Columbian College would not be where it is today — and could not envision where it will be in its third century — without the support of donors committed to pursuing the frontiers of knowledge and opportunity. As we look back on the college's more than 200 years of history, we celebrate the pride, passion and achievements of all who have shared George Washington’s vision of creating and sustaining an extraordinary institution of higher learning in the nation’s capital.
From annual donations to endowed gifts, we continue to look to philanthropic investment in scholarship, innovation and creativity to sustain our upward trajectory.
The largest fundraising match in GW's history, this scholarship match is a landmark opportunity to support Columbian College students. GW will match new gifts to need-based undergraduate scholarship endowments dollar-for-dollar.
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.
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.
In a CCAS-sponsored event, historians, cultural experts and political and military leaders reflected on the Vietnam War’s global influence 50 years later.
"Although many students may be fortunate to acquire the resources to attend such a highly accredited institution, others could only dream of such an opportunity ... Students like me might have come from other countries in search of new beginnings and better futures, and this is their light at the end of the tunnel.”
Maria Martinez
Class of 2024
Shepard Scholarship Recipient
Endowed faculty positions, such as the Max Ticktin Professorship of Israel Studies, provide academic honors and salary support in perpetuity, and may also offer highly-prized discretionary research funds. They enable Columbian College to attract and retain the best researchers and teachers. These positions bolster our academic reputation while providing students more opportunities to develop collaborative partnerships with elite academic scholars.
Donors can have the greatest impact in Columbian College, which is the largest academic unit at GW. The high cost of student debt can impede accomplishment and impact educational and career paths. But when financial burdens are lifted through scholarships, students such as Aaron Aksoz, BA ’20, are able to maximize their GW experience. Columbian College looks to philanthropic support to ease student debt burdens and increase the diversity of the student population.
Every research project begins with an innovative idea. These creative sparks require funding for equipment, travel stipends and laboratory time. Your support could enable hands-on training for the next generation of investigators, such as the tuberculosis research Abby Pepin, BS ’17, conducted with Associate Professor Cynthia Dowd. Pilot funding also seeds preliminary results that may attract larger grants to accelerate future breakthroughs.
The ever-evolving landscape of academia demands the flexibility to support creative projects, visiting professorships, lecture series, artist-in-residence programs, innovative lab tools, academic symposia, capstone courses and more. Having the resources and the flexibility to seize on options strengthens our institutional stature and an enhanced academic and research experience.