GIDEON’ S PROMISE /// THE ACTIVISTS’ DILEMMA /// CURING DYSPHAGIA

THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE SUMMER 2015

In Haiti with a medical team from the School of Nursing, Pulitzer Prize winner B. D. Colen, BA ’73, turns a lens on the group’s efforts and the struggle to make a difference in the beleaguered nation. WASHINGTON, DC/FOGGY BOTTOM MAKE ROOM FOR A LITTLE FUN.TM

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Courtyard by Marriott® 515 20th Street NW 202.296.5700 Washington, DC/Foggy Bottom Washington, DC 20006 CourtyardDCFoggyBottom.com CONTENTS GW MAGAZINE SUMMER 2015 A MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS

At the launch of a sexual assault awareness campaign at the White House in September, attended by President Steven Knapp and other student and administration leaders from GW, an audience member takes in the scene.

[Features] [Departments] 26 / Five Years Later in Haiti 2 / Postmarks Half a decade after a catastrophic earthquake, a Pulitzer Prize winner finds that life in the beleagured 5 / GW News nation goes on, as it always has. / Story and Photos By B. D. Colen, BA ’73 / 56 / Philanthropy Update

36 / Promise Keeper 60 / Alumni News Through his program Gideon’s Promise, MacArthur Fellow Jonathan Rapping, JD ’95, is helping the government fulfill its duty to stand up for the indigent accused. / By Tony Rehagen /

42 / ‘We’re Always Activists First’ Students on the front lines of a national movement against sexual violence find a battlefield with no boundaries. / By Ruth Steinhardt /

48 / Reuniting Babies and Their Bottles For infants with disorders that leave them unable to eat, feeding tubes and surgeries offer an imperfect On the cover:

WILLIAM ATKINS fix. The issue is in the brain, and that’s where researchers are looking for a cure. / By Lauren Ingeno / Photo by B. D. Colen

gwmagazine.com / 1 POSTMARKS

think that my classmate wasn't conflict with our religious BALANCING ACT overly traumatized by what beliefs. he saw, and I venture to guess Mr. W explained that the time that neither the profession of that he spent with my father obstetrician nor helped him consider how to surgeon was in his teach the material and how to future, unlike the explain this new subject to other soon-to-be-born parents. My dad’s meeting with baby that caught Mr. W was a very important his attention on experience in his 40 year that steamy day. teaching career. Eileen Coppola, As my own children have BA ’72 passed from playground to school to college and our working world, I look upon With Babies, their success with wonder. I am a Recurring grateful to the coaches, trainers, ‘Boom’ neighbors, relatives and others The rewards of who shared responsibility for working with and their growth. I am especially raising children thankful for the teachers. can arrive in Today my sister is a nurse, unexpected working at a hospital that ways, sometimes specializes in obstetrics and years or decades women’s health. later. Rich Collins, Five years ago GW Associate Vice President my father passed for Law Development, parent of away. On the two GW alumni and another of afternoon of his the University of Virginia wake, I welcomed neighbors, friends and … But the Spelling Was— family. To my Wait, Never Mind surprise, my high An excellent article by Marc school health Leepson (“Death Certainly teacher arrived. Would Soon Close the Scene”)! I believe the spring 2015 I became a parent for the first I never thought Mr. W was a In the penultimate paragraph, magazine is the most time while an undergraduate friend of my dad. though, John Wilkes Booth’s student at GW. Hoping to What brought him here? Did I death would have been 12 days, interesting edition I've complete as many courses overlook a family friend over the not 17, after fleeing Ford’s read in four-plus years of as possible before the baby's past three decades? Theatre. employment. arrival, I took a political After thanking him for Robert B. McClinton, geography course during the coming, I confessed that I was MSIA/1969 I like the blend of personal particularly hot D.C. summer of embarrassed that I did not Sequim, Wash. experiences, reminiscences, 1968. realize that he and my dad were university history and features. In the midst of the lecture, I close. Another astute reader noted It is very well-written and noticed a male student taking Mr. W recounted his first the misspelling of John Wilkes designed. covert glances at my hugely year teaching the health science Booth’s famous exclamation, “Sic Kudos to you and your staff! pregnant abdomen. As both course in our high school, and semper tyrannis”—“as always Nancy Muse, the lecture and my unborn the strong interest by parents to tyrants”—after jumping to Manager GW Faculty & child's movements became who were anxious about the the stage. We regret the errors. Instructional Support more animated, my classmate's segment on sex education. —Eds. complexion went from white to My dad had scheduled an a grayish green. My thin white appointment with Mr. W to Dancing in the Seats summer T-shirt did little to mask discuss the approach to this new What’s Coming Up Your “Baby Boom” stories proved the protruding heels and elbows curriculum. He was especially I enjoy reading the GW once again that becoming a of my baby’s “summer in the concerned that the class would Magazine, especially the reviews parent is as individualized as it is city” dance. not confuse his daughter (my of recent headliners and events. ubiquitous. After all these years, I hope to younger sister) and create I often find myself wishing I KIMMINHEE

2 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 had known about the events in All Write! Managing Editor advance, so that I might have Danny Freedman, BA ’01 We want to hear from you, too. Please write to participated or attended. If the Assistant editor university maintains a calendar, us through the “Contact Us” link on our website, gwmagazine.com, or send a note to: Matthew Stoss I would like to see the magazine highlight a few events that GW Magazine Photo editor are planned well in advance Letter to the Editor William Atkins and provide a link to the most 2121 Eye Street, NW Design current information available. Suite 501 GW Marketing & Creative Services Washington, DC 20052 Rosemary Byrd, LLM ’01, Art Directors North Beach, Md. [email protected] Dominic N. Abbate, BA ’09, MBA ’15 John McGlasson, BA ’00, MFA ’03 Great idea, thank you. We’ll work Please include your name, degree/year, address, on finding ways to include more and a daytime phone number. Contributors of that content. Meantime, the GW Today staff: Keith Harriston Letters may be edited for clarity and space. (senior managing editor), Rob Stewart full university calendar can be (managing editor for multimedia), James found at calendar.gwu.edu. Event Irwin (associate editor), Julyssa Lopez previews and coverage from GW For advertising inquiries, please send an email to: (assistant editor), Brittney Dunkins Today can be found at gwtoday. [email protected]. (writer/editor) and Lauren Ingeno gwu.edu. —Eds. (writer/editor) INTERNs Rebecca Manikkam, GWSB ’17 (editorial) Zach Marin, CCAS ’18 (photography)

