Graduate Student Appreciation Week

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Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week was started in 1993 by the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students as a way to support and appreciate graduate and professional students. The week seeks to emphasize the contributions, impact and value of graduate and professional students on campuses throughout the United States.

 


Message to Students from CCAS Dean Wahlbeck

 

 


Events

The CCAS Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) and the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs (OGPA) will host a number of events for students during GSAW 2025. 

Monday, March 31st

Opening Reception, 6:00 - 8:00 PM, City View Room at the Elliott School of International Affairs (Hosted by OGPA)

This is an opportunity to network with and meet students from GW’s graduate and professional student programs.

Remarks will be given by GW President Granberg, Provost Bracey, Vice Provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs Suresh Subramaniam, and GW Student Government Association President Ethan Fitzgerald.

Be sure to RSVP as soon as possible as there are limited spots!

 RSVP Here

Wine, Beverages and hor d'eourves will be served.

Wednesday, April 2nd

Wellness Wednesday, 1:00 - 4:30 PM, USC Room 403 (Hosted by OGPA)

Take a well-deserved break with Wellness Wednesday! Unwind with zen coloring and tap into your creativity, or craft your own essential oil room spray for a touch of relaxation at home. This is the perfect opportunity to de-stress and recharge in a calming environment!

Ice Cream Social, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Courtyard outside Smith Hall, Suite 118 (Hosted by OGS)

Join the CCAS Office of Graduate Studies outside Smith Hall, Suite 118 for ice cream with your fellow graduate students. Registration is not required - just stop by!

Interview with Ease, 5:00 - 6:00 PM, Virtual (Hosted by OGS)

CCAS Career Services is excited to bring back Interview With Ease again this semester! Gain essential tips and tricks that will take your interviewing skills to the next level, and more importantly, allow you to interview with ease and confidence.

 Register Here

Thursday, April 3rd

Music in the Yard, 3:00 - 5:00 PM, Potomac Square (Hosted by OGPA)

Take a break and enjoy an afternoon of fun at Music in the Yard! Relax in the sun, listen to great music, and hang out with friends while enjoying free pizza (vegan and gluten-free options available). Challenge your friends to lawn games or just soak up the atmosphere—it's the perfect midweek refresh! Register here

Register Here

Friday, April 4th

Happy Hour @ Hive Hotel Rooftop, 4:00 - 7:00 PM, 2224 F Street, NW (Hosted by OGPA)

Wrap up the week with Happy Hour at Hive! Enjoy a fun and relaxing evening with friends and fellow students. The first 200 students to register and attend will receive a free drink! Plus, we’ll be announcing the GPSAW raffle winner at this event, so don’t miss your chance to win a GW-branded merch gift basket! Come celebrate, socialize, and cheers to a great week!

RSVP Here


Daily Prize Draw

Each day during Graduate Student Appreciation Week, we will randomly draw a CCAS graduate student's name to win a swag bag! Make sure to check you email in case you've won!


Awards and Recognition

2025 3MT Competition

Congratulations to the 2025 3MT Competition winners! 

  • First Place and People's Choice: Natalie Boyle, PhD, Neuroscience
  • Second Place: Sarah Kleb, PhD, Microbiology and Immunology
  • Third Place: Alex Edwards, PhD, Neuroscience

Congratulations to all CCAS competitors! We are so proud to have had this group representing CCAS at the 3MT competition!

  • Awanti Shastri (Biological Sciences)
  • Brita Ostermeier  (Microbiology & Immunology)
  • Hasara Rathnasekara (Economics)
  • Jaci Dickerson (Public Administration and Public Policy)
  • Maheen Javaid (Economics)
  • Michael Guy (Early American History)
  • Pamela Chansky (Genomics & Bioinformatics)

2025 Bouchet Honor Society Inductees

Congratulations to our 2025 Bouchet Honor Society Inductees!

  • Ashley Bastin (Biological Sciences, CCAS)
  • Jasmine Charter-Harris (Exercise Physiology and Applied Nutrition, GWSPH)
  • Jonathan M. Huie (Biological Sciences, CCAS)
  • Kailyn Price (Neuroscience, GW SMHS)
  • Tatiana Ruiz (Public Policy and Administration, CCAS)

2025 Philip Amsterdam Graduate Student Teaching Awards

Congratulations to our excellent CCAS graduate teaching assistants!

  • Clara Lucia Mariencheck (Anthropology, CCAS)
  • Marissa Nicole Mowers (Sociology, CCAS)
  • Matthew L. Riemer (American Studies, CCAS)
  • Taisha Blanc (Psychological and Brain Sciences, CCAS)


Student Shout-Outs

Throughout the week, graduate students will receive shout-outs highlighting their achievements!

Submit Your Shout-Outs Here!

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Mary-Edens McAbee

Thank you for being such an amazing groupmate, classmate, and friend. I don't know if I would have settled into the program as easily as I have without your help. Beyond our group project, your guidance has really helped me figure out my academic trajectory. Keep being great!

