Dear GW Revs,
Welcome to the spring semester!
I always look forward to this time of year as we come back together after Winter Break restored and ready to teach, learn, discover, and serve.
This spring feels particularly meaningful as the nation prepares to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence this July. In so many ways, this historic milestone is woven into the fabric of the George Washington University: our commitment to educating the leaders of tomorrow, our passion for public service, and our belief that education is essential to a healthy democracy. Together this semester, we will be building toward that moment of national reflection and celebration.
Even as we look back to the nation’s founding, GW is also always looking forward. Across campus, there is strong momentum in our work to advance GW’s Strategic Framework. Faculty, staff, students, and leaders from across the university have been deeply engaged in the working groups that are shaping recommendations for the road ahead. Their efforts reflect careful listening, serious analysis, and a shared commitment to GW’s future, and we are reaching an important stage in that collective work this spring. I look forward to sharing progress on that in the coming days.
The semester ahead also brings its own rhythms of renewal and celebration. Thousands of admitted students will visit campus through our Inside GW program, experiencing first-hand what makes the GW community so special.
With Atlantic 10 play underway for basketball and competition ramping up across many sports, our GW Revs are on the hunt for championships, and Sonya and I both hope you’ll join us in cheering them on. It makes such a difference when we fill those stands and support our teams!
And in May, we will be celebrating GW students’ achievements at Commencement, one of the most visible and joyful moments in the life of our university. I am grateful to the many teams already hard at work to ensure these programs and ceremonies are meaningful, memorable, and reflect GW values.
Those values can be seen in GW’s dynamic, engaged, and diverse community of students, faculty, and staff where we work together to create an environment where everyone can flourish. As a leading academic institution, we are also firmly committed to free expression and to the respectful exchange of ideas through rigorous debate and open intellectual inquiry. These commitments are not merely ideals; they are foundational to our identity, and we will continue to uphold them in all our pursuits.
Together, let’s build on our strong foundation, bringing character, curiosity, and our GW Rev spirit to everything we do. Let’s raise high as a community and change the world for the better.
I wish you all a successful and inspiring spring semester.
Warm regards,
Ellen M. Granberg
President