President of the university Steven Knapp Vice president for external [online] relations Lorraine Voles, BA ’81 We love print. Associate vice president for But darn it if there aren’t some cool communications things that we just can’t do on these Sarah Gegenheimer Baldassaro pages. We can’t serve up audio of Pulitzer Prize winner B. D. Colen, Executive director for editorial services BA ’73, as he gives a behind- Rachel Muir the-lens perspective of his most compelling photos his recent trip GW Magazine (ISSN 2162-6464) to Haiti (Pg. 30). And we can’t show is published quarterly by the Division you video of National Poetry Slam of External Relations, the George champion Elizabeth Acevedo, Washington University, Rice Hall BA ’10, (Pg. 15) as she demonstrates Suite 501, Washington, D.C. 20052. the exquisitely honed prose, Our phone number is 202-994-5709; fax intonation and body language that 202-994-5761; email [email protected]. that are the tools of her trade. But we can give you both of Postmaster Please send all those online, and now we have. change-of-address notices to GW Those web-only features—as well as Magazine, GW Alumni Records Office, 2100 M St., NW, Suite 315, Washington, a soup-to-nuts website redesign— DC 20052. Notices can also be sent to us are part of an effort to boost your at gwu.edu/~alumni/update, via email to reading experience whether you [email protected], or 202-994-3569. read GW Magazine in print, online Periodicals postage paid at Washington, or, as we hope increasingly, both. D.C., and additional mailing offices. —Eds. Opinions expressed in these pages are those of the individuals and do not necessarily Check out the new website and let reflect official positions of the university. us know what you think. © 2015 The George Washington University magazine.gwu.edu The George Washington University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution. @TheGWMagazine HAITI: B. D. COLEN Volume 25, Issue 4

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George Welcomes ______12 At a Glance ______14 5 Questions ______15 From the Archives ______16 Spaces ______17 BookShelves ______18 athletics News ______20 research news ______24

GW NEWS Apple CEO Tim Cook finished his Commencement address and, looking out at an estimated crowd of 25,000, snapped a photo.

[Commencement 2015] A broad smile broke across Tim Cook’s face as he finished his GW Commencement address. Then, the Apple CEO extended Apple CEO: ‘The Best his iPhone in front of his chest, camera lens facing out. “Congratulations, Class of 2015,” he said. View in the World’ “I’d like to take one photo of you, because this is the best view in the world.” With the Washington Monument at his Tim Cook tells grads on National Mall that “the world needs your back and an estimated 25,000 people in energy, your passion, your impatience with progress.” attendance at GW’s Commencement

WILLIAM ATKINS ceremony on May 17, Mr. Cook, drawing

gwmagazine.com / 5 GW NEWS 2,241 Number of undergraduates in the Class of 2015 45 U.S. states represented in the class, as well as D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

79 on both personal anecdotes and family to graduate from college after being Countries represented by the historical figures—from Martin Luther deployed twice to Afghanistan. graduating class King Jr. and Ronald Reagan to Amelia “When I was a young man, fighting Earhart and Miles Davis—urged graduates for this great nation in the mountains of to have the audacity to challenge, and the Afghanistan, after nearly losing my life courage to combine their moral beliefs with multiple times, I tried to imagine this their vocational aspirations. moment,” he said. “You see, I tried to imagine “There are problems that need to be a life of education and success.” solved, injustices that need to be ended, The university conferred honorary people that are still being persecuted, degrees to esteemed AIDS researcher $128K diseases still in need of cure,” Mr. Cook said. Anthony Fauci, director of the National The amount of money raised by “No matter what you do next, the world Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases graduates for the senior class gift; needs your energy, your passion, your at the National Institutes of Health, and more than 60 percent of graduating impatience with progress. History rarely Carole M. Watson, PhD ’78, the former seniors donated to the effort. yields to one person, but think and never acting chairman of the National Endowment forget what happens when it does. for the Humanities, in addition to Mr. Cook. “That can be you. That should be you. In his charge to the graduates, GW That must be you.” President Steven Knapp urged the 6,400- Stories of personal conviction and plus departing students to keep alive a quest for knowledge populated Mr. their spirit, imagination, curiosity and Cook’s 20-minute speech. Imagination, commitment to service. Be part of the “Colonials helping effort, courage and lifelong learning were “We depend on you to repair what earlier Colonials” mantra and welcome new recurring themes throughout the ceremony. generations have broken, to build what we alumni by volunteering mentorship, Congratulatory remarks preceded Mr. have left unbuilt, to learn what we have not expertise or other efforts: Cook’s address, provided by a host of yet learned, to heal what we have so far left alumni.gwu.edu/alumni-volunteering. speakers from the university administration, unhealed,” he said. “And as you go forth to Board of Trustees and student body. do these things, always know that, at the A powerful student speech, delivered by George Washington University, you have a U.S. Marine Capt. Richard Ruiz, focused home in the heart of this nation’s capital.” on the power of envisioning the future. Mr. – James Irwin and Lauren Ingeno Ruiz—a graduate student who earned his master’s degree in leadership and education development—captivated the audience with To see the speeches, photos and

his story of becoming the first person in his more, visit commencement.gwu.edu. JAMES A. CALDER

6 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 [government] White House Summit Voices Needs of Fast- Growing Group

