IMPACT
GOING PLACES The GW Global Bachelor’s Program takes study abroad to new heights
SPRING 2018 A P U B L I C AT I O N F O R G W ’ S M OS T G E N E R O U S D O N O R S
THANK YOU Your annual gift ensures that qualified students can afford to attend GW, make the most of their extra lives, and reach the castle with the skills and experience necessary to succeed. Haven’t made your gift this year? Help support GW students at go.gwu.edu/everybit DAR3304
IMPACT
CONTENTS
SPRING 2018 4
FAMILY PHILANTHROPY • New GW parents support SEAS Dean’s Fund • GW grandparents support the Elliott School’s Institute for Korean Studies
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CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS • Young people lead the way in building a sustainable world • New GW study encourages cities to invest in walkable urban places
12 FACILITIES • STEMworks students take teleconferencing to a whole new level 13
GOING PLACES PAGE 8 | COVER STORY
• SEAS professor explores the limits of computational photography • GW students thank donors at annual GW Flag Day • Scholarship enables medical student to return to her roots abroad
The GW Global Bachelor’s Program takes study abroad to new heights
• GW student and Navy veteran leads nature retreats for D.C.-area veterans • GW nursing student answers his calling 18
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LEADERSHIP CORNER
3
IN FOCUS
24
PHOTO FINISH
PLANNED GIVING • Alumnus supports mission of LGBTQIA Resource Center to celebrate sexual and gender diversity
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INSTITUTES AND RESEARCH • GW institute celebrated for its work to prevent and end violence against women and girls
Pres. LeBlanc Encourages Seniors to “Play” It Forward Power & Promise 2018
FACULTY AND STUDENTS
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GIVING OPPORTUNITIES • Corcoran program uses creativity as a vehicle for change • Battling superbugs
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WHY I GIVE • GW doctor aims to leave the world a better place • Alumnus and family have built a Colonial legacy
giving.gwu.edu
[LEADERSHIP CORNER] I M PA C T EDITOR
Why I Chose GW
Ginny Gordon
Dear GW alumni, donors, and friends,
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
On March 1, I left “the U” for GW, and I truly
Craig Burdick Joan Ochi
appreciate the warm welcome the Colonial community has given me.
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Margaret Battey Michele Lynn Melissa Nyman, BA ’04 Julia Parmley, MPS ’10 Lauren Savoy, MA ’16
I chose to join the George Washington
University for several reasons, the primary
being President Thomas LeBlanc. We worked
together for 12 years at the University of Miami
PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY
and I believe in President LeBlanc’s leadership
Thomas J. LeBlanc
and vision. I believe in his focus on continually
VICE PRESIDENT FOR
improving the GW experience for students,
DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS
parents, faculty, staff, donors, and alumni.
Donna D. Arbide
INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS
Matthew Lindsay, MBA ’07 PHOTOGRAPHERS
William Atkins Hannah Brenner, CCAS ’20 Sydney Elle Gray, CCAS ’20 Max Leo, GWSB ’20 Adam Mason Lily Perkel, CCAS ’20 Brooke Roberts, ESIA ’20 DESIGN
Michelle Wandres
G W I M PAC T
SPRING 2018
GW Impact is published by the Division of Development and Alumni Relations, The George Washington University, 2033 K Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20052.
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Please send change-of-address notices to us online at alumni.gwu.edu/update, via email to alumrecs@gwu.edu, or by post to Alumni Records, 2033 K Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20052.
I recently traveled to California, Massachusetts,
and New York with President LeBlanc for a series
I look forward to connecting with many of you in the months to come and hearing about your passions and priorities at GW. Your loyalty and support advances GW and enables members of our community to learn, grow, and innovate.”
of GW community events. During small group
meetings and large gatherings, the president and I were able to meet hundreds of Colonials and
learn more about what inspires your fellow alumni and donors to continue to support the university. I look forward to connecting with many of you
in the months to come and hearing about your passions and priorities at GW.
Your loyalty and support advances GW and
enables members of our community to learn, grow, and innovate. President LeBlanc has a
compelling vision for the future of GW. As we
look toward the university’s bicentennial in 2021 and beyond, it’s no secret that your continued
support is needed to achieve this vision. Working together, we can make this great university even better.
| GW
Thank you and Raise High,
Opinions expressed in these pages are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect official positions of the university. The George Washington University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution. Cover photo: Max Leo, GWSB BBA ’20
Donna D. Arbide Vice President Development and Alumni Relations P.S. My thanks to Matt Manfra, who served as Interim Vice President for a year. Matt continues the important work of alumni engagement and annual giving as Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations.
Why Did I Receive this Magazine? We send GW Impact to our most
President LeBlanc plays “GWopoly” with senior Luke Scuitto, ESIA ‘18, and keeps drawing the Colonial Card — “1% of the senior class has made a recurring gift! Donate $1,000 in their honor to new student space on campus.”
generous donors. Members of the
giving.gwu.edu
[IN FOCUS]
following societies receive the magazine as a token of our appreciation for giving to GW. Inside these pages, you’ll read
about students and faculty who make a difference at GW every day and thrive
because of donors like you. Thank you! The George Washington Society
Donors whose cumulative
giving totals have reached
PresIDENT LeBlanc Encourages Seniors to Play It Forward
$100,000 or more during
their lifetime are recognized through this society. Donors whose cumulative giving
| Craig Burdick
totals have reached $1 m illion or more
Speaking to the assembled students at his inauguration on November
society, named in recognition of the year
13, 2017, President LeBlanc said, “Each of you made a choice to come here. So did I. We chose GW precisely because of what this institution
are considered 1821 Benefactors of the the university was founded.
does, and what we could do for GW.”
