Dr. Maurice Scherrens in October 1979. From the George Mason University photograph collection, #C0120, Box 15. Special Collections Research Center. George Mason University Libraries.
Back in the 1990s, before the age of direct payroll deposit, George Mason University employees received a printed check at the end of each pay period. In the lower right-hand corner of the check was the signature “Maurice Scherrens”. While many of us might not have known exactly who Mr. Scherrens was, we knew that he was important to the university, and that he “paid” us for our work. It turned out that Dr. Scherrens was not only the person whose name was on our paychecks, but he was a critical figure in the rise of George Mason from a small former-branch of the University of Virginia to the largest public research university in the Commonwealth. We were saddened to learn that Dr. Scherrens passed away this past April 6th.
Dr. Maurice Scherrens and Henry Adams in October 1979. From the George Mason University photograph collection, #C0120, Box 15. Special Collections Research Center. George Mason University Libraries.
Dr. Maurice Scherrens, or “Morrie” as acquaintances knew him, began his career at George Mason University in 1973, soon after it became independent of the University of Virginia. He worked as an internal auditor in the Finance Department until 1975, and left the university to attend law school at George Washington University. He returned in 1977 to become an assistant to Mason’s Vice President for Finance, Henry Adams. Scherrens became Vice President for Finance when Adams retired in 1979 and was promoted to Senior Vice President by President, Alan Merten in 1997. He left Mason in 2012 to become President of Newberry College in South Carolina.
Dr. Scherrens and (left to right) Mrs. Sally Merten, President Alan Merten, and Senior Athletic Director, Tom O’Connor, pose with George Mason University student athlete and Olympic Bronze medalist, Greg Haughton (center) in 1996. From the Broadside photograph collection, #R0135. Special Collections Research Center. George Mason University Libraries.
Dr. Scherrens played a part in many of the discussions and planning regarding Mason’s physical and financial infrastructure during his tenure. As a top administrator and the principal financial officer, he was a decision maker regarding the buildout of the Fairfax Campus from about 20 buildings in the the late 1970s to over 100 (including 40 residence halls) today, as well as the Science and Technology Campus and Mason Square. A lover of college sports, he sometimes moonlighted as a NCAA Division I football referee on weekends. Mason had about 5,000 students when he joined, had about 30,000 when he left Mason, and currently enrolls about 40,000. In an interview SCRC conducted with him in 2012, he recalled the major landmarks in Mason history that he was party to, including the construction of residence halls, the acquisition of the School of Law, the creation of the campuses at Arlington and Prince William, Mason’s Final Four Run in 2006 and the university’s building boom, beginning in the late 1990s.
Dr. Scherrens in an interview in August 2012. From the George Mason University oral history collection, #R0121. Special Collections Research Center. George Mason University Libraries.
Morrie Scherrens will be remembered for more that just his contributions to Mason’s dramatic growth during his 35 years of service at the university. He exuded professionalism as an administrator and was a kind man with a fantastic sense of humor. He will truly be missed!
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