U.S. officials, other leaders discuss issues facing Asian GW Business Plan Americans and Pacific Islanders Competition winners Grant Nelson, a second- The Asian American and Pacific Islander year GW Law student, community has a voice—and it is one that and Maria Belding, demanded to be heard as approximately a freshman at the 2,000 government representatives, artists American University. and community and business leaders filled GW’s Lisner Auditorium in May for the first ever White House Summit on Asian [startups] annual GW Business Plan Competition, Americans and Pacific Islanders, or AAPIs. held in April. In this year’s finals, 10 teams The summit is part of a White House competed for a record high of more than initiative that aims to improve the quality of Saving Bites $200,000 in cash and in-kind prizes. life and opportunities for the fastest-growing “Beyond the prizes, this has just been racial group in the United States. such a valuable experience,” Mr. Nelson said. In opening remarks, U.S. Rep. Judy Chu With Bytes “But the most valuable thing we learned (D-Calif.), chair of the Congressional Asian was how to pitch. There was a workshop Pacific American Caucus, remembered when session with venture capitalists, and it helped the initiative amounted to a small group of Web tool to help food pantries us understand exactly how to pitch our people around a conference room table. deal with needs, excesses tops mission.” “Today, you have AAPIs here from across GW Business Plan Competition The MEANS Database is the first social the nation,” she said. “Let’s work together to entrepreneurship venture to win the top prize. carry on the momentum of today’s historic Three years ago, Maria Belding was working Finalists were selected by a panel of summit. Let’s make sure that together as at a church food pantry in Iowa when it judges following two rounds of competition a united voice, we make a difference in received a big donation—in fact, too big: that began in January. improving the lives of AAPIs for generations 10,000 boxes of macaroni and cheese that Among the other awardees, second place to come.” would expire in a year. went to Quorum, a web-based platform that In panel discussions, cabinet secretaries— “It was great—but they never aims to transform the legislative process by including from the departments of Health bothered to ask if we needed that much,” making research easier. Launched by GW and Human Services, Homeland Security, Ms. Belding said. “It was the middle of winter students Elizabeth Wuller and Joshua Hone Housing and Urban Development, Interior in Iowa, and I had to throw out 400 boxes of with Harvard University students Alex Wirth and Labor—and other leaders analyzed macaroni that had gone bad while there was and Jonathan Marks, Quorum aggregates the progress made for AAPIs across the a line of hungry people we had to turn away.” legislative data and provides reference tools government in recent years and issues facing To solve the problem, Ms. Belding, now a and quantitative analysis. minority populations in general. student at American University, enlisted the New to the competition was a $5,000 Closing the gap for underrepresented help of Grant Nelson, a GW law student, to prize for a start-up founded by a veteran minority groups offers important lessons, build a database. or that focuses on serving veterans’ needs. said Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Mr. Nelson wrote every line of code for That award, and the audience choice “For the first time ever, our public schools what would become the MEANS Database, award, went to MedConnect, telemedicine are majority minority. And we’re never a web-based, searchable tool that lets smartphone technology that allows patients going back,” he said. “How do we as a nation member food pantries and suppliers share to connect with medical services via a digital embrace this extraordinary diversity rather information about whether they need specific application. That venture is led by GW than see it as a threat? Can we find ways to be products or have an excess of products, Milken Institute School of Public Health much more inclusive, much more supportive? so that pantries can make better use of graduate students Amy Rutkowske, who If we do that, our country is stronger. If not, resources and avoid waste. who served in the U.S. Army as a medical it presents some very real challenges.” The startup won more than $60,000 in department officer, and Laira Roth.

WILLIAM ATKINS – Julyssa Lopez and James Irwin cash and prizes and first place at the seventh — Brittney Dunkins

gwmagazine.com / 7 GW NEWS

Visitors spiral down the the museum’s elliptical staircase during the building’s opening weekend in March.

[buildings] distinguishes this museum is its integration into the educational experience at George Washington University,” Museum Director Three Exhibitions Mark John Wetenhall said. “It’s all about hands-on learning experiences, and it’s a participatory model that also welcomes collaboration with Museum Opening other local cultural institutions.” Inside the building, guests found a buzzing open-house festival, packed with More than 2,000 people attend opening events of the co-branded arts, crafts and cultural performances from George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum around the world. Visitors snaked their way through the four floors of exhibitions, The university’s new museum complex exhibition in The Textile Museum's 90-year craning their necks as they took in the opened with a splash in March, as more history and displays more than 100 objects galleries’ high ceilings and the picturesque than 2,000 visitors attended a weekend of spanning 2,000 years that communicate elliptical staircase spiraling down the lobby. inaugural events at the 53,000-square-foot self expression; “Seat of Empire: Planning “To see the building completed is custom-built space in Foggy Bottom. Washington, 1790-1801” uses maps from incredible,” senior Amanda Rooth said. “The The co-branded George Washington the Washingtoniana Collection to illustrate colors are beautiful, and it’s totally different University Museum and The Textile Pierre L’Enfant’s early plans for the city; and than any other museum in D.C. I was trying Museum is made up of the Albert H. Small “The Civil War and the Making of Modern to think of something to compare it to, and Washingtoniana Collection—a trove of Washington” offers a look at how D.C. I really can’t. There’s nothing quite like the 1,000 maps, prints and other documents that transformed throughout the 1800s to become setup, of having objects on the wall and on chronicle the evolution of the capital city— the city it is today. the floor and near you, so you can really and the world-renowned collections of The The two latter exhibitions were designed interact with them.” – Julyssa Lopez Textile Museum, which include more than by GW students and curated by history 19,000 textiles dating back to 3000 B.C. professors, spotlighting the educational and Opening weekend events gave visitors cross-disciplinary opportunities that officials For more on the exhibitions and a chance to tour the museum’s inaugural say the new space will bring to GW. future events at the museum, visit exhibitions: “Unraveling Identity: Our “There are a lot of museums in museum.gwu.edu.

Textiles, Our Stories” is the largest Washington, but something that WILLIAM ATKINS

8 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 ‘Unraveling Identity’ [Education] on Campus Giving STEM Majors the “Unraveling Identity: Our Textiles, Our Stories,” one of the inaugural exhibitions at the new museum, comprises more than 100 objects—including contemporary loans like an Tools to Teach authentic Givenchy dress and a pair of eight-inch platforms that belonged to Mae West— that help highlight the way clothing and other fabrics can reveal individual, cultural and In a bid to help patch a science and social expression. engineering teaching and workforce pipeline This spring, GW Today’s Julyssa Lopez strolled Foggy Bottom asking, “What do “in critical need of repair,” the university is your clothes say about you?” launching a program aimed at producing more teachers qualified to tackle so-called “When I wake up every day, my STEM subjects. “I try to give off a chill vibe. I clothing shows how I feel about my The program, GWTeach, modeled on don’t like to look too flashy, but presence in the world. Clothing an initiative founded at the University of I still want to be me. I don’t like is really empowering—if you’re Texas-Austin called UTeach, will train undergraduate science, engineering, tight clothes because I like to feel wearing something cool, you feel technology and math majors to be public the wind breezing through me.” like the queen of the world.” school teachers. The curriculum, to be Abeke Teyiba, sophomore Navneet Pandher, junior offered this fall, will afford graduates a degree in their field and certification to teach in the Washington, D.C., public schools. The Graduate School of Education and Human Development and the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences announced in March that the university was among 10 institutions to receive funding to implement the curriculum through a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to the National Math and Science Initiative. GW is one of 44 institutions around the nation to replicate the UTeach initiative. “All of us know that our STEM pipeline is in critical need of repair,” said Ben Vinson, dean of the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. “Through this partnership, we now have a clearer vision, a road map, for how to address the challenges ahead and how to be part of the solution.” Kim Cherry, deputy chief of STEM for the District of Columbia Public Schools, glowed as she described the program’s potential for her students. “This is about giving an opportunity to urban students who would not otherwise have the chance to excel in math and science,” she said. “Usually, the more patterns the better. I’ve GWTeach is aimed, at least in part, at done it for so long that it’s become my own students who may not realize they have a passion for teaching. Introductory classes in style. I think it shows I don’t take myself too “I’d describe my the UTeach curriculum are open to all STEM seriously. I like bright colors, and I have a lot personality as students and require no commitment. of energy, so I think my clothes reflect that.” polished, so I “When students have the option to pursue Hannah Jeffries, sophomore like my clothing that interest [in teaching], it expands and doesn’t limit their opportunities,” said Mary to reflect Walker, associate director of the UTeach “My outfit today shows off that I’m usually that—I go for a Institute. “It gives them two career options— very relaxed, and I like to be comfortable.” very clean look.” though they generally go on to fall in love Roy Molina, program coordinator, Center for Latin Jack Keenan, with teaching and to choose that.”

