SMPA Launches Endowed Democracy Prize
A new endowed Democracy Innovation Prize will support student projects that promote democracy, strengthen democratic institutions and build civic participation.
Alumni & Giving
Thanks to donors like you, CCAS is creating
Access to transformative
opportunities.
Alumni and Giving
Philanthropy plays a vital role in shaping the success of GW’s Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. Alumni and donors are critical to our mission to create real-world impact through an engaged and inclusive liberal arts education, pioneering and innovative research and civic engagement.
Through their achievement in communities that span the globe—and giving back through their time, talent and philanthropic support—our alumni and donors are the driving force behind GW’s legacy of excellence.
Monumental CCAS Alumni
Yvonne Orji, BA '05, Sociology
Nigerian-American actress and comedian Yvonne Orji is best known for her role in the television series "Insecure," for which she has been nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and three NAACP Image Awards. Dedicated to philanthropy, she has volunteered in Liberia with Population Services International.
Josh Balk, BA '02, Political Science
Farmed animals lead better lives thanks to the work of Josh Balk, vice president of farm animal protection for The Humane Society of the United States. Balk is also co-founder of Eat Just, a food technology company which develops and markets plant-based alternatives to conventionally-produced egg products.
Dana Bash, BA '93, Political Communication
Journalist Dana Bash’s storied career at CNN began as a producer of weekend programming and has led to her current roles as the network’s chief political correspondent and co-anchor of CNN’s Sunday morning show.
You Make a Difference
As we approach the close of 2025, CCAS Dean Paul Wahlbeck takes a moment to express his sincere gratitude to the GW community.
Brewing History: Alumna Stirs Coffee’s Revolutionary Roots
In her new book, historian Michelle Craig McDonald, MA ’94, reveals coffee’s surprising place in America’s story of independence—and interdependence.
“The Harlan Fellowship offered a focused and immersive experience, which deepened my understanding, enhanced my practical skills, and provided valuable networking opportunities. ... Hands-on engagement in a lab — beyond my class work — translates theoretical knowledge into tangible outcomes, empowering my academic and professional growth."
Margarita Kyza-Karavioti
Biological Sciences Major