Graduate Student Appreciation Week
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!
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.
- 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!
- 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!
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!
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
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
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
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
Trace Walker
Congratulations Trace on your MITM Department Retreat poster award! We also appreciate your work as an interview day data blitz presenter. Way to go!
GWIBS Team
Kevin Nestler
Thank you, Kevin, for serving as an interview day data blitz presenter, and congratulations on earning an NIH T32 award and a MITM Department Retreat poster award!
GWIBS Team
Gabe Galeotos
Gabe, congratulations on your NIH T32 award and thank you so much for your hard work serving as a lab tour guide during open house!
GWIBS Team
Vera Mariani
Congratulations, Vera, on your NIH T32 award! You make us proud.
GWIBS Team
Amber Douglass
Congratulations, Amber, on your NIH T32 award! Keep up the amazing work.
GWIBS Team
Veronica Amuso
Congratulations, Veronica, on winning first place at the SMHS Research Showcase! We also appreciate your hard work serving as a lab tour guide during open house.
GWIBS Team
Gabe Batzli
Thank you, Gabe, for serving as a lab tour guide during open house! We are so happy to have your expertise.
GWIBS Team
Brita Ostermeier
Congratulations, Brita, on earning third place at the SMHS Research Showcase! Keep up the amazing work.
GWIBS Team
Joshua Terao
Joshua, congratulations on earning an honorable mention prize during the SMHS Research Showcase. You make us proud!
GWIBS Team
Sally Feng
Sally, congratulations on earning an Art of Science prize! We are so proud of you.
GWIBS Team
Alex Edwards
Congratulations, Alex, on placing third in the Three Minute Thesis competition! Keep up the amazing work.
GWIBS Team
Kailyn Price
Kailyn, congratulations again on your induction into the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society. Your hard work inspires us!
GWIBS Team
Teresa Murphy
Teresa, great work on your NCI HIV DRP Think Tank meeting presentation! Keep making us proud!
GWIBS Team
Jenna Clements
Jenna, thanks so much for serving as a GW SPARC student mentor. We appreciate you!
GWIBS Team
Emily Williams
Thank you so much, Emily, for serving as a GW SPARC student mentor! We appreciate everything you do.
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
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
Taylor-Jo Russo
Taylor, you're absolutely crushing grad school! You're an amazing undergraduate mentor and teacher; not to mention a rockstar researcher (and graph wizard). Congrats on teaching another class this summer! And best of luck on your comprehensive exams this May -- I know you'll do great!
ASP Fellow Graduate Student
Harini Krishnamurti
Harini! Congrats on being selected to teach a summer class -- I know you'll be incredible! You're already such an amazing mentor to your undergraduate RAs. Your passion for research is so strong and it's clear this is where you're meant to be. Keep crushing it, and best of luck on comps in May!
ASP Fellow Graduate Student
Luke
Herchenroeder
Luke! Congratulations on passing your dissertation defense and making it across the PhD finish line! You make grad school look easy and I wish you the best with all your academic endeavors. Cheers to graduating! #Classof2025
ASP Fellow Graduate Student
Myla Lyons
Myla! Congrats on receiving a Psi Chi grant for your research project -- that's incredible, and truly speaks to your talents as a researcher. Thanks for all you do to support graduate students (e.g., PGA President, planning some pretty cool events). Keep on grinding queen!
ASP Fellow Graduate Student
Zoe Smith
Zoe! Congrats on finishing up your first year of grad school! You've already done so much from mentoring undergrads on a poster to managing lab projects. I know the next four years will be filled with great endeavors. Good luck on presenting your SYP, although I doubt you'll need it!
ASP Fellow Graduate Student
Megan Lang
Megan! Congrats on finishing your 1st year of grad school -- and being a great lab mate! It's been nice getting to work alongside you in research and seeing how far you've come in just a year! Good job mentoring your first undergrad research poster. I know these next 4 years, you'll do amazing work!
ASP Fellow Graduate Student
Arianne Malekzadeh
Arianne! You're an incredible and passionate researcher. Stay positive and keep doing the important work. Just one more year until graduation :)
ASP Fellow Graduate Student
Alissa Rams
Alissa, loml...Ready For It? Keep on writing The Manuscript and being a Lover of Timeless research. This is Nothing New and you know All Too Well you're a Mastermind and Superstar. So It Goes...Don't You Run, just Shake It Off and Begin Again. You're the 1, Superman :)
ASP Fellow Graduate Student
Azia Richardson-Williams
Azia! You're absolutely CRUSHING your 1st year of grad school. You're an amazing mentor to students and truly go above & beyond any expectations as a TA. You're a star student, fantastic writer (congrats on being on the editorial staff), & truly pave your own way at GW! Never stop; you're rockstar!
Your Psychology Bestie
Kathryn Fish
Incredible work on your dissertation so far! You should be extraordinarily proud of what you have accomplished. I'm so excited to see the final two chapters.
Dustin
Phoebe Nguyen
Shout out to Phoebe for helping cover my job while I was out on extended sick leave. You're an amazing coworker and I'm already missing you in advance of you graduating.
Alexis, Your Partner in Terms