The Heritage Society
making a personal financial investment in his new home. For every
friends, faculty, and staff
In his first year in office, President LeBlanc is walking the walk by
one percent of GW’s senior class that makes a recurring gift, President LeBlanc will donate $1,000 to student space on campus.
“The president actually came up with the challenge!” said co-
Senior Class Gift Coordinator Bethany Perez, CCAS ’18. “Luke Scuitto [ESIA ’18] and I went to his office hours last semester to introduce
This society honors alumni, who support GW through
a bequest intention, charitable gift
annuity, charitable trust, or other planned gift.
ourselves since we’re a part of his first graduating class, and we
The Luther Rice Society
and there he offered up his idea for the challenge!
distinguished students,
wanted to meet him and talk to him about the campaign. Right then “I really appreciate the fact that he’s made himself accessible
to students and that he is paying attention to seniors and our
experiences, even though we’re about to graduate,” said Perez. “He’s been wonderful to work with so far and the challenge has definitely Her co-coordinator agreed: “His personable and comedic
personality resonates with students, and makes him seem
approachable,” said Scuitto. “All in all, my experiences with him have been a great opportunity to get to know him better.”
to GW, totaling $140,882, and a record-breaking 16 percent of the senior
class made recurring gifts. This left the president on the hook for $16,000, but President LeBlanc was so impressed,
he and his wife, Anne, donated $20,000 to student space on campus.
| GW
seniorclass.gwu.edu æ Visit to learn more about the Senior Class Gift Challenge.
annually contribute at a
leadership level ($250+ for alumni within five years of graduation; $500+ for
alumni six to nine years after graduation; $1,000+ 10 years after graduation). GW Loyal
GW Loyal honors our
donors who understand the importance of consistent
support to the university. Members
include students, alumni, faculty, parents,
staff, and friends who give any amount, to any area of the university, for two or more consecutive fiscal years (July 1–June 30).
SPRING 2018
The final senior class and presidential gift tallies were announced at the
Senior Class Toast on May 18. Fifty percent of the senior class made a gift
alumni, and friends who
G W I M PAC T
been getting a lot of seniors to engage with the campaign more.”
This society recognizes
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giving.gwu.edu
[FAMILY PHILANTHROPY]
Making It Better
New GW Parents Christopher and Lori Worrell support SEAS with a gift to the Dean’s Fund. For Christopher and Lori Worrell of Gwynedd, PA, the college search
started with 12 schools. Their son, Spencer Worrell, SEAS ’21, wanted to study
engineering on the East Coast at a university with a great academic reputation and a diverse student body. As the list narrowed down, and with every visit,
Spencer realized GW had everything he was looking for in a university. And with every visit, Christopher and Lori realized the same thing.
“Eventually, there was no other option [but GW],” said Lori. “It felt right.”
A few months into their son’s first semester in the School Engineering and
Applied Science, the Worrells decided to donate to the school’s Dean’s Fund. “After seeing the dedication and commitment that GW had to the SEAS
program and in conjunction with the needs that SEAS still had, we wanted to be a
G W I M PAC T
SPRING 2018
part of making the school better,” said Christopher. “Donating to the Dean’s fund
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After seeing the dedication and commitment that GW had to the SEAS program...we wanted to be a part of making the school better.” Christopher Worrell
allowed for the dean and school to apply the gift in the best way they know how.” The Worrells also remain engaged with GW through attending events on
campus and in their community, including the all-community reception in Philadelphia hosted by President Thomas LeBlanc in January.
“We really wanted to hear about [Dr. LeBlanc’s] vision for GW,” said
Christopher. “I thought it was fabulous we were provided the opportunity to hear from the president. I think that’s pretty rare.”
Christopher and Lori hope their gift inspires other families to support the
university, noting that any amount can make a difference.
“A collection of many gifts can really have a positive and transformative
impact for GW,” said Christopher. “SEAS is certainly growing in the right direction and can continue to achieve greater heights and prominence as a top school in its field with continued gifts from parents.”
| GW
A Hub for Korean Studies in the Nation’s Capital and Beyond For donors Tom Chong Hoon Kim, BA ’58, MA ’61, and
in January 2017, comprises an
GW runs in the family. Upon
and Columbian College of Arts
interdisciplinary group of core
his wife, Pearl Chungbin Kim,
faculty from the Elliott School
learning about the Institute for
and Sciences.
Korean Studies at the Elliott
GW and Korea maintain a
School of International Affairs
strong relationship: With nearly
Kim, BA ’17, they generously
home to the largest number of
from their grandson, Russell
1,000 alumni, the country is
made a $750,000 gift to the
GW alumni living outside the
institute.
U.S. More than 200 students
The gift creates the Tom and
from Korea are currently
Pearl Kim Endowment, which
studying at GW.
will enhance the institute’s
The relationship will now
work, especially in forging links
between the humanities and other disciplines and schools at GW,
while promoting collaboration
among scholars and policymakers who are critical to the overall field of Korean studies.
“I feel a strong attachment
grow stronger.
Institute Director and
I feel a strong attachment to GW,
Associate Professor Jisoo Kim
and have many fond memories of the years I spent at the university,”
studies in the nation’s capital and
to GW, and have many fond
memories of the years I spent at
the university,” said Kim, who has
Tom Chong Hoon Kim
says that the Kims’ gift will “help make GW the hub of Korean beyond.”
