Dear Members of the George Washington University Community,
Welcome to the spring semester! The snow that blanketed our campuses last week has not chilled the enthusiasm and purpose that accompany the start of our spring 2025 semester. Walking around Foggy Bottom this week, Sonya and I have been energized by the buzz of activity—students reconnecting with friends, faculty preparing for classes, and staff working tirelessly to support our community.
Our return to campus coincides with a historic moment of transition here in the nation's capital as we welcome new national leaders to Washington, D.C. During last November's election, GW once again demonstrated that we don't just study democracy—we live it. Our students served at polling stations and cast their ballots, earning GW recognition as one of the most engaged campuses for student voting. Our faculty provided expert commentary and was featured more than 2,000 times by media outlets across the country. Our alumni ran for public office, including 13 GW graduates now serving in the 119th Congress. Our community includes members from across the entire political spectrum, and all are valued contributors to our vibrant democratic discourse. I look forward to the semester ahead as our community continues to model what it means to engage thoughtfully across perspectives and opinions.
Our community’s deep engagement and active participation will prove especially important as we continue to shape our strategic framework, charting the course for GW in its third century. I want to thank the many students, faculty, and staff who shared ideas and joined our community conversations, providing honest and useful feedback. Your participation remains critical in this ongoing process, and your unique perspectives and experiences will ensure that our thinking reflects the aspirations and values of our talented and accomplished community. From the arts and humanities to business, from policy to technology, every voice at GW contributes to the success of our university, and we look forward to sharing the next milestone and opportunity to participate in this process over the coming weeks.
Even as our institution and nation evolve, at GW we remain deeply committed to our longstanding core principles and values. We take pride in fostering and supporting a vibrant, engaged, and diverse community of students, faculty, and staff, creating a sense of belonging and inclusion that helps each one of us thrive. As a leading academic institution, we remain dedicated to free expression and the respectful exchange of ideas, rigorous debate, and intellectual discourse that define university life. These are not just aspirational goals—they form the very bedrock of who we are as an institution, and we will do everything within the boundaries of the law to ensure that remains true.
Like you, I look forward to the semester ahead, especially the times that we gather as a community. Whether we are cheering on our GW Revs, joining in conversation with global thought leaders, or celebrating our graduates at Commencement on the National Mall, all of these moments remind me that GW’s greatest strength has been and will always be our people. With our shared focus on research, world-class education, patient care, and impact through service, this talented community makes GW exceptional.
Let’s bring our only-at-GW spirit to the remarkable promise of the year ahead. I have no doubt that—together—our community will raise high, meeting every moment with curiosity, passion, and a shared determination to make this world a better place for generations to come.
My very best wishes to you all for a wonderful spring semester.
Warm regards,
Ellen M. Granberg
President