WILLIAM ATKINS American Issues junior – Ruth Steinhardt

gwmagazine.com / 9 GW NEWS

[Philanthropy] $7M Donation To Boost Future Hispanic Leaders Gilbert Cisneros, BA ’94, and his wife, Jacki, have donated $7 million to create the GW Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute, the university announced in June. “Gil and Jacki Cisneros’ magnificent gift will play a crucial role in creating the next generation of leaders of the Hispanic community,” GW President Steven Knapp said. The institute will offer a pre-college program to high school juniors, with plus- factor consideration given to students of Hispanic heritage who are committed to leadership and service within the Hispanic community. Prior to their senior year in high school, students from around the country will participate in a summer workshop in D.C. and will learn about the fundamentals of enrolling at selective universities. Activities and experiences will be designed to increase [corcoran] interest in attending and graduating from a top university. The institute—established through At ‘NEXT,’ an endowed fund by the couple and the foundation that bears the family name—also will provide college scholarships to select The State students, to be named Cisneros Scholars, who enroll at GW and demonstrate a commitment to leadership and community Of the Arts service and aspire to give back to the Hispanic community. Additionally, the Hundreds of visitors came through the doors institute will offer mentorship and support of the Corcoran building this spring and into opportunities to the Cisneros Scholars and an exhibition where they crunched through top Senior Whitney Waller’s “Dasein” other students wishing to participate by dried foliage and took in a varied landscape created a bucolic, idle shelter secured in connecting them with leaders and mentors of art—from video and photography to turquoise walls. bottom Short, flickering within the Hispanic community. sculpture and digital illustration—in a show videos make up senior Kesi Marcus’ “Undermatching [when students of high that has come to mark a rite of passage. installation, “In My Own Little World.” academic potential do not matriculate to The annual thesis exhibition from the selective universities] has become a significant Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, professor at the Corcoran School. problem for Hispanic students, and because called NEXT, opened in early April with the The show, which ran through May 18, has of this, we’re lacking much-needed diversity work of 40 seniors, and later in the month been a Corcoran tradition since 2011, and in our future leaders,” Mr. Cisneros said. “My added the work of more than 60 graduate this year’s iteration is the first as part of GW. wife and I are excited to partner with GW students. The show has become a mainstay Over the years, the opportunity for students to create a program that will help deserving in the D.C. arts community, giving the city a to showcase work to the public has led to the students gain the leadership skills and glimpse of an up-and-coming generation of discovery of many artists and designers by confidence needed in order to apply to and artists and designers. galleries around the country. attend a selective university.” “We like to think of NEXT as being the Nearly every aspect of the show passes Within four years, the university hopes to capstone of our students’ careers at the through student hands. Beyond creating enroll 20 Cisneros Scholars. The first class of Corcoran, but it’s also the beginning of the art itself, students in a yearlong design high school scholars will arrive next summer, their careers out in the world,” says Andy course shape the overall look and brand of and the first full-time undergraduate

Grundberg, NEXT curator and a photography the exhition. —Julyssa Lopez students during the 2016-17 academic year. WILLIAM ATKINS

10 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 [research] In the District, the number of new cases the D.C. area, and have a particular focus on has dropped in recent years, though HIV so-called personalized medicine—treatments remains an epidemic in the city, with 2.5 that use a patient’s genetic makeup to Federal Grant percent of the population living with the uncover the specific biology of tumors, Launches D.C. virus. allowing for more targeted therapy. The D.C. CFAR will work to advance “The rapid advances in genomics and Center for AIDS HIV research in the city, fund new HIV immunotherapy are revealing to us cancer’s investigators—including a focus on early- best kept secrets and weaknesses, which we Research stage, women and minority investigators— should take advantage of as a first step to and increase interdisciplinary collaborations ultimately reach a cure,” Dr. Sotomayor says. A five-year, $7.5 million grant from the among the scientists and community Dr. Sotomayor, formerly the the National Institutes of Health has put AIDS partners. Two of the center’s primary scientific director of the DeBartolo Family researchers at GW—among them, the research areas will be preventing the spread Personalized Medicine Institute at Moffitt physician who diagnosed D.C.’s first AIDS of HIV among highly affected populations Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla., starts at GW patient—at the forefront of the fight against and focusing on finding a cure. in July. The medical oncologist—who studied the disease. There are fewer than 20 CFARs medicine in his native Peru and did his The grant will fund a Center for AIDS nationwide. The NIH created the program residency at the University of Miami School Research, a citywide consortium of scientists in 1988 with the goal of enhancing and of Medicine—also chaired the center’s and community partners that brings coordinating high-quality AIDS research Department of Malignant Hematology and together nearly 200 researchers from three projects. Though not a brick-and-mortar was a professor at the University of South GW schools (the Columbian College of Arts building, a CFAR provides the core services Florida College of Medicine. and Sciences, the Milken Institute School to recruit established researchers and build During a fellowship at Johns Hopkins of Public Health and the School of Medicine interdisciplinary collaborations, as well University, Dr. Sotomayor participated in a and Health Sciences) as well as American, as funding and mentorship for new HIV research group that discovered how cancer Georgetown and Howard universities, investigators. cells—lymphomas in particular—block Children’s National Medical Center and the The grant follows an NIH award in T cells, leading to uncontrolled tumor Veterans Affairs Medical Center. 2010, which enabled GW and its partner growth. T cells are essential for immunity GW professors Alan Greenberg and institutions to create a developmental CFAR, because they fight infections and are able to Gary Simon, the Walter G. Ross Professor which is a step on the way to becoming a full destroy cancer cells. of Medicine and of Microbiology and CFAR. —Lauren Ingeno A priority for Dr. Sotomayor will be Tropical Medicine, will lead the endeavor. It attaining a National Cancer Institute was Dr. Simon who, in August 1981 at GW [research] designation for the new center. There Hospital, diagnosed the first D.C. patient currently are 68 such centers in the United with AIDS. States, which are funded by the National “We want to make D.C. a destination city New Cancer Institutes of Health and work to translate for researchers who want to have a tangible laboratory discoveries into new treatments. impact on fighting the HIV epidemic,” says Center, Leader “For an NCI designation, a center Dr. Greenberg, the chair of the Department must show collaboration, integration and of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. “The Announced outreach,” Dr. Sotomayor says. “That CFAR will have a strategic, proactive role Eduardo M. Sotomayor, a leader in requires leaders who can bring basic in having stimulated that, and if there is lymphoma and immunotherapy research, researchers, clinicians and population ever a cure for HIV, why shouldn’t progress will serve as the inaugural director of the scientists together. What impressed me most toward that goal come from a D.C.-based new GW Cancer Center. about GW is that everyone is committed to institution?” The center will provide care to patients in that goal.” – Lauren Ingeno

