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Government and Community Relations at GW

All great cities have great universities. As a long-standing anchor insitution in the District of Columbia, the George Washington University is invested in the success and vitality of the Washington metropolitan area. We actively share our resources and cultivate collaboration with the communities surrounding all three of our campuses, enhancing our collective quality of life and advancing our common goals.

The George Washington University community lends a wealth of intellectual capital to policymaking, whether it occurs in the White House, the U.S. Congress, the D.C. and Virginia governments, the courts or the hundreds of agencies, associations, foundations and think tanks throughout the region. GW infuses Washington’s government-related institutions with its research, experience, and an army of dedicated interns.

 

 

OGCR Highlights

 

GW Serves DC

Dear Members of Our D.C. Community,

On July 1 of this year, I had the honor of becoming the 19th president of the George Washington University. It is a privilege to lead this great university, and I am thrilled to join such a vibrant and dynamic city.

Since coming to the District, I have had the pleasure of meeting with many members of our local communities. A common thread in all my interactions has been a tremendous pride in GW and the continued impact of our students, faculty, staff and alumni throughout the region. For this reason, I am delighted to share the George Washington University’s annual GW Serves D.C. Report with you.

GW is a university on the rise. We are strengthening and scaling the invaluable partnerships we have established throughout the city and creating new collaborations to find innovative solutions to our communities’ most pressing challenges. Through this pursuit of impact, we are creating scholarships for the next generation of District leaders, addressing health disparities and driving policy research.

At the heart of GW’s civic engagement activities is the Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service. The Nashman Center programs, as well as the academic programs in our schools and colleges, address issues that are important to the residents of Washington, D.C. From mentoring the city’s youth in D.C. schools to participating in days of service across the District, GW faculty, staff and students are helping to improve lives every day.

This is an exciting time for our university and the city, and I look forward to working together. Our collective impact will drive positive change throughout Washington, D.C., and contribute to a better, brighter future for all.

 

Thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Warm Regards,

Ellen M. Granberg, President

 

 


Welcome Message from President Granberg

Dear GW Community,

It is a privilege to serve as the 19th President of the George Washington University. While I know many of you are enjoying a well-deserved summer break with family and friends, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for welcoming my wife, Sonya, and me so warmly.

As I begin my time as President, I am eager to meet members of our community, to listen, and to learn. I also want to share a bit about why I chose GW, and what excites me about this moment at our university.

I have long admired GW, and I feel very fortunate to be joining this community at such an exciting time. As you know, our institution has a storied history stretching more than 200 years, growing alongside D.C. and our nation. Today, GW is a leading research institution providing high-quality academic programs, patient care, and service that combine to advance a more just and equitable university, nation, and world. This important work has recently earned our university membership in the Association of American Universities, the gold standard in higher education.  Everyone at GW should be proud of this achievement.   

Our incredible community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni is transforming lives and livelihoods together. So many people benefit from the academic programs we offer, the research we conduct, and the patient care we provide. Institutions of higher education transform lives each day on an enormous scale. Remembering this gets me up every single morning. I have seen similar motivation in GW’s community, and the opportunity to work together in our third century toward a collective ambition particularly excites me.

I look forward to seeing some of you on our campuses over the summer. Sonya and I are living at the F Street House and love to walk, so we plan to be out and about getting to know the neighborhood and community as much as possible. If you see us, feel free to stop and say hello.

In the meantime, I will be working hard to meet with and hear from more members of our community. As I continue to listen, I look forward to reporting back to you what I learn.

Thank you again for welcoming Sonya and me into this community. I will be back in touch soon.

Warm regards,

Ellen M. Granberg
President