Pence is being named a distinguished professor of practice at GMU’s Schar School of Policy and Government.
Former vice president Mike Pence is entering academia with a distinguished faculty position at George Mason University’s school of public policy.
Pence, who served as vice president from 2017 to 2021, is being named a distinguished professor of practice at GMU’s Schar School of Policy and Government, National Review has learned.
“It’s a privilege to join the Schar School as Professor of Practice,” Pence said in a statement.
“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. 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 added.
Before assuming the vice presidency, Pence was governor of Indiana for four years and a congressman from 2001 until 2013. An outspoken Christian conservative, Pence’s career in public service is characterized by a wealth of executive and legislative experience. He will provide George Mason with a unique perspective informed by his time as a practitioner of public policy at the highest levels of government.
“Higher education plays a vital role in preparing Americans not only for career success, but also for lives of service and integrity. Now more than ever we should be investing our time and resources into civil discourse on campus, and I’m honored to contribute to that mission,” Pence continued.
“I look forward to helping students apply enduring American principles to the pressing policy and leadership challenges of our time, ensuring that the values which have guided our nation for generations continue to strengthen the character and promise of our Republic.”
Beginning in spring 2026, Pence will contribute to undergraduate courses and seminars on politics, leadership, and national governance. He will engage with GMU students in political science, law, public administration, and related fields through lectures, discussions, and mentorship opportunities.
In August, the Trump administration found George Mason University violated federal civil rights law by illegally factoring in race and other characteristics in university policy. The Department of Education’s investigation came after its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs were scrutinized by conservative activist Christopher Rufo and multiple school professors.
George Mason University is located in northern Virginia and its law and economics programs are well-known in the Washington, D.C. area. Pence adds intellectual heft to an institution already influential in the public policy realm.
“The Schar School is proud to welcome Vice President Pence to our faculty,” said Mark J. Rozell, dean of the Schar School.
“His disciplined approach to communication and his deeply rooted conservative philosophy provide a principled framework to discussions of federalism, the separation of powers, and the role of values in public life.”
Pence was a strong ally of President Donald Trump throughout his first term until the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. Pence broke with Trump because of his decision to certify the 2020 election in defiance of the mob. Former President Joe Biden defeated Trump in 2020 thanks to close victories across several swing states.
Some Capitol rioters chanted in favor of Pence’s execution for standing up to Trump and certifying the 2020 election. Despite the ugly ending, Pence continues to be proud of the first Trump administration’s accomplishments.
Pence declined to endorse Trump in the 2024 GOP primaries after dropping out of the presidential race following a lackluster campaign of his own. Pence has strongly criticized Trump for his actions on January 6 and the moderate abortion stance he took to appeal to swing voters in 2024.
After the vice presidency, Pence founded Advancing American Freedom, a conservative political advocacy organization. Pence and AAF have praised the Trump administration on some issues and criticized it for straying from conservative orthodoxy in other areas.
For his actions on January 6, Pence was recently given the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award, a prestigious private award from the Kennedy family.