Vera Lichtenberg, Late Founding Director, Mason Game & Technology Academy

Vera was the notable Founding Director who was instrumental in the creation of the Mason Game & Technology Academy (MGTA). She worked closely with Mason Game Design Program faculty to develop courses and curriculum for K-12 students, design teacher training programs for Middle and High School teachers, and facilitate partnerships with local schools, community programs, and industry professionals. MGTA was honored with a 2015 Business Partnership of the Year Award by the Prince William County School System for innovative school partnerships that provided student workshops and teacher training in Game Design and programming. In 2015, Vera was a finalist in the Small Business / Entrepreneur category for the 16th Annual Women in Technology (WIT) Leadership Awards. She brought to MGTA multiple established relationships in the mid-Atlantic region's technology, arts, philanthropic, and public and private education communities. Vera had over fifteen years of administrative and managerial experience developing major new organizations, building strategic and tactical partnerships, and managing multiple cutting-edge national and international projects. Her professional activities included several years designing and coordinating international training programs and policy briefings for the International Research & Exchanges Board, in conjunction with multiple U.S. government agencies including USAID, USIA, and the U.S. Department of State.