Randee Grant, whose daughter Coumba “I knew it would not be Gueye was one of nine D.C. students to possible for her to even be surprised in March with a Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Scholarship, which covers consider somewhere like tuition, room, board, books and fees for George Washington. four years at GW. “I can’t stop shaking,” So, when I tell you her daughter said. “I just feel really that I am extremely, relieved.”

extremely happy and Watch the surprise relieved, I mean that announcements and hear from the bottom of from the students at go.gwu.edu/SJT2015. WILLIAM ATKINS my heart.”

gwmagazine.com / 11 GW NEWS

headliners at university events “We know brilliance. We know where all the point guards are— no point guards are left behind George welcomes in this country.” Gallup CEO Jim Clifton, arguing that a focus on treating and recruiting budding “If I run and am elected president, entrepreneurs in the same it won’t be worth the paper it’s “I am not one thing, manner as star athletes or printed on.” intellectuals could provide a Former U.S. Sen. Rick boost to the country’s future Santorum (R-Pa.), commenting and neither are economic growth. He gave the in March on the Obama School of Business’ 16th annual administration’s potential Robert P. Maxon Lecture. nuclear deal with Iran, during an you.” event hosted by the GW Young Transgender actress and advocate Laverne Cox, encouraging America Foundation. In May, students to embrace their complex identities. She spoke at a the 2012 presidential hopeful packed Lisner Auditorium event in April that was organized to announced he is making another commemorate International Transgender Day of Visibility. run for the White House in 2016.

Jim Clifton

Rick Santorum

Laverne Cox

Anthony Fauci

12 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 “We need a “With the 1994 [chief Executives] crime bill a lot of Pentagon of peace.” people thought Former Yugoslav Prime Minister The CEOs of HBO Inc., KPMG-US, Johnson Publishing Company, Milan Panic, urging the United MGM Resorts International and Siemens USA gathered they were doing States to be a paragon for peace before an audience of students, journalists and business and the right thing and pragmatic solutions, and government leaders at GW’s Jack Morton Auditorium in April to avoid resolving problems for a series of interviews on diversity—of employees, skills and for communities… with military might. Mr. Panic products—and the digital economy. but I think it spoke at the Elliott School of The event, “Executive Actions: Steering Companies and was dealing with International Affairs in April Reimagining Industries,” served as the launch of a partnership and discussed his new memoir, between GW and The Washington Post. The company’s own symptoms of Prime Minister for Peace: My JIM CLIFTON: TEEKAY / MILAN PANIC: DAVE SCAVONE CEO and publisher, Fred Ryan, was on-hand, and its reporters problems, not the Struggle for Serbian Democracy. moderated the discussions. Here’s a look at what was said: core root of them.” “We’ve faced competition from the U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) beginning—22 years ago, it was unfathomable at GW’s Jack Morton Auditorium that a cable channel could compete with during a conference on the network TV,” said HBO CEO Richard Plepler, legacy of the Violent Crime and speaking about the channel’s flexibility, Law Enforcement Act. The event including the rollout of its new streaming was convened by the nonprofit service, HBO Now, which he called Vera Institute of a “millennial missile”. “We’ve been Justice. appropriately evolutionary.”

RICK SANTORUM: ZACH MARIN / LAVERNE COX, CORY BOOKER, CHIEF EXECUTIVES: WILLIAM ATKINS Siemens USA President and CEO Eric Spiegel said the nation should refocus K-12 education on skills—like math and computer science—for thriving in the digitial economy. “This is how we Cory Booker are going to rebuild the American middle class,” he said. “The whole world is digital.”

“Diversity has to be more than just words—it’s what you do,” said CEO of Johnson Publishing Company Desiree Rogers. The company’s Fashion Fair Cosmetics line, she said, was born from the idea that women should be able to find makeup to match any skin tone.

John Veihmeyer, KPMG International chairman and KPMG-US chairman and CEO, noted that a survey of 400 CEOs last year found their top concern is technology rendering their firms obsolete. With such quick shifts in industries, companies want recent college graduates with a David Ensor good attitude, a willingness to learn and workplace experience, he said.

“Diversity sounds good. But where are you with managers, vice presidents and senior vice presidents?” said MGM Resorts Chairman and CEO James Murren of his company’s top- down approach, which includes tying managers’ bonuses, in part, to the diversity of their hires. Milan Panic

gwmagazine.com / 13 GW NEWS

Milanovich Fellowship and Art, Corcoran College of Art At a Glance will support students through + Design and the National GW’s Native American Political Gallery of Art. S&R Foundation, Leadership Program beginning which supports individuals in next year. the arts, sciences and social entrepreneurship, will use the A SERVICE- building as an arts incubator. university’s Center for Career Funds from the sale will be used Services and the Career ORIENTED for the renovation of the Services Council, Career SPRING BREAK 17th Street Corcoran building Quest was developed through and for programs within the a gift last year by Board of More than 200 students spent Corcoran School of the Arts and Trustees member Mark R. spring break building schools, Design. Shenkman, MBA ’67, and his grading gardens, cleaning up wife, Rosalind. Students were trash and teaching English in 11 SENIOR assigned an alumni mentor and communities around the nation made site visits to more than and the globe as part of GW’s ASSOCIATE 20 companies— including NBC Alternative Breaks program. PROVOST FOR Jon Stewart Universal, Spotify, the American Sophomore Sara Durrani, a Red Cross, Reclaim NYC and leader of a trip that helped build INTERNATIONAL the Clinton Foundation—where a communal stove and kitchen STRATEGY employers fielded questions and in a rural town in Ecuador, says NAMED discussed their companies. the trips are more than just “service disconnected from the Doug Shaw, associate dean for DISHING OUT community you’re working in. planning, research and external You build real relationships that relations at the Elliott School of DONATIONS are ongoing.” International Affairs, will serve In daylong “bowl-a-thons” as GW’s first senior associate at the Corcoran School of FILLMORE provost for international strategy the Arts and Design’s ceramic beginning this summer. The studio, faculty, staff, students, BUILDING SOLD position, designed to be GW’s ‘DAILY SHOW’ alumni and others helped The university entered into a chief officer for international make more than 500 bowls contract this spring with the programs and engagement, HOST TO PLAY this year that were donated to nonprofit S&R Foundation for will be housed in the Office COLONIALS the nonprofit So Others Might the sale of the Fillmore building, of the Provost. It was created WEEKEND Eat for an annual fundraising a historic Georgetown property to enhance the international drive in March. At the event— that GW took ownership of student experience and facilitate Comedian Jon Stewart will the proceeds from which help in its agreement last August educational partnerships around headline Colonials Weekend for the organization feed more with the Corcoran Gallery of the world. a third time on Oct. 17, following than 1,000 people each day— the end of his 20-year run as handcrafted bowls are sold to anchor of the award-winning donors, filled with soup donated satirical news program, The from D.C. restaurants. Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Tickets will be available online NEW at students.gwu.edu/jonstewart starting July 7 at 10 a.m. AGREEMENT “You don’t need a five- Mr. Stewart previously appeared WITH CAHUILLA year plan—if you give 200 at Colonials Weekend in 2005 INDIANS and 2009. percent to the job you’re The university signed a ‘CAREER QUEST’ memorandum of understanding doing, your next step in the spring that will provide HEADS TO NYC funding for members of federally becomes apparent.” As part of the inaugural recognized Native American Aliza Licht, senior vice president of global communication GW Career Quest program, tribes in California to study, live for Donna Karan, who was among the business executives 39 students spent two days and work in D.C. The agreement who headlined the sixth annual GW Women in Business this spring networking with with the Agua Caliente Band of conference this spring. Speakers encouraged attendees to prospective employers in New Cahuilla Indians will establish throw out their five-year plans, saying the path to becoming

