Meet the Sharma Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Team
Learn more about leadership, staff, and affiliated faculty.
Sharma Center Leadership and Staff
Executive Director, Anil and Anupama Sharma Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Joseph Tannery is the Executive Director of the Anil and Anupama Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Director of Operations and Engagement, Anil and Anupama Sharma 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 the Anil and Anupama Sharma Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Associate Director of Student Programs and Community Initiatives, Anil and Anupama Sharma Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Crystal Fickers serves as the Associate Director of Student Programs & Community Initiatives at George Mason University’s Anil and Anupama Sharma Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship within the Costello College of Business.
Professor, Management
Additional Roles: Director of Research for the Anil and Anupama Sharma Center for Innovation and EntrepreneurshipToyah Miller is a professor within the Management Area in the Costello College of Business at George Mason University.
Entrepreneur in Residence, Anil and Anupama Sharma 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.
Administrative Associate, Anil and Anupama Sharma Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Silvia Oliveira is the Anil and Anupama Sharma Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship's administrative associate.
Program Manager, Anil and Anupama Sharma Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Ryan Rivas, MBA '27 is a George Mason University undergrad alumnus and current student.
2025 Patriot Pitch Competition
Sharma 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.
Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Research
Additional Roles: Professor, Information Systems and Operations ManagementCheryl Druehl is the senior associate dean for faculty affairs and research and 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.
Sharma 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.
Chief People Officer, Wealth Advisory Services
Board Member, Women in Business InitiativeMiranda leads the recruitment, development, and performance of the Associate Wealth Advisor program at Evermay.
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.
Vice President, Corporate Affairs, United Way
Chris Preston, Vice President, Corporate Relations, United Way Worldwide brings a strong commitment to and understanding of United Way’s mission and work as he has been part of the United Way network for 19 years.
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.