Featured Stories

Senior psychology major Sophia Spadaro standing in front of a poster explaining her survey of lacrosse players’ sunscreen use.

Student Research Takes Center Stage at CCAS Showcase

More than 250 undergraduate and graduate students across disciplines displayed their scholarly work at the fourth-annual CCAS Research Showcase.

Cognitive scientist Francys Subiaul outside the GW Canine Cognition Collaborative with Walter the dog

Faculty in Focus: The Learning Laboratories of Francys Subiaul

Cognitive scientist Francys Subiaul explores the science of social learning to reveal how animals acquire knowledge—and what makes humans so good at it.

A collage of four students: one in a graduation cap and gown, one standing in a suit and tie in front of the Washington Monument, one in a striped shirt and one standing with the DC skyline behind

Class of 2026 Share GW Memories

From studying abroad to attending events on campus, from lifelong friendships to life-changing internships, the CCAS Class of 2026 recalled their fondest GW memories.

GW Revolutionary Promise

GW to Offer Free Tuition to Families With Incomes Under $100,000

With GW's new program, new, first-time domestic undergraduate students entering in fall 2026 from families making less than $100,000 will receive full tuition.

Sesno Series

Trustee’s Family Foundation Bolsters Sesno Series Civil Discourse Events with $3 Million Gift

The gift from philanthropists Ted Segal, BA ’03, and Meredith Perla Segal, BAccy ’05, will expand their support of the Sesno Series and GW basketball.

Chemistry Prof Lauren Pincus in a stream and field

From Lakes to Labs, Chemistry’s Pincus Tracks Microplastics in Motion

Chemistry Professor Lauren Pincus charts plastic pollution in real-world conditions. Her work may inform strategies for a cleaner environment.

Bouchet Group

Bouchet Society Students Honored for Research, Advocacy

Nine George Washington University PhD students will join a network of preeminent scholars from across the country later this spring.

Revolutionary Tales: A First-Gen Journey

The night Justin Liu stepped onto the Foggy Bottom campus of George Washington University as a first-year student should have been the culmination of a dream.

The Cultural Impact of American Music

In a video conversation with Dean Paul Wahlbeck, Professor of Music Loren Kajikawa discusses how the power of music can serve as a medium for change.

Haitian flag, with blue and red blocks and the coat of arms of Haiti

Haiti as Emblematic of the Black Struggle for Freedom

GW’s Africana Studies Program hosts a Black History Month Symposium on fugitivity and freedom.

New Year's Reolutions...

Ask a GW Expert: Whatever Happened to Your New Year’s Resolution?

Why do as many as 80% of us abandon our resolutions in February? Psychology’s Fallon Goodman encourages realistic goals and embracing the hard parts.

Ashley Bastin

Think Fast: Students Sprint for Speed-Thesis Contest

PhD candidates distilled years of scholarship into 180 seconds at the annual Three Minute Thesis competition.

Students for Mental Health Action

Student Leads Peers on Mental Health Mission

From campus to Capitol Hill, graduate student Ethan Fitzgerald guided members of Students for Mental Health Action as they lobbied Congress for reforms.

Paul Wahlbeck

Ideas into Action: CCAS Debuts New Strategic Plan

As the college looks toward the future, Dean Paul Wahlbeck unveils a 21st century vision for the engaged liberal arts.

Anthropology graduate student Isabella Quartiere, BA ’25, with the infamous John Wilkes Booth wanted poster.

‘Wanted!’ Hunt for Lincoln’s Killer Leads Student to Artifact

Anthropology graduate student Isabella Quartiere, BA ’25, is exploring how a John Wilkes Booth wanted poster preserved at GW reflects presidential history.

GW School of Media and Public Affairs

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.

Two AI-generated dogs

AI in Action: Faculty Experiment with Teaching Tools

Through new platforms and new innovations, GW scholars and students are putting artificial intelligence to work in classrooms and clinical settings.

Understanding Behavioral Development

In a video conversation with Dean Wahlbeck, Cognitive Neuroscience Professor Gabriella Rosenblau discusses how social cognition develops in childhood, particularly for those with autism.

Technology shifts in biology field work have included drones capturing images like this view of the Nature Conservancy’s Brownsville Preserve in Nassawadox on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. (Photo: Riley Leff)

Marshes, Microbes and the Matrix of Life: Exploring Ecosystem Evolution

From the Chesapeake Bay to vents and volcanoes to D.C. parks, biology faculty detailed their field work on nature’s frontlines as part of a CCAS conversation series.

