Last year many in the George Mason University community expected the Board of Visitors to fire President Gregory Washington over federal investigations into alleged racial discrimination.

But on Monday the GMU board—which features a new slate of trustees appointed by Virginia’s Democratic governor, Abigail Spanberger—granted Washington an extension through June 2031. His contract was set to expire in 2027.

'Since 2020, President Washington has successfully led George Mason University through historically turbulent times—navigating the COVID pandemic while simultaneously growing enrollments, improving rankings, and transforming our greatest challenges into opportunities for Virginia and the nation,' Board of Visitors Rector Michael J. Meese said in a news release," reports Inside Higher Ed.

Photo: George Mason University president Gregory Washington. Bill O’Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images.