Dean Reuben Brigety II adds,
“On behalf of the Elliott School,
I’d like to express our gratitude to
the Kim family for their generosity
enjoyed a long career as a business leader in America.
and support of the GW Institute for Korean Studies. This
Studies and its mission to enhance understanding of
ensure that rigorous scholarship of the Korean humanities
“We are pleased to support the Institute for Korean Korean history, and the country in general.”
giving.gwu.edu
[FAMILY PHILANTHROPY]
The Institute for Korean Studies, which was launched
gift will grow the existing Korean Studies program and will continue for future generations.”
| GW
— Originally published in GW Today G W I M PAC T SPRING 2018 5
ADAM MASON FOR PLANETFORWARD.ORG
giving.gwu.edu
[CORPORATIONS]
Left: Students share their stories at the annual Planet Forward summit. Above: Frank Sesno, Planet Forward creator
Leading the Planet Forward
| Michele Lynn
Young people are leading the way in building a sustainable world. Planet
Award-winning journalist Frank Sesno—
In the past five years …
sustainably, how to preserve
efforts. The initiative, situated in GW’s
1,500+
ways to generate cleaner energy.
empowers new voices and leads a global
10,000+
Forward—created in 2009 by Emmy
is playing an instrumental role in those School of Media and Public Affairs,
conversation on the planet’s future.
Using media, events, workshops,
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visits to planetforward.org
world. The annual Planet Forward
colleges and universities participating in events, contests, and workshops
and most compelling student-told
4,500
stories illuminating environmental issues and solutions. Since 2015, more than SPRING 2018
participants via YouTube and livestream
young voices, innovators, and leaders
Storyfest Awards recognize the best
user-generated submissions to planetforward.org
We are mobilizing the next generation of communicators and storytellers in sustainability and science. Their stories are grounded in research. They reflect hard evidence. They capture real-world experience. But they’re told in ways that are creative, memorable, and compelling to make a tangible difference and move the planet forward.” Frank Sesno
entries on topics as diverse as
innovations to help cities develop and foster ecosystems, and new
This year, grand prize winners of
2,500,000
in Washington, D.C., and around the
G W I M PAC T
summit attendees
competitions, and storytelling, Planet
Forward engages a diverse audience of
6
500 students have submitted
Planet Forward by the Numbers
the Storyfest contest will travel
with Lindblad Expeditions on a
storytelling expedition to Alaska.
Each year, the Planet Forward
Summit brings together students
from across the country—in person and virtually—around stories of
people and businesses that are
addressing global sustainability challenges in an innovative
way. Extending the effort across the country, a broad range of
schools—representing public,
private, historically black, and tribal land grant colleges and universities—are offering experiential learning
opportunities through the Planet Forward Consortium. Land O’Lakes, a food and agriculture company, has
provided general operating support for Planet Forward since 2016. Other organizations—including Discovery
Communications, Lindblad Expeditions, Alaska Airlines,
Skanska, Monsanto, UN Food and Agriculture Organization, World Food Program USA, sweetgreen, and 1% for the Planet—are helping Planet Forward ensure that student
voices lead innovation in addressing the planet’s biggest challenges.
| GW
giving.gwu.edu
[FOUNDATIONS]
GW to NYC: WalkUP Wake-Up! | Michele Lynn
Walkable neighborhoods—where daily needs can be
met by walking, public transit, or biking—have become a crucial feature when it comes to real estate. These
walkable urban places (“WalkUPs”) offer higher density, diverse types of real estate, and multiple modes of
transportation. As a result, policy makers, real estate professionals, environmentalists, and community
advocates are eager to increase the supply of WalkUPs, social equity, and environmental sustainability.
To help New York City achieve this goal, GW’s Center
for Real Estate and Urban Analysis (CREUA), housed
in the GW School of Business and led by Christopher
WalkUP Wake-Up Call: New York, a report released last year.
In addition to evaluating the economic impact of
walkable urban communities, the CREUA report, for the first time, also examined social equity implications of WalkUPs.
and Brooklyn, produce most of the region’s economic gross regional product.
• New York’s tri-state region has 19 billion square
feet of real estate, with a market value of $6 trillion.
• Many walkable urban places are at risk of
becoming too expensive for low- and moderateincome households.
The Regional Plan Association, CREUA’s partner on
this study, used many of the report’s findings for its most recent regional plan for the NYC area.
Over the past few years, Leinberger and CREUA
have completed WalkUP Wake-Up reports for Atlanta,
Boston, Washington, D.C., and seven distinct Michigan metropolitan areas.
A grant of $240,000 from the Rockefeller Foundation
helped fund the NYC research. In addition, numerous private sector partners provided funding to support this project.
| GW
SPRING 2018
Leinberger, conducted research that culminated in The
• Walkable urban places, such as NYC’s Chinatown
G W I M PAC T
which support an urban area’s economic development,
Key report findings include:
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giving.gwu.edu SPRING 2018 G W I M PAC T 8
Jean Joo, ESIA ’20; Hannah Brenner, CCAS ’20; Charisse Farley, GWSB ’20; and Lily Perkel, CCAS ‘20, hike an hour and a half up stairs to enjoy the incredible view from the top of the Longshi Rice Terraces near Guilin. (Photo by Lily Perkel, CCAS ‘20)
giving.gwu.edu
GOING PLACES The GW Global Bachelor’s Program takes study abroad to new heights | Michele Lynn
Before arriving at GW, Florence Boots, CCAS ’19, didn’t consider herself an adventurer. Then she spent the spring of her sophomore year
studying in Shanghai, the fall of her junior year at the University of Cape Town, and is currently in
the honors liberal arts program at the University
Sam Hargy, ESIA ‘20; Andrea Rosero, ESIA ‘20; Brooke Roberts, ESIA ‘20; and their tour guide take a selfie at the Bund, a waterfront area in central Shanghai. (Photo by Brooke Roberts, ESIA ‘20)
of Maastricht.
Boots is one of 25 students in the first cohort
of GW’s Global Bachelor’s Program. “The Global Bachelor’s Program enables students to engage
much more fully on an international basis than they would in the typical path of one semester of study
abroad,” says Steve Suranovic, academic director of the program and associate professor of economics. “The program is designed to put students on the they will be able to not just see one destination
but be able to contrast and compare cultures and broaden their perspective.”