York City. A program of the the semester-long Richard M. CEO or CFO of a company might be an unconventional one. PARTNERSCOURTESY ICM

14 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 [5 Questions] ...On Slam Poetry

Elizabeth Acevedo, BA ’10, one of the 2014 and organization help them follow along. that is what people relate to. National Poetry Slam champions, mixes And you have to be watchable. Audiences poetry and performance to explore life and see speakers all the time, from professors to What does the D.C. Youth Slam Team offer identity as a Dominican woman and first- politicians, and they want someone credible students? generation American. She’s also training a on stage. I am always thinking of how hand The D.C. Youth Slam Team is under the new wave of poets as coach of the D.C. Youth motions add meaning or punctuation to a umbrella of Split This Rock, an organization Poetry Slam Team, which wowed the audience word or phrase. Pacing is the same. The that focuses on the intersection of poetry at TEDxFoggyBottom in April. She spoke with way you pace a poem adds to the emotional and social justice. Poetry lends itself to being GW Magazine about the art form and using it rise of the message, and you have to build in political because it needs a point of view as a vehicle for social justice. moments for the audience to breathe. or thesis to work. The students’ lives are charged with political issues from a young How do you define spoken word and slam? Issues of sex, class and gender seem age. They are writing about being teenagers I think people conflate the meanings when central to your work. Why? in D.C., what it means to be a person of color really they are just different names for the I grew up in an interesting neighborhood in or to live in a low-income neighborhood. It’s same thing. They’ll say slam poetry is a Harlem: On one end was a really gentrified amazing for them because they collaborate, separate genre than spoken word because area with Columbia University, and on the go on stage and tell their stories, and the you compete against other poets. I would other end was gang violence and crime. I was audience applauds them. It makes them argue that it’s all just poetry. The poet in the middle. Even at 8 years old, poetry was reconsider what they are capable of. decides that there is a way they can embody my way of trying to understand why one side the words on stage, and the energy behind of the street had to deal with these problems Did you always want to teach poetry? the poem is made more visceral because an that the other side of the street didn’t. Later, It was a natural path for me. I did Teach audience is watching. Spoken word is just a high school teacher who was a mentor to for America in Prince George’s County, another name for that. It’s poetry that the me asked why I never wrote about myself. I [Md.], teaching was a part of my duties writer develops with consideration to how it realized people couldn’t see who I was in my while completing my MFA at the University comes across on a stage in three minutes. work. So I made it my mission to express who of Maryland and I’ve been leading poetry I am on stage because the personal really workshops since high school. It’s important How is the process different for is political. I navigate outside issues, but I to me because even though I was involved performance poetry? always try to bring it back to myself, because in performing arts programs growing up, The writing is usually pretty similar in the I never had a teacher of color. I wanted to beginning—developing imagery, figurative be that teacher for students coming up. If it language, sounds and rhymes. But you hadn’t been for teachers and mentors pushing can have more subtlety in a poem that you “I NEVER HAD A TEACHER me, I wouldn’t be here. — Brittney Dunkins know someone will reread and pull apart OF COLOR. I WANTED TO to understand all of the pieces. With a BE THAT TEACHER FOR performance poem you have to think, “Well, STUDENTS COMING UP.” See an exclusive performance by an audience is only going to be able to listen to Ms. Acevedo and read more from this

CARLETTA GIRMA this once in this moment.” Repetition, pauses interview at gwmagazine.com.

gwmagazine.com / 15 GW NEWS

[From the archives] One for The Birds

The archives catalog description reads, “cap and gown of Frank Alexander Wetmore.” So it was a surprise to shake open a long gray box and find not a gown (we added the one shown for context) but four graduation hoods—in buff and blue, but also vibrant yellows, reds and white—and not a mortarboard but a spiffy Stetson top hat. While the owner might not have agreed with the loose description, he probably could have appreciated the collection’s regal plumage and panache. A renowned ornithologist and avian paleontologist, Dr. Wetmore, MA ’16, PhD ’20, HON ’32 and longtime GW trustee, was the sixth secretary of the Smithsonian Institution and the first to have a PhD. He held the post from 1945 to 1952, and for the 20 years prior served as assistant secretary, in charge of what was then called the U.S. National Museum. Dr. Wetmore was taken with the birds of Latin America, particularly Panama, to which he made annual scientific trips for two decades, and where villagers came to know the 6-foot-4 biologist as “Alejandro Grande.” In all, he described 189 new species and subspecies of birds, and added more than 30,000 objects to the national collection. Dr. Wetmore died in 1978. His mark on science lingers, though, in the more than 50 animals, groups of animals and a cactus named in his honor, along with a canopy bridge in Panama—the first in the Western Hemisphere— and an Antarctic glacier. –Danny Freedman, BA ’01

Frank Alexander Wetmore HAT, BOX AND GOWN: WILLIAM ATKINS / WETMORE: SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION ARCHIVES #82-3138

16 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 “These are the workhorses,” Ms. Johannesdottir says. The shiny domestic Bernina sewing machines are safer to learn on than their industrial counterparts, and the manual process allows garment makers to perfect complex stitches, like zigzags and overlocks.