Students artun Hassan, Claire Belatti, Chloe Gordon and Mikal Armstrong in the GW SMART DC tutoring program present information to their peers on their community tutoring program partner, For Love of Children.

GW Selected for 2026 Carnegie Foundation Community Engagement Classification

The GW SMART DC tutoring program featuring CCAS students (above) was among the activities that helped GW earn the 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement.

The Ecology of Plant/Animal Interactions

In a video conversation with Dean Wahlbeck, Biology's John Lill discusses the interplay between plants and animals, and the impact of climate change on their coexistence.

John Philbeck

Into the Fire: Researcher, Firefighters Team on Life-Saving Searches

Psychology’s John Philbeck is taking his spatial cognition research out of the lab and into action to aid search and rescue squads.

Inioluwa Jobi standing in front of a framed textile piece

Writing Beyond Bars: Student Storytellers Free Incarcerated Voices

In her digital storytelling class, English’s Emma Wu connects GW students and D.C. inmates through a pen pal project for reclaiming memory and humanity.

Dusty Rogers

Senior Wins Gold in Japanese Speech Contest

Senior Dusty Rogers came to GW not knowing a word of Japanese. Now she is a Gold Award winner at the annual J.LIVE Talk competition.

Gamma ray burst chart

Black Hole Eats Star: Student Charts Record Blast

Physics PhD student Eliza Neights was part of a NASA mission that recorded a gamma-ray burst, the most powerful class of cosmic explosions, lasting for days.

Robert Lindneux’s 1942 painting “Trail of Tears” depicts the forced removal of the Cherokee people in 1838. (Courtesy Woolaroc Museum, Bartlesville, Oklahoma)

A Legacy Reconsidered: Native Voices Rewrite America’s Racial Story

In his new book, History Professor David Silverman reframes U.S. racial struggles to spotlight Indigenous identities.

GW Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Happy Holidays with stars and snow

Year-End Dean's Message: 2025

As we approach the close of 2025, CCAS Dean Paul Wahlbeck takes a moment to express his sincere gratitude to the GW community.

The State of Our Democracy

In a video conversation with CCAS Dean Paul Wahlbeck, Assistant Professor of History Timothy Shenk discusses the impact of modern American politics on our democracy.

An image from the James Webb Space Telescope reveals thousands of galaxies that are too distant for the Hubble Telescope to capture. (Photo courtesy NASA)

More Than Pretty Pictures: Space Telescopes Transform Science, Society

As part of a CCAS conversation series, GW faculty explored how images from the Hubble and James Webb telescopes reshape science and influence policy, priorities and public perception.

Coffee Nation cover on left, Michelle Craig McDonald on the right

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.

Close up of a stone tool sitting in a patch of sandy dirt

Tools of Change: Research Team Uncovers 300,000 Years of Technology Traditions

New research led by Anthropology’s David Braun reveals how early humans crafted stone tools during environmental upheaval.

The Politics of Immigration

In a video conversation with Dean Wahlbeck, Professor of Political Science & International Affairs Kimberly Morgan discusses the policies and politics driving the immigration issue.

First-year students Jocelyn Graham and Bradley Fowler traveled to D.C.’s Chinatown during an assignment for Professor Elizabeth Chacko’s Migrants in the City Dean’s Seminar.

Street Smarts: Geography Class Maps D.C.’s Immigrant Identity

In her Migrants in the City Dean’s Seminar, Geography’s Elizabeth Chacko turns the District into a classroom as students explore urban diversity.

Lien-Yung (Nyima) Kao

Math’s Kao Wins CAREER Award Honors

Mathematics Professor Lien-Yung (Nyima) Kao was recognized with NSF’s prestigious honor for his work combining ergodic theory and geometry.

Close up of a page in a book with a green highlighter highlighting the word "autism"

From Stigma to Science and Support: Anthropology’s Grinker Authors Autism Narrative

As a researcher, educator and father, Anthropology’s Roy Richard Grinker shares his personal and professional journey through autism’s changing landscape.

Lucia Kustra

DIG-ging Anthropology: Senior Bridges Labs, Leadership

Lucia Kustra studies primate cultures and leads the next generation of anthropologists as president of the DIG pre-professional fraternity.

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The Fine Print on Fingerprints

In classrooms and crime scenes, forensic sciences’ Heidi Eldridge relies on evidence over assumptions and encourages students to think for themselves.

A tennis ball on a blue tennis court

Game, Set, Science: How Physics Powers Tennis

From hardcourts to hard science, CCAS faculty and alumni explain why physics can perfect your play.

