As a Rhode Island native who found a home in Northern Virginia after a distinguished military career, Leo Brennan has brought a unique perspective and leadership style to the College of Health and Human Services’ (CHHS) Advisory Board with over 10 years of dedicated service. Leo is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island and began his career as a United States Air Force Logistician. After traveling and living around the world for his career, Colonel Brennan retired from the Air Force in 1991 and entered the private sector at PRC, which later became Northrop Grumman.
In addition to his role as Chairman of the CHHS Advisory Board, Leo has been an active member of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) since 2004. OLLI offers intellectual and cultural experiences in a welcoming atmosphere to more than 1,200 Northern Virginia residents in their retirement years. In its partnership with George Mason University, OLLI has provided retirement-age residents the opportunity to participate in art classes; health and wellness seminars; lectures in economics, finance, music, and history; and other enrichment activities. With these accomplishments, it is easy to see why Leo is so proud of his service to OLLI. Not only does he serve in a volunteer capacity with OLLI, as chair of the economics and finance curriculum, he was also instrumental in expanding the relationship between Mason and OLLI. According to Leo, “there’s so much that can be done if you make sure it’s a win-win situation” in regards to the partnership. For example, Mason faculty and PhD candidates often provide speakers for OLLI, while OLLI reciprocates with scholarships for Mason students. After seeing first-hand how OLLI members benefit from interacting with Mason students and faculty, and vice versa, Leo has remained committed to the mission of growing this partnership and all that it has to offer the Northern Virginia community.
Throughout his ten years of service at CHHS, Leo has been a key part of extraordinary progress within the college. Most notably, he was part of the inaugural discussions about the dream of a new home for the college—an innovative space which would unite all six departments under one state-of-the-art roof for the first time in the College’s history. This January, that dream was realized with the opening of the Peterson Family Health Sciences Hall. Thanks to his leadership, the CHHS Advisory Board remains committed to helping the college expand its academic programs and support to students to ensure a bright future for tomorrow’s health care leaders.
“Leo Brennan has had a measurable impact on the college, and we thank him for his decade of service and especially for helping to solidify the relationship between OLLI and Mason,” says CHHS Dean Germaine Louis.
Although Leo is stepping aside as Chairman of the Advisory Board, he is by no means slowing down, as he will continue his work with OLLI and looks forward to future collaborations with the CHHS faculty. The Mason community thanks Leo for his years of dedicated service to the college and the University as a whole.