John Kotcher has been named the director of the Center for Climate Change Communication (4C)—a research center chartered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at George Mason University.
Kotcher, a research associate professor for 4C in the Department of Communication, has served as the center's interim director since June 2025. He succeeds Distinguished University Professor Emeritus Ed Maibach, who retired after 18 years as the center's founding director.
Kotcher, who earned a PhD in communication from George Mason in 2016, has played a central role in the center’s research and impact for more than a decade. He currently serves as a research associate professor at the center, where he leads a dynamic team of faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students dedicated to advancing public engagement and climate change communication.
January 23, 2026