Alex Nyerges and Lindsay Chervinsky

Alumni Authors Write History’s Second Draft

In new books, alumni authors Alex Nyerges, BA ’79, MA ’82, and Lindsay Chervinsky, BA ’10, bring history to life.

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Donor Opens Up New Worlds

Supported by an alumna’s gift, students in Short-Term Study Abroad programs journeyed to historical and cultural locales at the center of their studies.

Chet'la Sebree

Poetry in Motion: Sebree Writes Outside the Lines

In her poetry and her classroom, English Professor Chet’la Sebree challenges the stories we tell ourselves about art, AI and how to make sense of the world.

Beautiful landscape showing mountains and trees at the 550,000-acre Vermejo Ranch in New Mexico (Photo: Andrew McCabe)

Field Study: Chronicling Conservation at Turner Reserves

Through a partnership with Planet Forward, students and recent graduates honed their environmental storytelling skills in the New Mexico landscape.

Black white and gray image of physics equipment lit up from behind

The Particle Whisperers

GW experimental physicists are pioneering big science at the smallest scale.

Ken Wang in a blue GW shirt and blue shorts standing in front of a gate and a pond

Alumnus Maps out Geography Opportunities

By utilizing GW resources both in and out of the classroom, Ken Wang, BA ’25, discovered a passion for geographic information systems during his studies.

Patrick Wohl next to an image of his book cover, Something Big

True Crime Buster: Alumnus Revisits a Tragedy, Rewrites a Genre

In his new book, attorney and author Patrick Wohl, BA ’16, delves into a brutal murder from his hometown to tell the victims’ stories.

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Class of 2025 Share GW Memories

From internships and classroom experiences to lifelong friendships and one-of-a-kind events, the CCAS Class of 2025 recalled their fondest GW memories.

Emily-Anne Santiago

From Campus Leader to Truman Scholar: Junior Honored for Public Service

Political science and accounting major Emily-Anne Santiago was one of 54 outstanding students nationwide to receive the highly competitive scholarship.

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Ten Years of Transformation: Cisneros Institute Celebrates a Decade of Empowering Student Leadership

Since its founding in 2015, the Cisneros Institute has built communities, spearheaded scholarship and made students’ dreams come true.

Commencement speaker Jonquel Jones at a podium in a blue gown and black cap

‘Your Gut Doesn’t Lie’: WNBA’s Jones Inspires Graduates to Trust Their Instincts

The GW basketball Hall of Famer and former CCAS criminal justice major headlined a joyous Commencement ceremony for the Class of 2025 on the National Mall.

Liberal Arts in an AI World: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Teaching

CCAS hosted a panel discussion focused on ways faculty can best navigate the shifting landscape that AI technology brings to liberal arts learning objectives.

presentations on many wallboards with several groups in discussion at 2025 student research showcase

Time to Shine: CCAS Showcase Highlights Student Research

More than 200 undergraduate and graduate students across disciplines displayed their scholarly work at the third annual CCAS Research Showcase.

Blue balloon and sign with gold garland welcoming students to the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy & Public Administration

Trachtenberg, EESI Team on Environmental Scholarship

Graduate student Amelia Lindsay-Kaufman is the first recipient of the new Environmental and Energy Study Institute Graduate Fellowship.

formulas and charts on a whiteboard

The Art of Uncertainty: In Stats Class, Probability is a Passion

In his Dean’s Seminar on the Science of Uncertainty, Professor Hosam M. Mahmoud turns stories into statistics as he finds the elegance in equations.

Malathi Thothathiri with student researchers

Behavior Linked to Language in Young Children

A new study led by CCAS speech scientist Malathi Thothathiri provides the first solid evidence connecting executive functioning to youth language development.

Fulbright Top Producer badge: US Student and Scholar Programs, 2024-25

GW Among Top Fulbright Producers for 2024–25

The university produced 13 Fulbright U.S. Students and five Fulbright U.S. Scholars in the academic year.

From left: CCAS Associate Dean for Graduate Studies Chad Heap with Bouchet nominees Jonathan M. Huie, Kailyn Price, Tatiana Ruiz, Ashley Bastin, Jasmine Charter-Harris and CCAS Dean Paul Wahlbeck. (Photos: William Atkins/GW Today)

Bouchet Society Students Recognized for Research and Advocacy

Five PhD students will be inducted into the prestigious Bouchet Graduate Honor Society, which celebrates excellence and diversity.

A person's hand holding a magnifying glass over the acronym "ADHD"

Study: ADHD Links to Autism in Adults

New research led by Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences’ Gregory L. Wallace provides health insights into the intersection of autism and ADHD in adulthood.