Matt

 

Eden Rotonda

You are the best grad student! You are so appreciated!!

Graduate Research Assistant Measuring Urban Sustainability in Transition

 

Laura Chioma Jones

I see all the hard work you are putting in to support yourself, your professional goals, and your clients. You're an inspiration for me as I'm growing into a new professional, and I cannot wait to see what you are going to do as we approach graduation and beyond. I'm proud of you!

Nicky Sullivan

 

Anya Parks

For your seemingly endless energy, infectious enthusiasm and outstanding commitment to research and student mentorship, THANK YOU!

Subiaul :-)

 

Lara McCallister

For your warm smile, perseverance in the face of challenges, and inspiring intellectual curiosity, thank you! The lab couldn't run without you and everything you do.

Subiaul :-)

 

Priscilla Grunauer

For your kind disposition, passion for research, and resilience, thank you!

Subiaul :-)

 

Anysha Luna

Since joining our Career Development Office at GW Law this year, Anysha has demonstrated she is a fast learner and exudes professionalism. We are so happy to have you on our team!

Emma Meverden

 

Ashley Bastin

You are doing well, keep up your great work!

Michael Bukrinsky

 

Priscilla

You've been through a lot, but you always stay grounded and keep moving forward step by step. I really admire your quiet strength and steady effort. Keep being you‚ & those qualities will take you far!

Your accessible advisor

 

Trace Walker

Dear Trace,
You've done such great work this year and congrats on your great F99/K00 score! Thank you also for mentoring Sanjana who is doing really well with her analyses. I'm glad you will have the opportunity to present your work at the GRC and am looking forward to the feedback from this.

Kate

 

Kevin Nestler

Dear Kevin,
Thank you for all of your hard work in the lab both on the RNA methylation project and on the really interesting long-term survivor data! Thanks also for mentoring Zainab, she is doing really well. I was so impressed by your revised F31 and hope that it will be funded!

Kate

 

Abby Lee

Dear Abby,
Thank you for all of your hard work this year which has paid off in a successful mouse manufacture of antigen-specific T cells! I'm looking forward to seeing how this works in mouse models, potentially adding epigenetic drugs. Thanks also for mentoring Loretta in her own small project!

Kate

 
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Emily Williams

Happy Graduate Student Appreciation Week! Great research progress this year! Thanks for being a fantastic lab member, and thank you for planning our annual lab cherry blossom trip each year!

Maho

 

Sally Feng

Happy Graduate Student Appreciation Week! Thanks for all your contributions and congratulations on all your research accomplishments this year!

Maho

 

Katherine Schrett

Katherine has been an amazing fount of knowledge and a true friend within the Art History Department.

Tyler

 

Mia Breitenstein

Mia has been doing an amazing job taking over as our student worker! She's absolutely wonderful! Thank you for all your hard work, Mia :)

Forensic Psychology Team

 

Sydney Woods

Thank you, Sydney, for your leadership as GW SOBS President, and congratulations on being a panelist at Winter Brain 2025 and placing sixth at SMHS Research Showcase!

GWIBS Team

 

Claudia Melo

Claudia, congratulations on earning an NIH F31 grant, presenting and judging at ABRCMS, and placing fifth at SMHS's Research Showcase! We also appreciate your hard work recruiting students, being a lab tour guide at Open House, and serving as GW SOBS Vice President.

GWIBS Team

 

Joselyn Padilla

Thank you, Joselyn, for recruiting students and serving as GW SOBS Treasurer and a GW SPARC mentor! Additional congratulations for your poster presentation and judging at ABRCMS. We appreciate you!

GWIBS Team

 

Elton VanNoy

Congratulations, Elton, for placing first for CTOP poster at the GWCC Retreat and honorable mention at Research Showcase! We also appreciate your hard work serving as GW SOBS Recruitment Chair, organizing peer mentors for new students, and organizing welcome dinners during interview days. Thank you!

GWIBS Team

 

Jonathan Lochner

Jonathan, congratulations on earning an NIH T32 award, and thank you so much for serving as GW SOBS Secretary!

GWIBS Team

 

Natalie Boyle

Natalie, great job winning first place and People's Choice at the Three Minute Thesis Competition! We also appreciate your hard work serving as an interview day data blitz presenter and as the GW SOBS Social Events Chair.

GWIBS Team

 

Sarah Tiufekchiev-Grieco

Sarah, thank you so much for serving as a GW SOBS Board Member. We appreciate you!

GWIBS Team

 

Erin Jones

Thank you, Erin, for serving as the GW SOBS Academic Chair! You organized a great lab rotation presentation for new students, and we appreciate all your hard work.

GWIBS Team

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Shruti Gupta

Shruti, thank you for supporting IBS at the Society for Neuroscience grad school fair! You're destined for great things!

GWIBS Team

 

Sreejita Arnab

Thank you so much, Sreejita, for supporting IBS at the Society for Neuroscience grad school fair! We appreciate all your hard work.