Launched in 2017, the program enables
Elliott School of International Affairs, and the GW School of Business to spend multiple semesters abroad during their college
years and develop a framework to guide
their studies. The students in each cohort
spend spring semester of their sophomore
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top students in the Columbian College,
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ground in more than one global location so that
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giving.gwu.edu Charisse Farley, GWSB ‘20; Lily Perkel, CCAS ‘20; and Charlene Burns, ESIA ‘20, explore the city of Yangshuo, which is just across the river from Guilin. (Photo by Hannah Brenner, CCAS ‘20)
year together at Fudan University in
Shanghai, where they learn alongside international and Chinese students. After Shanghai, each program
participant chooses a study abroad
location, other than China, to spend a
Foundation.
The Starr Foundation’s generous $1 million gift in
week, full-time international summer
Global Bachelor’s Program based on merit and need.
another semester abroad or an eight-
development in post-communist
countries, Julia Reinhold, ESIA ‘19,
studied in Budapest and conducted summer research in rural China. “I
examined the impact of democracy on urban and rural inequalities,” she says. “I wanted to understand how people
grow out of poverty and transition into a market economy.”
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and recording equipment was provided by the Starr
2016 created the Maurice R. Greenberg Scholarship
With an interest in financial
G W I M PAC T
to village to compile her research. Funding for her travels
semester. The third global experience is
internship.
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Reinhold traveled on bullet trains to the rural town of
Wuyuan and then hiked seven to eight hours from village
Fund, which provides financial support to students in the The foundation was established in 1955 by Cornelius
Vander Starr, an entrepreneur who founded C.V. Starr & Company—which, under his successor, Maurice “Hank”
Greenberg, became the multinational company American International Group (AIG), Inc. An early “globalist,” Mr.
Starr’s first insurance venture was founded in Shanghai in 1919, and the Starr Foundation has long been a
philanthropic supporter of programs that encourage both the education of U.S. students abroad and students from foreign countries in the U.S.
Starr Foundation funding also supported Chizuru Uko,
GWSB ‘19, during her summer 2017 internship at PwC in
Lagos, Nigeria, where she worked in the strategy division and assurance unit. Uko, whose family is from Nigeria, attended high school in that country, but she says her internship experience there was unique. Meg Gardner, ESIA ‘20, and Nadia Mathis, ESIA ‘20, take photos at the Yu Garden in Shanghai. (Photo by Max Leo, GWSB ‘20)
“Working in Lagos taught me how to tackle problems
in Nigerian companies and helped me redefine
international business,” she says. “The Global Bachelor’s Program has helped me accomplish one of my biggest
g
dreams, which is being able to travel and see the world. Through these experiences, I have been able to build
people are, no matter where they live.” Her next stop is the University of Lisbon where she will spend the fall semester.
An economics major, Ben Yoxall, ESIA ‘19, is
fascinated by how the world economy functions with so much debt. “Going to China, which has a massive problem with corporate debt, and then studying in
Spain, which is recovering from the economic crisis
of 2008, gave me the chance to talk with people who have gone through those experiences so I could
understand the real-world impact it had on those
The Global Bachelor’s Program has helped me
accomplish one of my biggest dreams, which is being able to travel and see the world. Through these experiences, I have been able to build connections around the world and see how similar people are, no matter where they live.”
giving.gwu.edu
connections around the world and see how similar
Chizuru Uko, GWSB ‘19
countries,” he says. “With the Global Bachelor’s Program, we travel to multiple places and it all
culminates in a senior year research project that will reflect what we learned while abroad and how we furthered our GW studies.”
In addition to being enriched academically by
their travels, the students say the program helps them build strong relationships and expand their personal horizons. “These experiences helped me learn a lot
about myself and grow as a person,” says Reinhold. Boots says she has become more flexible,
adaptable, and organized, skills she thinks are
essential to develop in college. She adds: “I’ve made friends from around the world.” And Yoxall says the tight-knit group of interdisciplinary students in the
cohort has been a support and will be an important part of his future network.
“As an education community, it is important for GW
to give our students a broad and global perspective so they can be future leaders who will expand openness Suranovic. “This program is helping to make these students truly global citizens.”
| GW
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and engagement with people around the world,” says Hannah Brenner, CCAS ‘20, rinses her hands from a water mill in Guilin. (Photo by Lily Perkel, CCAS ‘20)
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™gwglobalbachelorsprogram Follow the Global Bachelor’s Students’ adventures on Instagram!
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GW Global Bachelor’s Students Fall 2017 Destinations
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giving.gwu.edu
[Facilities]
Connecting the World
| Michele Lynn
topics including coding, programming,
TelePresence, a sophisticated communications system
real vision is for students to use this to
into Room 201 in the Gelman Library can experience the that takes teleconferencing to a whole different level.
“The TelePresence is the new medium for students
to connect with people throughout the world,” says Kes
Schroer, program associate of STEMworks, GW’s one-stop shop for developing quantitative and spatial reasoning
G W I M PAC T
SPRING 2018
skills. Cisco donated the TelePresence to STEMworks
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because of the company’s interest in supporting higher education pedagogy.
With a life-size, high-definition screen, the system offers
and software development. “But the
bring in outside speakers and connect with people differently from any
other way on campus,” says Schroer. “When we show students what the TelePresence can do, every one of
them squeals, gets excited, and starts dreaming about the people they are going to talk to using this.
“This system will enable any
students realistic interactions with people throughout the
student who has a passion for
system, it feels like you are in the room with the speaker,”
adds. “We have a lot of invigorated
world. “When you are using the system as a teleconference says Schroer. “The cameras focus on whoever is speaking
so even in a group of people, a student can have a one-onone conversation with a presenter.”