MC Daubendiek standing in a GDUB tshirt on the volleyball court

Knee Deep: Senior Joins Art and Sports

Luther Rice Fellow MC Daubendiek, a volleyball player and artist, told the bruising story of student-athletes through photos of one body part: their knees.

Natalie Boyle holding a certificate showing her first place win at the 3MT 2025 competition

Beat the Clock: Students Fast Track in Speed-Thesis Contest

Neuroscience PhD candidate Natalie Boyle sprinted to victory in the Three-Minute Thesis Competition.

Jimmy Saw (left) and Zhengtian Xu received CAREER awards from the National Science Foundation.

Biology’s Saw, Engineering’s Xu Win CAREER Awards

Microbiology professor Jimmy Saw and civil and environmental engineering professor Zhengtian Xu were recognized with the National Science Foundation honor.

AI's Role in the Humanities

In a video conversation with CCAS Dean Wahlbeck, History's Katrin Schultheiss discusses the challenges and opportunities regarding the use of AI in the humanities.

A road built on thawing permafrost with logs used to stabilize frozen ground.

Study: Arctic Permafrost Rapidly Sinking

Geography’s Dmitry Streletskiy is tracking the alarming deterioration of frozen permafrost as it sinks in areas of the Arctic.

Illustration of early tetrapods and tetrapod-like fishes that lived near the time of the evolutionary transition from water to land.

Fish Out of Water: Keck Grant Helps Biologist Wade into Evolution Pool

With a new grant, Biology Professor Sandy Kawano will take giant leaps toward understanding how amphibious ancestors took small steps onto land.

"Ethics" spelled out in Scrabble tiles

Life-or-Death Decisions: Philosophy Student Weighs Ethics of Organ Transplants

Luther Rice Fellow Seyeon Moon is applying philosophy and bioethical standards to understanding who receives organ transplants—and who doesn’t.

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A Man for All Seasons

From a controversial civil rights figure to an American icon, History Professor Eric Arnesen explains how Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy has shifted over time.

The Ancient World: Collapse and Resilience

In a video conversation with CCAS Dean Wahlbeck, Professor Eric Cline discusses the collapse and resilience of the ancient world, and lessons for today.

Fighting Human Pathogens

In a video conversation with CCAS Dean Wahlbeck, Chemistry's Cindy Dowd discusses her work to fight disease through the development of inhibitors to human pathogens.

Former President Jimmy Carter appearing at Lisner Auditorium in 2007.

Former President Carter Remembered as Humanitarian, Visionary

In the wake of the 39th president’s death, CCAS historians examined Jimmy Carter’s complicated legacy.

A young male chimpanzee in the Täi Forest of Côte d ́Ivoire cracking a nut

Inside Ancient Toolkits: Partnership Seeks Primates’ Wooden Tech

A team including GW anthropologists and physicists are working in forest field sites and campus computer labs to fill a blank page of the archaeological record.

Four students in white aprons standing at a kitchen counter cutting and prepping ingredients

Cooking Up Culture Italian Style

From the classroom to the kitchen, students explored Italy’s culinary traditions in Italian Professor Lynn Westwater’s hearty history and literature course.

Our Democracy at Work

In a video conversation with CCAS Dean Wahlbeck, Professor of Political Science Chris Warshaw discusses how public opinion and political outcomes impact policy.

GW President Ellen Granberg with the 2023 Arthur S. Flemming Award winners. (Photo Courtesy National Academy of Public Administration)

Flemming Awards Marked 75 Years of Honoring Government Service Excellence

In partnership with TSPPPA, the awards recognized accomplishments including combating human trafficking and improving addiction treatment.

A group of protestors carrying signs reading "COVID is a hoax"

Cracking the Code of Science Denial

From Galileo to COVID, science breakthroughs have been shadowed by science deniers. Chemistry’s Holden Thorp teaches students how to read their playbook.

Katherine Marshall Woods

How to Cope with Post-Election Stress

For many, the anxiety of the presidential election remains. Clinical Psychology’s Katherine Marshall Woods has tips for unwinding and sharing kindness.

Nina Agyemang sitting at an anchor desk in a TV station with signs for CBS News in the background

Empowering Future Leaders with the Nana Agyemang Media Scholarship

Nana Agyemang, BA ’16, is using her platform, EveryStylishGirl, and an endowed scholarship at GW to help lift the next generation.

Cognitive Neuroscience Professor Sarah Shomstein sitting in front of a computer at a desk in a sunny office

Imagine That: Professor Pictures Unique Mind’s Eye

Psychology’s Sarah Shomstein was skeptical of aphantasia, a phenomenon where people lack mental imagery. Then she looked inside her own head.

