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The GW School of Business
2024 Commencement Celebrations
The GW School of Business (GWSB) proudly invites the Class of 2024 to our celebratory events.
Mark your calendars and begin planning your participation.
Schedule of Events
Thursday, May 2, 2024
GW School of Business Class of 2024 Soirée
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Capital Hilton
1001 16th Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20036
Invitation Only
Monday, May 13, 2024
Beta Gamma Sigma Induction Ceremony
6:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Grand Ballroom, Third Floor
University Student Center
Invitation Only
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Online Graduate Programs Celebration (Virtual)
6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
The virtual celebration link will be distributed to graduates, families and guests in advance.
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Student and Faculty Awards Ceremony
4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Continental Ballroom, Third Floor
University Student Center
Invitation only. Reception immediately follows ceremony.
Thursday, May 16, 2024
Undergraduate Programs School Celebration
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Charles E. Smith Center
Reception immediately follows in Oglethorpe Great Hall (Duquès Hall, First Floor Lobby).
Each graduate will receive six guest tickets to this celebration.
Friday, May 17, 2024
Master’s and Doctoral Programs School Celebration
3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Charles E. Smith Center
Reception immediately follows in Oglethorpe Great Hall (Duquès Hall, First Floor Lobby).
Each graduate will receive four guest tickets to this celebration.
Sunday, May 19, 2024
GW University Commencement on the National Mall
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Each graduate will receive six guest tickets for the GW University Commencement on the National Mall.
Keynote Speakers
Master’s and Doctoral Programs Celebration
Greg Wong (MBA ‘96)
Founder and Managing Trustee, Wong Family Office
Greg Wong, a proud 1996 graduate of the George Washington School of Business MBA program, has held leadership positions in the military, financial services industry, and technology sector. Upon graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in Computer Science, he served six years as a naval officer with the Navy’s Nuclear Propulsion Program. After receiving his MBA in Finance from GW, Greg became a member of Friedman Billings Ramsey (FBR), one of the most successful Washington, D.C.-based investment banking firms. FBR was founded by GW alumnus Russ Ramsey. As part of FBR’s Technology Investment Banking Group, he led the software corporate finance practice. During his 11+ year tenure at the investment bank, he completed dozens of capital market and merger & acquisition (M&A) transactions.
In 2008, Greg joined his long-term client, Web.com, as executive vice president of corporate development, where he was responsible for all global M&A and equity and debt capital market activities. Since his initial involvement with Web.com in 2003, he grew revenue from $17 million to over $750 million, and created an over 10x return for shareholders. Five years ago, Greg spearheaded Web.com’s over $2 billion sale to private equity and subsequently retired. As a retiree, Greg serves as trustee for the Wong Family Office, where he focuses on limited partner investments in multi-family real estate, structured finance, and technology venture capital. In 2023, Greg joined the GW Investment Institute Advisory Board and has been a frequent guest lecturer at the GW School of Business.
Undergraduate Programs Celebration
John Roberts (BBA ‘89)
Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager, Corient
John Roberts has spent the last 35 years working in the investment industry. A 1989 graduate of the George Washington University School of Business, he started his career at investment bank PaineWebber. He earned his Juris Doctorate at the University of Denver College of Law. He has managed mutual funds, created equity indexes and launched exchange traded funds. He is now a partner and senior portfolio manager at Corient. He is a member of the Denver and Colorado bar associations, has been on numerous nonprofit boards, and is currently on the advisory board of the George Washington University Investment Institute. He has been quoted in Barron’s, Forbes, the Financial Times, and the Wall Street Journal, as well as in U.S. Supreme Court briefs. If you ask him what he does, he’ll probably tell you he likes to ski and hike as well as spend time with his wife of 29 years and two adult children.
Online Master’s and Doctoral Programs Celebration
David Halliday, MBA, Ph.D
Teaching Associate Professor of Strategic Management & Public Policy, The GW School of Business
David Halliday joined the GW School of Business in 2017. He was promoted to teaching associate professor of strategic management and public policy in 2022. Professor Halliday teaches business strategy and corporate strategy to Global MBA, Online MBA and Part-time MBA students. He also designs online courses that engage students both synchronously and asynchronously. Outside of the classroom, he writes business cases and designs experiential learning material including online strategy simulations.
Online Undergraduate Programs Celebration
Matthew Haney, M.D.
Matthew Haney is an academic hospital medicine physician at the Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center, teaching medical students and residents. He is originally from Atlanta but has lived in DC for more than 10 years. He studied in the Online MBA program at the GW School of Business and earned a Certificate in Corporate Responsibility. He hopes to apply these concepts to healthcare in the future. His personal interests include regular workouts and runs, cooking, traveling, winemaking, trying new coffees, and spending time with family and friends.
Student Speakers
Master’s and Doctoral Programs Celebration
Hawa Kamara (MBA '24)
Hawa Kamara is a 27-year-old Sierra Leonean West African woman from Alexandria, Virginia. She graduated from Virginia State University with a Bachelor's degree in English with a minor in Philosophy. Upon graduation, she fulfilled one of her passions in life by becoming an English teacher. As an educator, she recognized that life held endless opportunities for learning and growth. After gaining extensive experience in customer and public service across multiple industries, and juggling a full-time role as a student who remained involved in passion projects within her community, her interest in establishing her own business grew. This prompted her to delve deeper into the business world and learn how to improve the trajectory of her life. She decided to embark on her educational journey at the George Washington University, choosing to pursue the Global MBA program as her starting point. Hawa's innate leadership abilities have consistently shone through, enabling her to actively apply them during her time at GW. She served as the graduate president of the DC chapter of the National Black MBA Association while also dedicating herself as a student success coach for undergraduates. Today, Hawa takes pride in achieving what others once deemed unrealistic by not only earning her MBA with a concentration in Management but also securing full-time employment with JP Morgan Chase upon graduation. She is honored to be the 2024 commencement speaker for the GWSB Master’s and Doctoral Programs Celebration.