STEMworks uses the system as a presentation screen
for a variety of workshops and review sessions—which
reached 500 students during the fall 2017 semester—on
exploration to pursue that,” Schroer and passionate students who have
ideas and want to make connections.
With this system and resources, we can help students succeed and keep their sense of excitement and discovery alive.”
| GW
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SYDNEY ELLE GRAY, CCAS ‘20
The future has arrived at GW. Students who step
STEMworks students get a life-size presentation on the state-of-theart TelePresence.
giving.gwu.edu
[Faculty | Research]
Extreme Imaging
| Ginny Gordon
Where one person might see some ordinary photographs, Dr. Robert
Family Foundation. “We’re grateful
sees big opportunity.
very generous gift, which endowed
“I’m exploring the limits of computational photography, which is when
you have a computer attached to the camera taking pictures,” says Pless. “What’s unique about my research compared to my colleagues working in computational photography is that I think about extreme imaging
questions, whether it’s time lapses over huge amounts of time or pictures from huge numbers of cameras.”
How is he using this to effect real-world change? Take TraffikCam—an
app he developed to combat child sex trafficking. Sex traffickers often take photos of their victims in hotel rooms, and then post these photos online to the dark web. Using the app, available on both iPhone and Android,
ordinary travelers can upload photos of their hotel rooms to an extensive database. Using Pless’ app, law enforcement can then cross-check the evidence gathered from the dark web against the database of user-
submitted photos, where the technology can match distinguishing features of the rooms, including textiles and wallpapers, to quickly find a match. Pless says, “The social goal is to use the fact that there are so many
cameras around the world in so many people’s hands and they see so many important things. By connecting them to each other or central
databases, we can find new ways of attacking really important problems.” Pless was installed as the Patrick and Donna Martin Professor of
Computer Science last year, established in 2016 by the Patrick J. Martin
to Pat and Donna Martin for their the professorship that Pless will hold,” said David Dolling, Dean of the School of Engineering
and Applied Science at the April
ceremony. “Gifts like theirs make
it possible for us to recruit faculty of Robert Pless’ caliber. I’m very
pleased that Dr. Pless has joined us at SEAS, and I’m looking forward to working with him to further develop the strengths of our
computer science department.”
Pless is excited to commit his
talents to GW. “I’m deeply honored to be the Patrick and Donna Martin Professor of Computer Science,”
says Pless. “I look forward to grow-
ing this department to best suit the needs of the student body and to maximize its research impact.”
| GW
By connecting
Dr. Robert Pless is installed as the Patrick and Donna Martin Professor of Computer Science.
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Dr. Robert Pless
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[cameras] to each other or central databases, we can find new ways of attacking really important problems.”
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Pless, the SEAS Patrick and Donna Martin Professor of Computer Science,
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giving.gwu.edu
[STUDENTS]
Students say, “Thank you!”
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SPRING 2018
| Lauren Savoy, MA ‘16
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On Tuesday, April 17, the GW Alumni Association helped sponsor the fourth-annual GW Flag Day on campus to
thank donors and celebrate the impact of philanthropy. Throughout the day students gathered in Kogan Plaza to write nearly 2,000 thank you notes and plant more
than 600 of George Washington’s Commander-in-Chief flags around campus to show where philanthropy has meant the most to them. The top four spots were the
Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Student Life at
GW, the Elliott School of International Affairs, and Science and Engineering Hall. More than 40 student and staff
volunteers spent their day sharing how our generous donors have shaped the GW experience.
| GW
Scholarship Enables a Return to Roots | Michele Lynn
As a child, Sushmita Malik, SMHS ’20, loved to switch
her television between her two
favorite shows: “Arthur” and “ER.” Her fascination with emergency
medicine never waned. “Someone comes into the emergency
department with a problem and
you’re there to fix it,” she says. “It’s often the worst day of a patient’s life, but an ER doctor can have a
huge impact and make the patient’s day and life better.”
Last summer, Malik pursued
her passion for international emergency medicine in Kerala, India, thanks to
the Christopher L. Barley MD Scholars Fund. During her time in India—where Malik was born, but had not visited since she moved to the U.S. at the age of
four—she completed a qualitative research project about emergency medicine residency training programs. “I analyzed the use of social media—including WhatsApp and Facebook—and Free Open Access Medical Education
giving.gwu.edu
[Students]
COLONIALS CHALLENGE Each year, thousands of students take advantage of high-quality internship opportunities that
support their academic and career goals. However, many internships with nonprofit and government organizations are low-paid or unpaid, so the financial
burden can be challenging. The Knowledge in Action Career
Internship Fund (KACIF) saves many students from having to make the decision between a once-in-a-lifetime necessarily
unpaid internship and a part-time job to meet a financial need.
Since the inception of KACIF in
2013, 295 undergraduate students and 209 graduate students across
(FOAMed) within emergency departments,” she says.
all 10 schools and colleges at
GW have received KACIF grants
I gained understanding and compassion towards diverse patients even
though we did not speak the same language. In India, I was able to learn acute management care with ultrasound and advanced cardiac life support early on in my medical education.”
have interned at more than 250
organizations around the world.
These grants are entirely funded by philanthropic support from alumni, family members, and friends.
GW Trustee Scott Amey, SEAS
MS ’75, along with his wife, Debbie,
Malik says that the scholarship not only gave her the opportunity to
travel abroad for the summer but also helped shape her path of becoming
a well-rounded physician. “I gained understanding and compassion towards “In India, I was able to learn acute management care with ultrasound and advanced cardiac life support early on in my medical education.”
She believes that her experience in India will help her be a better doctor. “I
think every medical student should have some global health experience,” says
Malik. “It opens up your mind and helps you appreciate more about other people | GW
and Trustee Steve Ross, GWSB
BBA ’81, have pledged to give up to $100,000 to KACIF, but it is up to the GW community to unlock
it. Gifts made to any area of GW in June 2018 will count toward their generous challenge.
