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2022 CCAS Graduation Celebrations

A graduation cap decorated with flowers and "Grad class of 2022"

With faculty, friends and family looking on, the Class of 2022 received a warm sendoff over four days of graduation festivities. The in-person CCAS doctoral, master's and undergraduate ceremonies were a welcome celebration after two years of virtual ceremonies due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among the featured speakers at the CCAS Celebrations were President Mark S. Wrighton, Provost Christopher Alan Bracey, and CCAS Dean Paul Wahlbeck. GW's university-wide Commencement on the National Mall featured an address from alumna and Olympic bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor, who is the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympic history.

Celebration Photos

A young woman in cap and gown shakes hands with someone over a barrier.
A new graduate greets onlookers at the 2022 CCAS Undergraduate Celebration.
A gymnasium filled with stands of people, with graduates in caps and gowns and a speaker shown on a jumbotron
Associate Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences Dwight Kravitz speaks at the 2022 CCAS Undergraduate Celebration.
An undergraduate student wearing a mask and pumping his fist in the air
A new graduate at the 2022 CCAS Undergraduate Celebration.
CCAS undergraduate students cheered on 2022 Distinguished Scholar Darius Cozart.
CCAS undergraduate students cheering on 2022 Distinguished Scholar Darius Cozart.
CCAS Dean Paul Wahlbeck in cap and gown at a podium
CCAS Dean Paul Wahlbeck addresses the Class of 2022 at the Undergraduate Celebration.
Close up of a young woman in blue cap and gown.
A new graduate at the 2022 CCAS Undergraduate Celebration.
President Mark Wrighton speaking on stage in a cap and gown.
GW President Mark Wrighton addressing the undergraduate class of 2022.
A sea of students in caps and gowns
Graduates at the 2022 CCAS Undergraduate Celebration.
A group of graduate students in caps and gowns marching into the ceremony.
Master's students entering the 2022 CCAS Graduate Celebration.
Master's students marching into the 2022 CCAS Graduate Celebration.
Master's students marching into the 2022 CCAS Graduate Celebration.
A professor speaking at a GW podium on stage with a sea of graduation caps in the foreground
Professor of Public Policy and Public Administration, and of Economics, Stephanie Riegg Cellini delivering the faculty address to the graduate class of 2022.
Distinguished Scholar Maya Thompson speaking at the 2022 CCAS Master's Celebration.
Distinguished Scholar Maya Thompson speaking at the 2022 CCAS Master's Celebration.
Graduate students taking selfies at the 2022 CCAS Master's Celebration.
Graduate students taking selfies at the 2022 CCAS Master's Celebration.
Newly hooded graduates celebrating at the 2022 Columbian College Doctoral Hooding ceremony.
Newly hooded graduates celebrating at the 2022 Columbian College Doctoral Hooding ceremony.
Newly hooded graduates celebrating at the 2022 Columbian College Doctoral Hooding ceremony.
Newly hooded graduates celebrating at the 2022 Columbian College Doctoral Hooding ceremony.
Newly hooded graduates celebrating at the 2022 Columbian College Doctoral Hooding ceremony.
Newly hooded graduates celebrating at the 2022 Columbian College Doctoral Hooding ceremony.
Dean Paul Wahlbeck shaking hands with a doctoral graduate on stage
CCAS Dean Paul Wahlbeck greets graduates on stage at the 2022 Columbian College Doctoral Hooding ceremony.
A doctoral graduate on stage receiving her hood from the dean and smiling
A graduate receiving her hood at the 2022 Columbian College Doctoral Hooding ceremony.

Undergraduate Celebrations

12 p.m. Celebration

Speakers at the noon celebration included GW President Mark S. Wrighton, Distinguished Scholar recipient and political science major Darius Cozart and Associate Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences Dwight Kravitz.

3:30 p.m. Celebration

Speakers at the 3:30 p.m. celebration included GW Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Christopher Alan Bracey, Distinguished Scholar recipient and biology and chemistry major Philip Parel and Professor of Anthropology Sarah Wagner.

Participating Majors

12 p.m. Ceremony
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Criminal Justice
  • Data Science
  • Economics
  • Human Services and Social Justice
  • Journalism and Mass Communication (SMPA)
  • Political Communication (SMPA)
  • Political Science
  • Political Science: Public Policy Focus
  • Psychological and Brain Sciences
  • Sociology
3:30 p.m. Ceremony
  • Africana Studies
  • American Studies
  • Anthropology
  • Arabic Studies
  • Archaeology
  • Art History (Corcoran)
  • Art History and Fine Arts (Corcoran)
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Biological Anthropology
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biophysics
  • Chemistry
  • Chinese Language and Literature
  • Classical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies
  • Cognitive Science of Language
  • Communication
  • Creative Writing and English
  • Dance (Corcoran)
  • English
  • Environmental and Sustainability Science
  • Environmental Studies
  • Fine Arts (Corcoran)
  • Fine Arts, Photojournalism Concentration (Corcoran)
  • French Language, Literature, and Culture
  • Geography
  • Geological Sciences
  • German Language and Literature
  • Graphic Design (Corcoran)
  • History
  • Interaction Design (Corcoran)
  • Interior Architecture (Corcoran)
  • Japanese Language and Literature
  • Judaic Studies
  • Korean Language and Literature
  • Mathematics
  • Music (Corcoran)
  • Neuroscience
  • Organizational Sciences
  • Peace Studies
  • Philosophy
  • Philosophy: Public Affairs Focus
  • Photojournalism (Corcoran)
  • Physics
  • Religion
  • Russian Language and Literature
  • Spanish and Latin American Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
  • Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
  • Special Interdisciplinary Major
  • Statistics
  • Theatre (Corcoran)
  • Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
  • Associate in Arts, General Studies

