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Youngkin names Kenneth Marcus to George Mason University visitors board

He previously served as assistant secretary for civil rights at the U.S. Department of Education in the Trump administration.

George Mason University Campus
The Mason Clock on Wilkins Plaza was a gift to George Mason University from the Class of 1999. Credit: Credit: Sierra Guard/Creative Services/George Mason University via Johnadamsz/Wikimedia Commons.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced the appointment of Kenneth L. Marcus, founder and chairman of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, to the board of visitors of George Mason University.

Marcus previously served as assistant secretary for civil rights at the U.S. Department of Education in the Trump administration.

Kenneth L. Marcus
Kenneth L. Marcus, founder and chairman of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law. Credit: Courtesy.

Others named to the board on June 28 included CEO of Peterson Companies, Jon M. Peterson; Nina S. Rees, a senior fellow at the George W. Bush Institute; and Marc Short, former chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence.

“I’ve been proud to support Governor Youngkin’s recent work combating antisemitism here in Virginia, including his leadership in legislation adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism,” Marcus said in a statement provided to JNS. “I deeply appreciate his support for adding my voice to the board.”

In December, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights named GMU to be under investigation for potential violations of Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

“We already have demonstrated that hate and hateful acts are not going to be tolerated, and so if we could even take it a step further to define antisemitism and what that is like, then I want to be able to take that,” Jeannette Sánchez-Palacios told JNS.
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