Online hate network map

Study: Presidential Elections Bring Online Hate Communities Together

A research team led by Physics’ Neil Johnson detailed how major events strengthen global hate networks online and incite new content around hot-button issues.

Political Music

How Political Campaigns Send Messages through Music

Music Professor Loren Kajikawa includes Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton and more on his ‘greatest hits’ playlist.

Edward P. Jones in grey shirt

The Worlds of Edward P. Jones

English Professor and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jones shapes worlds of fiction in his head. And now his work has been ranked among the century’s best.

Two students in the foreground of a classroom image, both working with laptops at desks

New CCAS Graduate Degrees Expand Advanced Learning Opportunities

From museum studies and history to geography and psychology, the graduate programs cater to students whose interests span disciplines.

Statistics Professors Huixia Judy Wang (left) and Tatiyana Apanasovich

Data Science Bootcamp to Promote Diverse Partnership

Statistics Professors Tatiyana Apanasovich and Huixia Judy Wang received a PIT-UN grant to support a collaborative project with minority-serving institutions.

A billboard in a country field with a barn in the background

Corcoran, National Gallery Partner for Pioneering Artistic Residency

The Corcoran School and the National Gallery of Art are launching a three-year artist residency for artist-led collective For Freedoms.

A Century of Discovery: Corcoran Hall Marks 100 Years of Science Milestones

Corcoran Hall is celebrating a centennial anniversary as a historic hub of science landmarks—from the Big Bang theory to modern breakthroughs.

Oksana Yakushko standing next to a shelf full of books

Transforming Trauma: Yakushko Brings Expertise, Advocacy to Professional Psychology Role

An expert in addressing the mental health scars of wars, new Professional Psychology Director Oksana Yakushko has elevated immigrant stories—including her own.

Close up image of a butterfly with one orange patterned wing and one all-white one

Dark Matter Solves Butterfly Evolutionary Mystery

A new study led by GW biology researchers revealed how an unexpected genetic mechanism influences the evolution of butterfly wing coloration.

A person's hand writing the letters "A.I." on a chalkboard

Ghost in the Machine: Can the Humanities Learn to Love AI?

AI is transforming university classrooms and changing our relationship to technology. English’s Alexa Alice Joubin explains how the humanities can lead the way.

Artist Hans Heinrich Bebie depicted an 1870s socialite hairstyling session in his painting Conversation (Group of Baltimore Girls).

Hair-Raising History: How Coifs and Cuts Styled an Era

In her new book, art historian Elizabeth L. Block, BA ’94, explains how hair helped fashion the post-Civil War nation.

Joe Gidjunis sits outside with an arm around his small son. A colorful mural is behind them.

GW Alumnus Shows Fathers How to Grow Up Along with their Children

Alumnus Joe Gidjunis, BA ’04, created a PBS television series aimed at helping men be better dads.

shutterstock_books

Page Through the CCAS Alumni and Faculty Bookcase

A tour through local politics, a peek inside the Supreme Court and a trip into the ancient past all highlight a library of recent titles by CCAS alumni & faculty.

GW logo on the side of a tall brick and glass building, with trees with orange and red leaves in front

Welcome to GW!

Ten scholars from an array of disciplines were recruited by the university to join Columbian College’s roster of permanent full-time faculty members this year.

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Live From the Mall: CCAS Class of ’24 Shared Memories at Commencement

In the shadows of the Washington Monument on Commencement Day, members of the CCAS Class of 2024 shared stories about their friends, their faculty and how their university experience helped shaped...

bongani_ndebele_and_lauren_patrick

Two GW Students Earn Civic Fellowships for Commitment to Public Service

Recipients Bongani Ndebele and Lauren Patrick have been heavily involved in civic engagement projects through the Honey W. Nashman Center while at GW.

Diane Harris Cline

New Endowment Memorializes Beloved Professor’s Impact

History and Classics’ Professor Diane Harris Cline was remembered as a devoted educator. A gift honoring her legacy will aid students.

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GW Scholars Honored with Fulbright Fellowships

Four Columbian College faculty members were offered research opportunities with the distinguished Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program.

Many cicadas on the branches of a tree

Cicadapalooza! Historic Insect Convergence Bugs Midwest States

Two broods of cicadas are emerging simultaneously in 17 states—a phenomenon that last occurred more than 200 years ago.

A collage showing images of two women students smiling and one student in the center in a basketball uniform

Class of 2024 Share GW Memories

From internships and classroom experiences to forging friendships and attending one-of-a-kind events, the CCAS Class of 2024 recalled their fondest GW memories.