Costumes look just like regular clothes on the outside but are engineered differently on the inside. They are built to be easily altered for different body types, and designers often strengthen fabric with layers of heavy-duty cotton in a process called flatlining.

[SPACES]

Stitch by Stitch The shop has dress forms in “Here is where all the action takes place,” Assistant about 10 sizes, and a model Professor of Costume Design and Technology with legs was recently Sigridur Johannesdottir says as she walks into GW’s purchased for making costume shop. By “action,” she means the sketching, pants. Designers can tailor stitching and styling by aspiring costume makers costumes to match exact in the Department of Theatre and Dance, who make measurements by padding wardrobes for the university’s six annual productions the forms with foam. and for professional companies in the city, like the Washington Stage Guild. Inside, shelves and drawers overflow with tiny pins, Designers meet with actors before buttons of every hue, tangles of zippers and stalks of a production and take all kinds of white steel for corsets. measurements—from head size Students must create hundreds of looks—from to wrist width. That information ballgowns to handmade straw hats—that are stunning goes into what designers call “the on stage but also highly durable. “Costumes need to last show bible.” Garment mockups much longer than clothing,” Ms. Johannesdottir says. are made with muslin, a coarse “They are worn night after night, and they need to look cotton weave that serves as a

WILLIAM ATKINS brand-new each time.” — Julyssa Lopez stand-in for expensive fabrics.

gwmagazine.com / 17 GW NEWS showcasing new books by gw professors and alumni bookshelves

Lawrence A. Cunningham

all par for its course. So, too, is Berkshire’s Berkshire investor, to avoid controversy. He The Mega- ability to absorb that change without rocking concedes, though, that he generally prefers the culture at its core, says Lawrence A. to write about positive things. “I have found Cunningham, the Henry St. George it is much more fun to write about Berkshire Corporation Tucker III Research Professor of Law. Hathaway than Enron,” he says. “The good news,” he says of The culture and philosophy he all that activity, “is that it may explores in the book are an anomaly Next Door warrant an updated edition in among large U.S. corporations, he coming years.” says. “It is more like what is found Mr. Cunningham met in smaller business partnerships. GW Law professor Lawrence A. Mr. Buffett in 1995, when Berkshire shareholders think of Cunningham has gotten to know the renowned investor and themselves as owners or partners, Warren Buffett’s $350 billion Presidential Medal of Freedom while managers see their role as awardee attended a symposium stewards,” he says. “Throughout company, Berkshire Hathaway, about his letters to shareholders, the organization, overhead a colossus that manages to feel which Mr. Cunningham hosted. is kept low, loyalty is prized, like a small business, he writes. The professor later published the individual autonomy promoted, /By Menachem Wecker, MA ’09 / letters in a book, which he sold entrepreneurship stimulated and at Berkshire’s annual meetings capital allocated shrewdly.” Since this book was published in October, and, over time, got to know Berkshire Beyond And where others buy Warren Buffett’s behemoth conglomerate, Mr. Buffett and other personnel. Buffett: The companies to retool and offload Berkshire Hathaway Inc., has hardly sat still. “Those relationships provided Enduring Value of them, Berkshire hangs on. Whether It used its Procter & Gamble stock to buy significant, valuable information Values (Columbia its business model works is plainly Duracell; it acquired the car dealership Van and insight unavailable Business School clear, but Mr. Cunningham sets out Tuyl Group, whose previous year boasted anywhere else,” he says. Publishing, 2014) to unravel how the model works and about $8 billion in sales; and Heinz, which it Those ties didn’t lead Lawrence A. whether Berkshire could continue partially owns, merged with Kraft. But that’s Mr. Cunningham, who is also a Cunningham without the man who built it. CUUNINGHAM AND BOOK: ZACH MARIN

18 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 Northern Men With Southern Loyalties: The Democratic Party and the Sectional Crisis (Cornell University Press, 2014) The Cruiser: A Dan Lenson Michael Todd Landis, PhD ’11 Novel (St. Martin’s Press, 2014) It simply won’t do any longer David Poyer, MA ’86 to think of the Civil War in In this novel, the 14th in a terms of a clean break between series that follows fictional Democracy’s Double-Edged the North and the South over Back Channel to Cuba: The GW alumnus and Naval Capt. Sword: How Internet Use slavery, writes Dr. Landis, an Hidden History of Negotiations Dan Lenson, real GW alumnus Changes Citizens’ Views of Their assistant history professor at Between Washington and and retired Naval officer Government (Johns Hopkins Tarleton State University in Havana (University of North Mr. Poyer sends the hero on a University Press, 2014) Texas. Among the Northern Carolina Press, 2015) clean-up mission after a warship Catie Snow Bailard Democratic leadership in the William M. LeoGrande and with some valuable—and highly The sort of attention that has 1850s were “doughfaces,” who at Peter Kornbluh classified—cargo runs aground addressed how the Internet once sought to please the party’s The recent warming of U.S.- off the Italian coast. facilitates political protests Southern bosses and to purge its Cuba relations may seem like hasn’t focused on the extent to ranks of anti-slavery members. a complete policy reversal, which the web makes its users They were, Dr. Landis observes, but “every president since want to act politically to begin “anti-democratic to the core.” Eisenhower has engaged in with, writes Dr. Bailard, an some form of dialogue with assistant professor of media and Castro and his representatives,” public affairs. After analyzing write Dr. LeoGrande and Mr. the Internet’s “mirror-holding” Kornbluh, a senior analyst at and “window-opening” GW’s National Security Archive. properties, she writes that the One hushed meeting between web “meaningfully alters not Washington and Havana even only the quality and range of took place on the steps of the information but also the criteria Lincoln Memorial, they write in through which individuals their book, which draws upon a evaluate their governments.” trove of declassified documents. Narcissism and Politics: Dreams of Glory (Cambridge University Press, 2015) Jerrold M. Post Constructive Illusions: Narcissus, of Greek mythological Misperceiving the Origins of notoriety for falling fatally in International Cooperation love with his own reflection, (Cornell University Press, 2014) epitomizes the Facebook- Eric Grynaviski addicted “me generation.” Challenging the idea that The “apparent epidemic of diplomacy might be best when narcissism” doesn’t infect all parties truly understand one politicians, writes Dr. Post, GW another, Dr. Grynaviski, an professor of political psychology, assistant professor of political but the “arena of public service science and international affairs, and its limelight is particularly writes that cooperation often is attractive, indeed irresistible, likeliest when nations erroneously to individuals with narcissistic

WILLIAM ATKINS feel they have much in common. propensities.”