GWIBS Team

 

Susan Weiner

Susan, thank you for being a welcome dinner ambassador during interview days and being the designated de-mystifier of red tape for students at CNH labs! You're great!

GWIBS Team

 

Shoron Mowla

Thank you so much, Shoron, for serving as a welcome dinner ambassador during interview days! You make us proud!

GWIBS Team

 

Daniall Masood

Daniall, thank you so much for serving as a welcome dinner ambassador during interview days. Keep up the great work!

GWIBS Team

 

Abby Lee

Abby, thank you for serving as a welcome dinner ambassador during interview days and being a valued GW SPARC student mentor!

GWIBS Team

 

Sabrina Edgeworth

Thank you so much Sabrina for serving as a welcome dinner ambassador during interview days! Keep up the amazing work!

GWIBS Team

 

Martha Rondon

Thank you, Martha, for serving as a welcome dinner ambassador during interview days! We appreciate you!

GWIBS Team

 

Manushri Dalvi

Manushri, thank you for serving as a welcome dinner ambassador during interview days! You're great!

GWIBS Team

 

Lana Jagannathan

Thank you, Lana, for serving as a welcome dinner ambassador during interview days! You make us proud!

GWIBS Team

 

Jada Covington

Jada, thank you for serving as a welcome dinner ambassador during interview days! Keep being amazing!

GWIBS Team

 

Tommy DeStefanis

Congratulations, Tommy, on earning an NIH T32 award and thank you for serving as a welcome dinner ambassador during interview days! Keep up the hard work!

GWIBS Team

 
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Abigail Haffey

Abigail, thank you so much for serving as a welcome dinner ambassador during interview days. We appreciate you!

GWIBS Team

 

Sarah Kleb

Sarah, congratulations on earning the Art of Science grand prize, placing second place in the Three Minute Thesis Competition, and placing fourth at SMHS Research Showcase! We also appreciate your hard work serving as an ambassador during interview days and a lab tour guide during open house.

GWIBS Team

 

Lily Parker

Lily, thank you so much for serving as a welcome dinner ambassador during interview days! You make us proud.

GWIBS Team

 

Woudasie Admasu

Woudasie, thank you for all your hard work serving as a welcome dinner ambassador during interview days! You're great!

GWIBS Team

 

Annie McDermott

Thank you Annie for serving as a welcome dinner ambassador during interview days! We appreciate you.

GWIBS Team

 

Shatha Salameh

Shatha, congratulations on earning a NIH F31 award, and thank you so much for serving as an interview day data blitz presenter!

GWIBS Team

 

Parv Bhargava

Congratulations on being the first recipient of the Michael Thacher and Rhonda Rundle Prize for Excellence in Data Science!

Megan Rusconi-Warner, Graduate Student Services Coordinator

 

Jewel Dias

Masters student in the bioinformatics track 
 

Department of biochemistry 

Mentor: Dr Anelia Horvath

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Grace

Thank you for all the hard work that you put in to your experiments and your studies, Grace. Thank you for your strong interest in the work that you do, for being proactive with tasks, and for taking ownership of your project. Thank you for the time you spend in lab. Good luck on your PhD journey!

Russell

 

Abigail

It's been a great pleasure to be your co-mentor, Abigail. I know graduate school can be tough, but you have shown time and again how you can be tougher. Never let the challenges ahead extinguish that flame of positive energy you bring to your work. All the best for the next 3-4 years, Dr. Haffey!

Russell

 

Elton

This much curiosity and deep thought and efficiency shouldn't exist in a student, but, well, here you are. Keep doing what you do, Elton --- everyone can see there are great things in store for you. The discipline you put in to showing up day after day is a great predictor of success.

Russell

 

Maddie House-Tuck

Thank you for your leadership in GWU Graduate Workers United! You’re an icon pushing to better the lives of GW’s grad workers. You deserve at least a swag bag, and definitely a living wage, from the OGS and GW…

John Lesko

 

Sabrina

It's always a boost to any academic to get to know students like you: with this much passion, this much curiosity, this many questions. Thank you, Sabrina. Science, at the end of the day, is a community of people seeking knowledge - thank you for actively seeking answers every day.

Russell

 

Cameron Murdock

Thank you for your leadership in GWU Graduate Workers United! You’re an icon pushing to better the lives of GW’s grad workers. You deserve at least a swag bag, and definitely a living wage, from the OGS and GW…

John Lesko

 

Mary Jobe

Shout out to Mary for being a great psychology teacher, a guiding light to those in newer cohorts of Applied Social Psychology, and thoughtfully supporting her colleagues!

Applied Social Psychology

 

h Liguori

H! You have been such an amazing friend in class always making the rest of us smile! Thanks for being such a good friend!! Love you pookie muffin banana pancake unicorn heart!

Chort B babes

 

Alex Edwards

You have made a great progress in your research project and helped teaching undergraduate students. Thank you so much, and keep up with good work!

Masaaki Torii

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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