æ
| GW
Make your gift at go.gwu.edu/unlockkacif
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diverse patients even though we did not speak the same language,” she says.
when you work with a diverse population. I’m grateful for this experience.”
who received KACIF grants
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Sushmita Malik, SMHS ’20
or KACIF travel grants. Students
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[Students]
Supporting Veterans and the Environment | Melissa Nyman, BA ’04
Aaron Banas, MP ’17, came to GW’s Professional Psychology Program because of its “unique
a dire need for a community organization that can get
person.” This was particularly
Outdoors was the perfect vehicle for that.”
approach to treat the whole
meaningful for Banas, who, as a
“During the fellowship, I learned that there’s really
veterans together, get them outdoors, in a way that’s cost-
effective and sustainable,” Banas says. “Sierra Club Military While Banas arrived at GW with prior experience
former U.S. Navy Corpsman, had
supporting veterans,
help veterans recover and adjust
Sierra Club Summer
led outdoor retreats designed to to civilian life.
“Their transformation
process was incredible,” Banas remembers.
That’s why Banas was an
ideal candidate for GW’s Charles and Deborah Frank Summer Fellowship Fund. Geared
toward enhancing a student’s
understanding of environmental sustainability, the fund supports an internship with the Sierra
Club, a prominent environmental nonprofit organization. Summer Fellows support the Military
Outdoors program, which offers nature retreats for D.C.-area
veterans, service members, and their families.
he says being a
Fellow changed the
way he sees himself as a psychologist. After finishing his fellowship, Banas
immediately joined the
American Psychological Association’s Society for Environmental, Population, and Conservation
Psychology. He is now
pursuing opportunities to become more
involved in research about how different
environments impact
mental health, as well as the psychology of sustainability.
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I used to think of psychology fairly narrowly. The fellowship completely changed what I want to do with my career.” Aaron Banas
environmental
organizations—such as
the Sierra Club—about how we can shape human thoughts and behaviors around connecting people with the environment and the outdoors,” Banas explains.
Recently, Banas was selected for the Navy Clinical
Psychology Internship at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He will attend Officer Development
School this summer and enter the Navy, where he hopes to start Sierra Club Military Outdoors chapters wherever he is stationed.
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“I hope to
consult with different
Aaron Banas (right) leads a nature retreat for D.C.-area veterans.
A Dream Realized
giving.gwu.edu
[STUDENTS] | Julia Parmley, MPS ’10
Jon LeClair, SON ’18, has something to prove. At
importance of intersecting policy with practice, and public
Fredricka Holdship Trust, which is helping him to study
truly informed the importance of the work I’m doing and
least that is how he feels as the recipient of the Caroline health care in GW’s School of Nursing.
“I feel like someone has given me a chance to
succeed, and I am inspired to prove my worth and to give
and social advocacy with professionalism,” he says. “This has motivates me to look for ways to take what I’m learning and apply it for the good of our society, wherever I can.” Following graduation this spring, LeClair will
something back,” he says.
participate in an RN residency program for a local
realized health care was his calling due to “a constellation
underserved and vulnerable populations, such as those
LeClair did not dream of becoming a nurse. Instead, he
Oregon Health & Science University Casey Eye Institute Community Outreach Van; volunteering with Event
experiencing low socioeconomic status, homelessness, or the high burden of chronic and under-treated diseases. “Anywhere that is classified as a health professional
shortage area is where I want to end up working,” he
a nurse at the Medical College of Georgia. LeClair also
designation, so I’ll be looking locally.”
events including the Special Olympics; and shadowing received guidance from several nurses, including his
mother, and from Ed Degrauw, an anatomy and physiology professor at Portland State University.
“Having the opportunity to study health care at the GW
School of Nursing, during a time when the future of health
care policy is being hotly debated, has made me realize the
says. “There are many areas in D.C. that qualify for this While it took LeClair a few years to realize he wanted
to become a nurse, support from the Caroline Fredricka Holdship Trust made this dream a reality.
“I did not know how I’d pay for my education,” he says.
“When I received the news of this award, I felt deeply touched by the generosity of someone I had never met.”
| GW
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Management Services, which provided first aid for local
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of people and events,” including volunteering with the
hospital emergency department, where he hopes to help
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giving.gwu.edu
[PLANNED GIVING]
Supporting LGBTQIA Students | Margaret Battey
When Michael Schmidt, BA ’78, MBA ’85, first came to GW, he had every intention of pursuing his interest in Political Science, but after a foray into acting, he decided to transfer to the Speech and Drama Department to
major in Drama. The only issue, Schmidt says now with a laugh, is that he “wasn’t very good.” With multiple credit
hours from the department already, he switched his major once more to Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology, and eventually returned to Foggy Bottom to earn his MBA.
While his academic course took several twists and
turns, Schmidt found one constant during his time at GW: the Gay People’s Alliance. “Just having a student group
available to help people come to terms with their identity was hugely valuable,” he says. “Being gay in 1974 was a
lot different than it is today. The Gay People’s Alliance was
Just having a
Student group available to help people come to terms with their identity was hugely valuable.” Michael Schmidt
so instrumental in helping me become the person I am.” Schmidt recently created a planned gift to establish
the Michael R. Schmidt and Bruce C. Craig Fund. The
fund will provide a need- and merit- based scholarship for a graduate and/or undergraduate student who has
participated in Allied in Pride; the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA) Resource Center; or similar programming. His gift
will also benefit the LGBTQIA Resource Center, which celebrates and supports sexual and gender diversity
and inclusion by providing comprehensive educational,
support, and advocacy services. The fund is named after
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himself and his late partner Bruce Craig, BA ‘78, MA ‘84, Schmidt meets with current students involved in the LGBTQIA Resource Center for a roundtable luncheon.
whom he met at GW.
