2022 CCAS Graduation Celebrations
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
1 of 16A graduate receiving her hood at the 2022 Columbian College Doctoral Hooding ceremony.
2 of 16CCAS Dean Paul Wahlbeck greets graduates on stage at the 2022 Columbian College Doctoral Hooding ceremony.
3 of 16Newly hooded graduates celebrating at the 2022 Columbian College Doctoral Hooding ceremony.
4 of 16Newly hooded graduates celebrating at the 2022 Columbian College Doctoral Hooding ceremony.
5 of 16Newly hooded graduates celebrating at the 2022 Columbian College Doctoral Hooding ceremony.
6 of 16Graduate students taking selfies at the 2022 CCAS Master's Celebration.
7 of 16Distinguished Scholar Maya Thompson speaking at the 2022 CCAS Master's Celebration.
8 of 16Professor of Public Policy and Public Administration, and of Economics, Stephanie Riegg Cellini delivering the faculty address to the graduate class of 2022.
9 of 16Master's students marching into the 2022 CCAS Graduate Celebration.
10 of 16Master's students entering the 2022 CCAS Graduate Celebration.
11 of 16Graduates at the 2022 CCAS Undergraduate Celebration.
12 of 16GW President Mark Wrighton addressing the undergraduate class of 2022.
13 of 16A new graduate at the 2022 CCAS Undergraduate Celebration.
14 of 16CCAS undergraduate students cheering on 2022 Distinguished Scholar Darius Cozart.
15 of 16A new graduate at the 2022 CCAS Undergraduate Celebration.
16 of 16A new graduate greets onlookers at the 2022 CCAS Undergraduate Celebration.
Undergraduate Celebrations
12:00 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
- 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
- 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
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
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
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
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
Paul Wahlbeck
Dean, Columbian College of Arts & Sciences
"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. I congratulate each and every one of you on a job well done!"