Undergraduate Programs Celebration
Anna Shah (BS '24)
Anna Shah is senior at the George Washington University School of Business, studying International Business with minors in Sustainability & German. She is passionate about sustainability, fashion and business development, and has a strong entrepreneurial spirit; she is the founder of a thrift store called POP!, which provides access to curated and affordable secondhand fashion for undergraduate students. Notable internships she has held include Uniqlo and Ralph Lauren, working in store and site operations, respectively. Recently, she advocated for sustainability at UN Climate Conferences in Riyadh and Dubai.
Apply to Graduate
Spring 2024 graduates must submit a graduation application via GWeb by March 18, 2024. This is the first step and must be completed before registering for any commencement-related events.
Spring 2024 commencement can include all eligible graduates for: Summer 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024 and Summer 2024.
Please note: Summer 2024 graduates who plan to attend the May commencement ceremony must apply for graduation after registering for Summer 2024 courses no later than April 1. Students must have either completed their degree requirements or be enrolled in classes that will complete those requirements to submit the graduation application.
Register for Commencement
Registration for commencement week events, including commencement on the National Mall, will open on Monday, April 1 for the Class of 2024, faculty and staff. Students who had their degree awarded in the summer of 2023 — or will complete all their degree requirements in the fall of 2023, spring of 2024, or summer of 2024 — are eligible to participate in school celebrations and commencement. Students may invite:
- Up to six guests for the Undergraduate School Celebration on May 16, 2024
- Up to four guests for the Master’s and Doctoral School Celebration on May 17, 2024
- Up to six guests for commencement on the National Mall on May 19, 2024
Students must register themselves and their guests to attend commencement week events. Please email [email protected] if you have any questions or experience any issues during the registration process.
Register for Commencement Week Events
Please note: You must apply to graduate and complete the mandatory online graduation survey before you can register for the school celebration or commencement on the National Mall. The graduation survey will open in March and will be available here.
Regalia & Keepsakes
All eligible students who plan to participate in school celebrations and commencement on the National Mall must wear regalia; active service members may wear their dress uniform in lieu of regalia.
Frequently Asked Questions
- If I am finishing my degree in the summer, can I participate in commencement?
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Yes. Simply apply for summer graduation in GWeb by April 1, after you register for summer courses, to ensure you are included in the commencement program.
- If I am a Fall 2023 graduate, can I participate in commencement?
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Yes. All Fall 2023 graduates are eligible to participate and will be included in communications.
- What if I miss the March 15 (or April 1 for summer) application deadlines in GWeb?
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You can still apply for graduation in GWeb, but inclusion in the celebration program cannot be guaranteed due to publishing deadlines.
- What if I didn’t receive a confirmation after applying to graduate?
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You can check DegreeMAP to confirm that the application is on file. If an application is on file for you, then you will see the words "Sought-Applied to Graduate" or "Applied Late Degree Clearance" in the "Graduation Application" field on your DegreeMAP audit. This is located near the top, in the same section as your name, GWID, major, etc.
- Does the GW School of Business provide graduation cords, medals or stoles?
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GWSB does not provide cords or stoles for Latin Honors. If you are involved in a group that you know or think might provide cords or stoles for graduation, we encourage you to contact that organization in advance. Undergraduate students will receive a medal at their school celebration on Thursday, May 18.
- What are school celebrations?
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All GW schools and colleges will host their own celebratory experiences for their graduating students in addition to the university-wide celebration on the National Mall. Graduating students will receive individual recognition, including having their names announced, walking across the stage, and having an individual photo taken, during these celebrations, and they will hear from school leaders and other prestigious speakers.
- How do I request additional tickets?
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Registration for commencement events will begin on March 27. Students will have the opportunity to register themselves and their guests. During the registration process, students will be able to add additional attendees to a waitlist system that will be approved as availability allows.
- Where do I register?
- What is commencement on the National Mall?
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University commencement brings together students from all GW schools for the conferral of their degrees. The ceremony takes place on the National Mall and is open to all 2024 graduates from bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs to come and celebrate their achievements. This event includes remarks from GW leadership and other speakers.
- Can I purchase GWSB-branded commencement keepsakes?
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Yes. Please visit www.GWSBshop.com.
- Can I request an official letter of invitation for Visa purposes?
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Yes. Please visit the Office of the Registrar for more information.
- Where can I find more information about regalia purchase or rental?
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All students participating in school celebrations and Commencement on the National Mall must wear regalia. Active service members may wear their dress uniform in lieu of regalia. Graduates may order regalia online through April 13; students are not required to purchase from the university’s preferred vendor.
Please also refer to the University Commencement website for additional Frequently Asked Questions and answers.
Accessibility
GW is committed to providing universal access to all of our events. Please see the information regarding Smith Center and National Mall accessibility on the University Commencement website.
More Information
Contact us at [email protected] to connect with the GW School of Business Commencement Committee.
GW ALMA MATER
Hail Alma Mater
To thy spirit guiding,
Knowledge thy closest friend
In its strength abiding,
Pledge we fidelity
Ne'er its place resigning,
Hail thee George Washington!
Archive
Revisit Our 2023 Commencement Celebrations
Revisit Our 2022 Commencement Celebrations
Revisit Our 2021 Commencement Celebrations