This past December, Schmidt met with current
students involved in the LGBTQIA Resource Center for
a friendly and informative conversation about their GW experiences. “Overall, I was amazed to learn that it has gotten to a level where gender identity has become
almost an everyday part of the university, which is not
something that was part of life when I was there. However, there are still struggles that students are dealing with and standing up to,” he says. “I hope that my gift will
involve students interested in forwarding gay rights in
any number of academic fields and will benefit their GW years and beyond.”
| GW
giving.gwu.edu
[INSTITUTES | Research]
Advancing Equality and Reducing Violence | Joan Ochi
Evidence developed over several decades reveals that violence against women persists in every
to prevent and end violence against women and girls. Established at GW in
economic, and cultural divisions,
the United Nations.
country and spans educational,
harming not only individuals and
The Global Women’s Institute (GWI) is recognized worldwide for its work
2012 and led by Founding Director Mary Ellsberg, GWI is sparking change
around the globe, in locations from South Sudan to Nicaragua to the halls of The institute produces research,
families, but society overall. Violence
promotes education and knowledge
of strangers, authority, relatives, and
programming, and investments
comes in many forms, at the hands partners.
sharing, and shapes policies,
that address these challenges and advance gender equality.
Others are taking note. GWI has received
funding for a variety of projects, including
The World Health Organization estimates that one in three women around the globe experiences physical or sexual violence in her lifetime.
research on how violence against women and
girls intersects with other issues—such as food insecurity and sexual and reproductive health—and determining how violence can be prevented.
Currently, GWI is collaborating with Beyond Borders, a nonprofit that
works in Haiti, on the organization’s “Rethinking Power” community-based initiative. This project, supported by the Novo Foundation, examines the
power imbalance between women and men in Haitian society—a core driver
interventions that work, explains why they matter, and takes action to bring about change.” Mary Ellsberg
of violence—and applies proven interventions with the aim of significantly reducing it.
Former GW parents Lauren and Austin Fite were moved to support GWI
philanthropically because they were struck by the tremendous impact the
institute has on women and girls at home and around the world. Lauren Fite now co-chairs GWI’s leadership council.
“Violence against women and girls is the most pervasive and under-
reported human rights violation in the world,” says Ellsberg. “GWI finds
interventions that work, explains why they matter, and takes action to bring about change.”
| GW
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GWI finds
South Sudanese researchers during a training session supported by GWI.
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Mary Ellsberg (right) with counselors from the International Rescue Committee.
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giving.gwu.edu
[GIVING OPPORTUNITIES]
Creativity as a Vehicle for Change | Melissa Nyman, BA ‘04
An innovative new program
complex problems that require an interdisciplinary and
Arts and Design has a mission to
provides a format for the Corcoran to be a key driver of
from GW’s Corcoran School of the showcase artists as creative problem solvers. Launched in fall 2017, the
and visual arts as catalysts for social
The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, the inaugural
Named for the Corcoran’s
celebrated 18th-century French
drawing room, the Salon Doré series
assembles cross-disciplinary thought leaders to examine a community or global issue—such as immigration— through the lens of creativity.
“Six to eight times a year we are
transforming the Salon Doré into a think tank to address some of the
developed with an outside partner. With support from convening in September 2017 focused on reframing
arts education to better serve the public. In November, the second convening tackled informal economies— such as the gray market—in conjunction with South Africa-based NGO Good Governance Africa.
Another signature facet of the Salon Doré Series is
tangible results: All convenings must produce an output that is determined by the thought leaders. This can
range from a written report to a video that details the recommendations set forth by the group.
As the series evolves, collaboration with exceptional
stickiest problems that we see around
external partners will remain a core tenet of the
Corcoran Director Sanjit Sethi. “We
engage both current students and Corcoran alumni in
culture, creativity, and equity,” says bring together artists, designers,
policy makers, scholars, and other cultural thinkers and ask them to
program. In addition, the series organizers hope to
future convenings. Gifts to the Salon Doré Solutions on Equity Series will support the continued growth of this
pioneering platform and its vision to elevate a different— and vital—dimension of the arts.
| GW
Participants in the Youth Arts Education project, which culminated in a Salon Doré convening.
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come up with solutions to specific,
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A fundamental element of the series is
Salon Doré Solutions on Equity
change.
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these conversations.”
collaboration; each two-day convening must be
Series highlights the performing
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inherently creative response. The Salon Doré Series
Battling Superbugs
| Joan Ochi
Imagine a nasty infection that doesn’t respond to antibiotics. This isn’t the imaginings of a
dystopian fiction writer—antibiotic resistance is a real and present danger, and GW’s Antibiotic
Resistance Action Center (ARAC) is on the front lines, fighting one of the greatest public health threats of our time.
Experts agree that without
action, we will soon be living in
if the human microbiome can
We need to raise the literacy
protect people from dangerous pathogens, ARAC’s research is
grounded in finding real-world
around antibiotics and antibiotic resistance around the world. People need to recognize that these are valuable resources that we’re on the cusp of losing—and we need to use them carefully.”
a world where antibiotics are no
longer a match for drug-resistant bacteria, often called superbugs.
An important part of effectively stopping the rise and
spread of superbugs is reducing inappropriate use of antibiotics in human medicine and agriculture.
That’s where ARAC comes in. The center, part of
Milken Institute School of Public Health, was established to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics by engaging in research, advocacy, and science-based policy. Led
by Director Lance B. Price, ARAC focuses on identifying
Dr. Lance B. Price
data and addressing critical
knowledge gaps. ARAC also
translates the science of antibiotic resistance for policymakers, and
uses traditional and social media to communicate to a broad
audience. The aim: to foster an
informed public that understands antibiotic resistance and calls for improved use policies in people and animals.
