consultant (Pronouns: He/Him/His)

Nicholas is a junior at George Mason University majoring in Business Management. He has been actively involved on campus as a Student Coordinator for Orientation with New Student and Family Programs, where he helps support the transition of incoming students and families as well as recruit and train Patriot Leaders. Nicholas has considerable leadership experience in various aspects and shares a high emphasis on helping others and contributing to the mason community. He is passionate about leadership development, community development, and supporting student success through helping students succeed.

CliftonStrengths:

Strategic
Individualization
Input
Learner
Achiever

Renee Lim, Leadership Consultant (Pronouns: She/Her/Hers)

Renee Lim is currently a junior in the second semester, majoring in Conflict Analysis and Resolution with a minor in Criminology. . As a Leadership Consultant at the Center, Renee is enthusiastic about the opportunity to work alongside staff and peers from diverse backgrounds. With a commitment to developing impactful programs, she aims to foster meaningful relationships with students, contributing positively to the campus community.

CliftonStrengths:

Achiever
Significance
Competition
Focus
Deliberative

Sona Adhithi Yathavamoorthy, Leadership Consultant (Pronouns: She/Her/Hers)

Sona is a senior studying Health Informatics. This upcoming year, she is excited to be part of campus organizations such as STEMinists and the Patriot Period Project. She looks forward to continuing to cultivate the leadership values she developed last year as an LC, using them to empower her campus and broader communities.

CliftonStrengths

Positivity
Communication
Input
Woo
Connectedness