Undergraduate and graduate students displayed poster presentations of their scholarly work at the annual CCAS Research Showcase. (Photos: William Atkins/GW Today)

Student Research Shines at CCAS Showcase

Undergraduate and graduate students across the sciences, social sciences and humanities displayed their scholarly work at the CCAS Research Showcase.

An 1850 illustration depicts Irish immigrants sailing to the US on an overcrowded ship during the potato famine.

History Detectives: Following the Lives of Potato Famine Immigrants

History’s Tyler Anbinder and his student researchers dug through 100 years of bank records from Irish immigrants. What they found rewrote a historical tale.

Lisa Lipinski standing in a white gallery next to a sculpture of green windowed doors

The Playful, Elusive Legacy of a Great Provocateur

GW art history students learn about Marcel Duchamp while curating an exhibit showing his influence.

The fossil skull of Kermitops alongside a modern frog skull, Lithobates palustris.

It’s Not Easy Being Green: New Species Named for Kermit the Frog

Kermitops gratus, an ancient species of amphibians discovered by researchers including GW Biology's Cal So, pays homage to the iconic Muppet.

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CCAS Community Members Recognized for DEI Contributions

Faculty, students and staffers were honored for their “unwavering commitment to DEI principles.”

Physics Ph.D. student Nick Kirschner working with wires in a physics lab

Ready to Launch: A GW Student’s NASA Mission

PhD student Nick Kirschner’s research journey took him from NASA to the New Mexico desert—part of an agreement that is propelling GW astrophysics to new heights.

springsteen_obama

Born to Run—for President

How did Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen team toward the political promised land? Luther Rice Fellow Maureen Rafter studied the president and the Boss.

Chemistry's Role in Studying Brain Disease

In a video conversation with CCAS Dean Paul Wahlbeck, Chemistry's Ling Hao discusses the role of chemistry, bioinformatics and cell biology in the study of human neurodegenerative diseases.

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Making Hiss-tory: How Snakes Scaled Evolutionary Heights

From losing legs to stretching skulls, snakes evolved faster and with more variety than other species, a new study reveals.

Laura Schiavo

Never Neutral: U.S. Museums Face Historical ‘Reckoning’

With museums across the country reexamining their Native American exhibits, Laura Schiavo uncovers a legacy of political and cultural influence.

A group of alumni, students, and faculty talking together in the City View Room

Politics & Values: 50th Anniversary Celebration

More than 60 Columbian College alumni, students and faculty came together to celebrate the 50 year anniversary of the Politics & Value Program at GW.

Democracy's Shifting Attitude

In a video conversation with CCAS Dean Wahlbeck, Professor of Political Science Andrew Thompson discusses the impact of threat and anxiety on American Democracy.

Data science students working on the DSSD Ukraine map include (clockwise from left)

Data Science Students Map a Mission for Ukraine

As winter sets in, Ukrainians face harsh temperatures in war-torn homes. But CCAS students are using their data science skills to map out a rescue plan.

Caroline J. Smith in her kitchen surrounded by cookware and holding her book

Our Kitchens, Ourselves

In her book, Writing Professor Caroline J. Smith serves up a tour of how kitchens have changed over the decades to reflect societal shifts and gender politics.

A Question of Ethics

In a video conversation with CCAS Dean Wahlbeck, Elton Professor of Philosophy David DeGrazia discusses "moral status" and the role of ethics in policies relating to AI, healthcare and more. 

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GW Entrepreneurs Win Recognition in International Investment Competition

Nanochon & Early Innovation Systems, GW-founded health innovation firms, were two of the five finalists at World Business Angel Investment Forum in South Africa.

Following endurance athlete Kerry Gruson’s presentation to the Extreme Decisions class, from left, junior Bri Attey Mouanjo, senior Aahil Virani and junior Afure Moses-Taiga added well-wishes to her signature “performance pants.”  (Photos: Lily Speredelozzi)

Org Sci Class Examines Decision Making

Students in Nils Olsen’s organizational sciences seminar on Extreme Decisions explore how decision makers operate under intense pressures.

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Finding Beauty Behind Bars

First-year student Lea Nepomuceno advocates for the rights of incarcerated people. Her newest project aims to ease a hygiene crisis in prisons—and help restore dignity to inmates.

The Impact of Immigration Status on Wellbeing

CCAS Dean Paul Wahlbeck discusses the impact of immigration status on an individual’s education and wellbeing in a conversation with Elizabeth Vaquera, director of the Cisneros Institute.

Through Clinic+O, Nasser Diallo, BA ’18, (in blue) combines virtual medical consultations with in-person care in his native Guinea.

