Dear Presidential Fellowship Alumni,

We are pleased to introduce our new monthly newsletter, designed to strengthen connections within the Presidential Fellowship community. Each edition will feature updates on the endeavors of our current fellows, spotlight the accomplishments of our distinguished alumni, and share opportunities to engage with the broader Fellowship network.

Sincerely,

The Presidential Fellowship Team

If you have not yet had the opportunity to meet the current fellows and our director, we invite you to visit our website to learn more about them. In the photo, from left to right, are second-year fellows Nina Balandina and Markella Lanara, Fellowship Director Autumn Anthony, first-year fellow Grace Allread, and second-year fellow Jack Hatcher.

Nina is pursuing a PhD in Comparative and International Education, Markella is pursuing a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Grace is pursuing a Master of Science in Applied Psychology, and Jack is pursuing a Master’s in Civil and Environmental Engineering.

In the spring, the current Presidential Fellows submitted a proposal to the Luther Rice Fellowship Foundation and were awarded $11,500 to bring their vision to life. Their proposal, titled the GW Graduate Experience & Research Network Initiative, seeks to establish a comprehensive framework that enhances the graduate student experience at GW across both academic and social dimensions.

Since receiving the award, the Fellows have hosted two events for graduate students—Virtual Game Night and the Spooky Monument Walk—to encourage engagement and build community. The team is also in active discussions with the Office of Faculty Affairs to develop a research database that will allow graduate students to share and connect around their ongoing research projects. Read more about these events and updates, in the "News" section of the Presidential Fellowship website.

On Friday, October 24, members of our community gathered for the Presidential Fellowship Alumni Reception. The event brought together alumni and former directors who enjoyed reconnecting with one another and engaging with the current fellows and program director.

On Wednesday, October 29, members of the Presidential Fellowship community who are located outside the Washington, D.C. area gathered for the Virtual Presidential Fellowship Alumni Reception.

Our alumni continue to demonstrate their commitment to the Presidential Fellowship by facilitating professional development seminars for the current fellows. So far, we have had the privilege of learning from Carrie Potter and Will Alexander, who shared their insights and experiences with the cohort. Coming up next, we look forward to welcoming Darrin Kayser, Elizabeth Glidden, Jen Covich Bordenick, Chelsea Lenhart, and Matthew Basista. 

If you are interested in leading a future seminar or sharing your professional journey with the fellows, please contact us at paf@gwu.edu!

Carrie Potter (Presidential Fellowship Class of 2001) led the Leadership Dialogue with President Ellen M. Granberg during Alumni and Families Weekend.

In this prominent role, Carrie facilitated a thoughtful conversation covering a wide range of topics, including the student experience, the university’s future, and the recently released strategic framework.

Do you have exciting updates to share with the Presidential Fellowship community? We would love to feature you in our next newsletter! Email us with news about yourself or another Presidential Fellow so we can celebrate your achievements and keep our network connected!