“ARAC is unique in pairing original research with
strategic communication and policy strategies to help combat antibiotic resistance,” says Price. “We need
to raise the literacy around antibiotics and antibiotic
resistance around the world. People need to recognize
that these are valuable resources that we’re on the cusp of losing—and we need to use them carefully.”
Philanthropy advances ARAC’s efforts. Funding for the
innovative solutions to antibiotic resistance.
center has been provided by the Wellcome Trust, Cornell
cause drug-resistant urinary tract infections to gauging
& Co., Inc.
From tracking how eating contaminated chicken can
70%
giving.gwu.edu
[GIVING OPPORTUNITIES]
Douglas Foundation, Applegate, AdvaMedDx, and Merck | GW
of all medically important anti-
biotics sold in the U.S. are used
Estimate of annual direct health care costs in the U.S. spent treating antibiotic-resistant infections.
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$20 billion
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to treat livestock.
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[Why I give]
A Sense of Community
SMHS professor supports the community that helped define his career | Melissa Nyman, BA ‘04 Giving back to the community has always been important to Dr. Daniel Ein, Clinical Professor in the School
of Medicine and Health Sciences and
Director of GW’s Allergy and Sinus Center. “It’s how I was brought up,” Ein ex-
plains. “It’s part of our duty in life to leave the world a better place.”
Ein’s community has included
GW since the 1970s. An allergy and immunology specialist, Ein joined a
practice with two internists who had
long-standing GW relationships. Ein
had practicing privileges at GW, where
the late Dr. Wallace Jensen immediately
made the young physician “feel at home.” “When I joined the faculty, much
of the teaching was done by people in
private practice,” Ein says. “We truly felt
like valued members of the GW medical
to take me in at [age] 65, start a program, and give me a
35 years later about starting an allergy
around young people and be able to mentor them.”
That’s why, when Ein approached GW
practice at the Medical Faculty Associ-
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ates, it was a natural fit.
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“I’m really grateful for the opportunity that GW gave me:
community.”
whole second career,” Ein says. “It’s been rejuvenating to be Whether working with students, patients, or his
colleagues, Ein remains inspired by those around him, and he is deeply fulfilled by helping others grow.
When I joined the faculty, much of the
teaching was done by people in private practice. We truly felt like valued members of the GW medical community.” Dr. Daniel Ein
But mentoring is just one form of Ein’s contributions to
the GW community; a loyal annual donor, Ein believes in
giving back to the places that have helped shape him not
only as a physician, but as a person. In supporting GW, he hopes to provide opportunities for others to grow their
careers, help patients, and keep learning, as he has done throughout his own career.
“I’m incredibly grateful to GW for fostering and nurs-
ing my ability to practice my profession in such a warm
and accepting environment,” Ein says. “I’ve run across so many wonderful people here—it’s been a great life.”
| GW
giving.gwu.edu
[Why I give]
Building a Colonial Legacy There’s something special about GW. Just ask Andrew Kaye, BA ’85. Or his two children, Steven Kaye, BBA ’14, and Ilissa Kaye, BBA ’17.
Kaye believes his children were drawn to GW for the
same reasons he was: the quality of education and location. He says the city’s metropolitan offerings and the ample
green space provide “the best of both worlds” for students. “I knew how much the university helped me grow
I knew how much
the university helped me grow and mature and I knew it would do the same (for my children).” Andrew Kaye, CCAS BA ’85
and mature and I knew it would do the same [for my children],” he says.
For Kaye, being in the nation’s capital was particularly
alluring. “I thought I wanted to be involved in politics and young people were becoming more and more engaged in politics, as the Reagan revolution was beginning to
take shape,” he says. He took advantage of the political
including meeting my ex-wife [Susan
Kaye, BS ’87],” he says. “I am extremely grateful for that and want to give something back.”
Although his children have
graduated, Kaye plans to continue his
student aid and watching George McGovern announce
help other families experience the
his candidacy for president at the Marvin Center.
As the son of a single mother, Kaye remembers
their struggle to make tuition payments every semester. GW education possible, so he wanted to lessen the
burden for others. A GW donor for more than 20 years,
Kaye supports different areas of the university, including the GW School of Business and GW Hillel.
“As a young adult and as a parent, I have amaz-
ing memories that are a direct result of time spent at GW,
opportunities he and his children did
at GW. And he will remain connected to the university through his nephew Matthew Schafer, GWSB ‘21, who
joined GW as a freshman this past fall. Kaye says, “I will always have
fond memories of everything that
GW gave to me and my family, and
anything I can do to help the university would be my pleasure.”
| GW
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Financial aid and scholarships made his and his children’s
involvement with the university and
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offerings on and near campus at the time, including
participating in a march to the Capitol to protest cuts in
| Julia Parmley, MPS ‘10
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giving.gwu.edu
[PHOTO FINISH]
On April 13, the George Washington University celebrated the power
of education and the promise of
tomorrow’s leaders at its annual Power & Promise dinner. More than 350
guests—donors, students, parents,
university leaders, and friends—came together to recognize the impact of scholarships and fellowships.
Many donors were able to meet and
connect with the students who are the beneficiaries of their scholarships—a
special and emotional experience for
those on both the giving and receiving ends. Five students representing six schools also shared their personal
stories, which collectively illustrated
the arc and totality of the GW student
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experience.
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| GW
Division of Development and Alumni Relations 2033 K Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, D.C. 20052
Adventure Awaits GW Travel Program
Join GW alumni, friends, and family to venture beyond the typical vacation. Take part in a worldclass travel program specializing in cultural immersion and educational experiences.
Learn more about upcoming trips: go.gwu.edu/adventures