Mercy Mission: Alumnus Connects West Africa to Health Care

Nasser Diallo, BA ’18, founded Clinic+O to improve health care access for millions in his native Guinea and across West Africa.

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The Cicada Cycle: How the Buzzing Bugs Alter Forest Food Chains

New research by GW biologists reveals that even after cicada emergences subside, the insect invasion continues to eat away at ecosystems.

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Popular GW Course Examines Political Visions in Movies

Elisabeth Anker’s students relate political readings to films.

Vials in a lab being filled with clear blue liquid

Lab Tech: Is AI the Drug Developer of the Future?

At a summit of leading scholars and researchers, Chemistry’s Jakub Kostal discussed whether using AI technology in drug development is revolutionary—or risky.

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Kerry Washington's Inspiring Return to GW: A Master Class, a Book Launch and a Revolutionary Revelation

The actor and alumna hosted an intimate discussion with theatre students before her sold-out book tour event at Lisner Auditorium.

2023-24 Terker Fellows Mindy Finn and Jonathan Karl

New SMPA Terker Fellows to Bring Experience and Share Knowledge with Students

As fellows, award-winning journalist Jonathan Karl and CEO of Citizen Data Mindy Finn will contribute their expertise to class discussions and events at SMPA.

A chamber ensemble in Professor Ning Yu’s class performs Michael Beil’s Deep Blue (2022) at Corcoran’s NEXT Festival 2023.

GW’s Corcoran School and the National Gallery of Art Collaborate on New Home for Emerging Art and Education

The new initiative is the first major programmatic partnership between the National Gallery and a university to provide immersive learning opportunities for students.

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Quito J. Swan Brings Global Links to Africana Studies

As the new director of the CCAS Africana Studies Program, Swan strives to make connections—across disciplines, movements and oceans.

Program Coordinator Nico MacDougall (second from right) with Harlan scholars (from left) Cole Christensen, Valerie Chen, Zoe Ilgenfritz, Martina Tsimba, Maggie Connolly and Margarita Kyza-Karavioti  at the Botanic Gardens. Not shown is Harlan scholar Kiana Kamrava.

Summer School: Bio Students Thrive in Harlan Fellowship

A cohort of biology students spent their summer in the lab and the field thanks to a CCAS program that supports undergraduate research opportunities.

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Dogs With Less Complex Facial Markings Found to Be More Expressive in their Communication with Humans

New study explores the relationship between a canine’s facial appearance and how expressive they appear to be when communicating with their human companions.

A man and woman in a lab

CCAS Research Activity Hits New High

CCAS research expenditures—grant funding spent by faculty to conduct research—soared to $19.7 million during fiscal year 2023.

Gilbert Cisneros, BA ’94, spoke with students from the Caminos al Futuro on the terrace of the City View Room overlooking the Washington Monument.

Latino Students Shine in College Prep Program

Caminos al Futuro welcomed high-achieving high school students to campus this summer for a unique educational experience.

A view of Ivotuk, Alaska, along the Brooks Mountain Range

Cold Spell: Alumna Recalls Arctic Adventures

As an anthropologist in remote Alaska, alumna Georgeie Reynolds, BA ’73, MA ’76, braved bear attacks and hypothermia scares while unearthing ancient artifacts.

The "Cellphone: Unseen Connections" exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History is partly influenced by the research efforts of GW scholars and students. (Photos courtesy Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History)

Cellphone Central: Smithsonian Exhibit Dials into GW Collaboration

With input from GW scholars and students, a new exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History charts how cellphones have changed our lives and our planet.

GW Professors Gate

Introducing New CCAS Faculty!

Columbian College welcomes 26 new permanent full-time faculty this year, adding expertise to disciplines across the sciences, social sciences and humanities.

Ryan Patterson taking a photo of an airplane as it takes off

Flying High: Alumnus Soars with Airplane Pics

Organizational sciences alum Ryan Patterson, BA ’22, MS ’23, is a star aviation photographer. His unique views of planes have taken off around the world.

Collection of shell specimens

Student Research at GW and Beyond Grows through Digitized Scientific Collections

WLP Director and Associate Professor of Biology Carly Jordan was granted $1 million by the National Science Foundation for CUREs, enhancing online natural history collections use.

Alumnus John Sullivan (left) with CCAS Dean Paul Wahlbeck (right).

Alumnus’ $1.5 Million Endowment to Support Math Department

A $1.5 million bequest commitment by alumnus John Dixon Sullivan, BS ’76, MS ’83, will aid faculty, research and scholarly work in the Mathematics Department.