Graduate Celebrations

Master's Celebration

Speakers at the master's celebration included Distinguished Scholar recipient Maya Thompson (American studies) as well as Professor of Public Policy and Public Administration, and of Economics, Stephanie Riegg Cellini.

Doctoral Hooding

In the doctoral hooding, graduates received doctorates in various fields in both the arts and sciences. This year's Award for Excellence in the Mentoring of Doctoral Students was awarded to Assistant Professor of Biology Sandy Kawano.

Celebration Programs

Faculty Awards

Robert W. Kenny Prize for Innovation in Teaching of Introductory Courses

The Robert W. Kenny Prize for Innovation in Teaching of Introductory Courses is awarded annually to a faculty member in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences who has shown innovation, creativity, and originality in teaching an introductory course in the Arts and Sciences. The recipient, who is among the most talented of our teachers, teaches an introductory or basic course during the academic year in a novel and innovative way. Professors receiving this award have encouraged their students to think differently, allowing them to take advantage of their academic experience at the George Washington University. The Kenny Prize honors former Dean Robert Kenny and his special dedication to stimulating experiences for GW students and his emphasis on the importance of introductory courses as students undertake their studies in the liberal arts and sciences.

  • Phillip Troutman, Assistant Professor of Writing and of History, Director of Writing in the Disciplines
  • Sara Matthiesen, Assistant Professor of History and of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
  • Honorable Mention: Xiaoke Zhang, Assistant Professor of Statistics
Columbian Prize for Teaching and Mentoring Advanced Undergraduate Students

The Columbian Prize for Teaching and Mentoring Advanced Undergraduate Students is awarded to a regular, full- time faculty member in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences who demonstrates excellence in the teaching and mentoring of advanced undergraduate students. With this prize, we recognize exceptional achievement in one or more of the following areas of work: teaching an advanced undergraduate course, advising students, directing undergraduate research, designing a capstone experience, or mentoring students who achieve departmental honors and other distinctions.

  • Randi Gray Kristensen, Professor of the University Writing Program, Deputy Director of Writing in the Disciplines
Award for Excellence in Graduate Faculty Mentoring

The Award for Excellence in Graduate Faculty Mentoring is given to a faculty member nominated by graduate students. Mentoring and advising are crucial to the intellectual life and career trajectories of graduate students across the arts, sciences and professions. A good mentor is a source of wisdom and expertise, an inspiring role model, a compassionate critic, a sounding board, an advocate and a career counselor.

  • Kavita Daiya, Professor of English, and of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Award for Excellence in the Mentoring of Doctoral Students

The Award for Excellence in the Mentoring of Doctoral Students is given to a faculty member nominated by students in the PhD and PsyD programs of the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. Mentoring and advising are crucial to the intellectual life and career trajectories of doctoral students across the arts, sciences and professions. A good mentor is a source of wisdom and expertise, an inspiring role model, a compassionate critic, a sounding board, an advocate and a career counselor.

  • Sandy Kawano, Assistant Professor of Biology

Words From Our Speakers

Graphic with the quote: “Your resilience in the face of difficulty, your adaptability to new ways of learning and your dogged determination to get to where you sit today, makes your achievement all the more noteworthy.” — CCAS Dean Paul Wahlbeck
Graphic with the quote: “May we let our feelings and experiences be bridges of connection to others. May the work always bring us closer to ourselves, even when it's uncomfortable, and to our communities.” — Distinguished Master’s Scholar Maya Thompson, MA American Studies
Graphic with the quote: “What gift of labor and love will you give to your community, however you define it, wherever and whenever it may arise? Let it be gifts that transform and lift up, from little acts of kindness to bold strokes of action.” — Professor of Anthropology Sarah Wagner
Graphic with the quote: “We must have the courage not only to remake ourselves as individuals but to situate ourselves within a historical trajectory that looms larger than any one of us ..." — Distinguished Undergraduate Scholar Darius Cozart, BA Political Science

Graduation Caps Galore

A grad cap with glitter and the words "educated mexicana"
Grad cap decorated with the words "Seeking knowledge is a duty upon every Muslim."
Back of a grad cap with "over-educated feminist" in glitter
Grad cap embellished with butterflies and the words "Class of 2022"
A grad cap with Spongebob and the words "hold on, let's get this"
Grad cap embellished with the words "You almost lost me there but I pulled through"
Grad cap embellished with flowers and the words "GRAD class of 2022"
Grad cap embellished with flowers and Greek letters
Grad cap embellished with scissors, glue, paintbrushes and pencils
Graduation cap embellished with the quote "I think I am quite ready for another adventure," along with a hobbit door.

Past Celebrations

#CCASOnward