David Farris

David Farris serves as Associate Vice President, Risk, Safety, & Resilience and Instructor at George Mason University (GMU), where he has worked since 2004. His roles include overseeing laboratory safety, environmental compliance, occupational safety, fire safety, and emergency management programs. He holds a PhD in Education from GMU's College of Education and Human Development (2016), an MBA from GMU's School of Business (2007), and a BA in Biology from Texas A&M University.

Research interests focus on organizational behavior, university governance, and emergency management. His book Understanding University Committees (2020) explores effective governance practices. Key publications address committee efficiency, international travel risk mitigation, and emergency management in higher education settings.

Teaches courses including HE 792 (Compliance & Risk Management) and HE 797 (Higher Education Capstone). Recent presentations include talks at Virginia Emergency Management Symposiums on topics like student demonstrations and post-disaster community recovery. Active in professional development for university committees and institutional resilience strategies.