Photographer Max Hirshfeld, BA ’73 (left) and journalist Andrew Desiderio, BA ’17.

Alumni in Focus: CCAS Community Share Art and Stories

Photographer Max Hirshfeld, BA ’73, channeled his vision into his parents’ story. Reporter Andrew Desiderio, BA ’17, uses his journalism degree on Capitol Hill.

Class of 2023 Share GW Memories

From fellowships and friendships to performances and protests, CCAS students recalled their fondest memories as they prepared to receive their 2023 degrees.

Conference panelists included (from left) former Washington Post correspondents Peter Osnos and Keith Richburg, Columbia University historian Lien-Hang Nguyen and former U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Raymond Burghardt.

Lessons from Vietnam: Why the War Still Resonates Today

In a CCAS-sponsored event, historians, cultural experts and political and military leaders reflected on the Vietnam War’s global influence 50 years later.

Biology and statistics major Chaitrali Patil discussed her project on designing safer pesticides with CCAS Dean Paul Wahlbeck at the CCAS Research Showcase. (Photos: William Atkins/GW Today)

CCAS Showcase Celebrates Student Research

More than 125 undergraduate and graduate students across the disciplines displayed their scholarly work at the inaugural CCAS Research Showcase.

ukraine_main_tanks

Friends on the Frontlines: Alumnus Illustrates Ukraine War

As Russia attacked Ukraine, political science alumnus Gregg Bucken-Knapp, Ph.D. ’99, contacted friends in harm’s way. In an illustrated book, he honors their stories.

History doctoral candidate and U.S. Marine veteran A.J. Cade. (Photo William Atkins)

History Restored: The Untold Story of Black Civil War Soldiers

History PhD candidate and Marine vet A.J. Cade was inspired by a forgotten Civil War regiment of all-Black soldiers. Now, he’s bringing their legacy to life.

Fall Goodman giving a TED talk

Fear of Failing: The Secrets Behind Social Anxiety

For the 40 million Americans with social anxiety disorder, even casual encounters can be paralyzing. Psychology’s Fallon Goodman helps them make connections.

Climate Change and the Thawing Permafrost

In a conversation with CCAS Dean Paul Wahlbeck, Geography's Dmitry Streletskiy discusses the impact of climate change on the overall sustainability of the Arctic.

Akos Vertes (left) and Chet Sherwood (right)

Two GW Scientists Nab International Recognition

Chemistry’s Akos Vertes and Anthropology’s Chet Sherwood (right) were elected AAAS Fellows, the scientific community’s top honor for innovators in the field.

Against a black background reads 'Mellon Foundation' in white text

Mellon Funds Humanities Project Focused on Storytelling

The CCAS English Department will join a Mellon Foundation project to provide marginalized populations with the empowering capacities of storytelling.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist stands in front of a classroom while he speaks to students

A Novel Approach to Stuttering: Listening

Former NBA star Michael Kidd-Gilchrist gave CCAS speech pathology students a glimpse into his experiences with stuttering.

Addressing Suicide Risks Among Black Youths

In a conversation with Dean Paul Wahlbeck, Psychology's Sherry Molock discusses her work to address rising suicides rates among African American adolescents.

André Culbreath

Culbreath Named Inaugural DEI Director for CCAS

A veteran of DEI management, André Culbreath will work with CCAS Dean Paul Wahlbeck to strengthen the college’s commitment to diversity.

Junior American Studies major Noor Jehan Ansari discussed the experiences of Muslim students at the Interrogating GW conference. (Photos: William Atkins).

Interrogating the Past: Students Reveal GW History

In his American Studies capstone course, Tom Guglielmo asks students to train a critical eye on GW’s legacy—from Civil War archives to on-campus activism.

George Washington's Life and Legacy

In a video conversation with CCAS Dean Paul Wahlbeck, History Professor Denver Brunsman discusses George Washington's life and the impact of his legacy today.

Tim Shenk

Whatever Happened to Coalition Building?

Why can’t modern American political systems build consensus? Timothy Shenk's new book explores how visionaries once forged majorities—and how polarization tore them apart.

Jarva Weiss, a white woman with medium length silver hair, sits on a white Adirondack chair. There is a lake and a smattering of trees behind her. On the right is her husband, Daniel Weiss. He has short, dark hair with silver in it as well. The couple are holding hands.

Giving Back: For Alumna, Scholarships Spark Opportunities

A scholarship helped alumna Sandra Jarva Weiss, BA ’80, JD ’83, meet her husband and make only-at-GW memories. Now she’s helping students write their own stories.