gwmagazine.com / 19 GW NEWS AthleticS news

20 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 [Men’s basketball] the CCAS graduation celebration. Senior John Kopriva walks off the Smith At the same time, Center court for the last time in March. Mr. Kopriva posted his best season as a Colonial, starting all Test 35 games. He averaged career bests of 6.7 points on 49 percent shooting, 44 percent behind the Tubes arc and 3.7 rebounds, along with 29 blocks. He holds the program record for games played, with and Free 128. When told that three-year team captains and chemistry Throws majors seem to mix like oil and water, Mr. Kopriva, who When John Kopriva walked into is applying to medical school class, a professor later admitted with an interest in orthopedic to him, she had rolled her eyes at surgery, doesn’t buy it. He sees a the 6-foot-8 Colonials basketball logical blend to his academic and team forward. athletic pursuits. “I probably had a GW hat and “The sciences made a lot sweats on. And she’s kind of like, more sense to me than reading ‘What’s this kid doing in organic a full-length novel and writing a chemistry?’” the Milwaukee book report,” he says. “Just being native and GW senior says, in sports and hanging around ahead of graduation in May. the athletic training room all the The jock stereotype dissolved time, I really became interested when his grades came in. the study of biomechanics and The Academic All- injury prevention.” American—the 10th ever for —Menachem Wecker, the men’s basketball team—was MA ’09 poised to graduate as a chemistry major with a GPA better than 3.9, and he was named a 2015 Columbian College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Scholar, earning him a speaking spot at

"Just being in sports and hanging around the athletic training room all the time, I really became interested the study of biomechanics and injury

COURT: GW ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS / KOPRIVA: WILLIAM ATKINS prevention."

gwmagazine.com / 21 GW NEWS ATHLETICS NEWS

Jonathan Tsipis, the [Gymnastics] Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year, had orchestrated the turnaround from a group that won just Banner Year 11 games in 2011-12, the year In and out of before he arrived, to a team that earned the program’s first NCAA Competition Tournament berth in seven years. It’s become cliché for athletes In addition to Ms. Jones, to give 110 percent. But GW sophomore forward Caira gymnastics alumni, parents Washington, the 2014 Atlantic and teammates have given more 10 Rookie of the Year, was named than 300 percent this year in a Jonquel Jones plays in March at the team’s first NCAA Tournament to the A-10 All-Conference First fundraising drive that supports game since 2008, after the team won the A10 Championship. Team, and freshman forward the team and honors the longest- Kelli Prange was selected to the serving coach in GW history. [Women’s Basketball] court with the Colonials, after All-Rookie Team. A three-time NCAA transferring from Clemson eight Ms. Jones, meanwhile, added Regional Coach of the Year, games into her college career, a pair of All-America honorable Margie Foster-Cunningham POY Jones Ms. Jones has been perhaps mentions from the Associated has been the anchor of the the most dominant player in Press and Women’s Basketball gymnastics team for 30 seasons. Sparks the Atlantic 10. In March, she Coaches Association to her list of This year was arguably Ms. was named A-10 Player of the accolades, which also included a Foster-Cunningham’s finest Title Season Year and Defensive Player of the spot on the midseason watch list to date, as she guided the As the GW women’s basketball Year—just the fourth time in for the Naismith Trophy, which Colonials to their first-ever East team bus pulled up at an conference history a player has is given to the national player of Atlantic Gymnastics League elementary school in Freeport, won both awards in the same the year. Championship and to NCAA Bahamas, the chants of “JJ! season—while leading GW on “She’s not somebody that Regional competition for the JJ!” could be heard from the the winningest campaign in likes to be singled out. She wants first time since 2002. crowd of students gathered on program history. to make sure that the team’s The stellar season coincided the blacktop. The Colonials The Colonials went 29-4, success is always ahead of her with the Department of Athletics were on Grand Bahama Island setting a program record for individual,” Mr. Tsipis says. and Recreation’s “30 for 30” over Thanksgiving break for wins and winning percentage, “There’s just nobody else like her fundraising effort, which had the annual Junkanoo Jam and steamrolled through the in the league and how she’s able set a goal of raising tournament, and the children Atlantic 10 to a 15-1 mark. Along to impact the game at both ends $30,000 to support had come out to see their the way, the Colonials ended the of the court.” the gymnastics team. hometown hero, GW’s Jonquel nation’s longest home winning More than $90,000 Jones. streak when they beat later, supporters left Ms. Jones drew a capacity Dayton on Jan. 4, that initial goal in the crowd for both of GW’s games knocked off defending chalk dust, and have set in the tournament, as the A-10 champion Fordham a new goal of $100,000 by Colonials defeated N.C. State and at home and twice trounced the end of the fiscal year, Purdue—both coming off NCAA “Revolutionary Rival” George June 30. Tournament appearances—en Mason. After a season that saw the route to the Junkanoo Jam GW’s second win over the team’s first-ever All-America Freeport Division title, and MVP Patriots locked up the Atlantic 10 honors, for freshman Cami honors for Ms. Jones. regular-season title outright, and Drouin-Allaire on vault, and It was the start of something the Colonials cut down the nets that set all-time program special for the junior forward at the Smith Center for the first records for overall team score, and the Colonials. Ms. Jones time since 2008. combined vault score and total won her first of seven Atlantic As the No. 1 seed in the floor exercise score, the bar 10 Player-of-the-Week awards, Atlantic 10 Championship, has been raised. New goals and matching the second most in GW defeated Saint Louis then priorities include expanding the conference history, and GW Fordham and, finally, Dayton won its second and third games with a second-half run fueled by Senior Elana Corcoran in a row on its way to a 19-game Ms. Jones. She was named the competes at the East winning streak and a top-20 tournament’s Most Outstanding Atlantic Gymnastics League national ranking. Player as the Colonials won their Championships, which the Since the moment she set foot first league title since 2003. Colonials this year won for on the Charles E. Smith Center Third-season head coach the first time. ATHLETICSGW COMMUNICATIONS

22 / gw magazine / Winter 2015 team’s travel budget, in order to The sailing team’s compete against the best teams new donor-funded in the nation, and to embark on a fleet of 18 boats was training trip to Australia in 2016. dedicated in March. “We do a great job at GW teaching our student-athletes that they have the power to make a difference,” says Ms. Foster- Cunningham. “The success of the GW gymnastics fundraising challenge is a result of [that] education ... I am honored and proud to be affiliated with a group that is so generous and so focused on the continued success of the GW gymnastics program.” For many, the gift is as much about supporting gymnastics as it is about honoring the program’s cornerstone, who has helped shape the lives of GW athletes for three decades. ranked opponents during the to surpass. We are a top-40 level 1950s, read the commissioning “Margie has a special talent regular season. program, and we look forward orders from GW President for instilling confidence and The Colonials pushed through to proving that in the years to Steven Knapp, including an promoting excellence on her their schedule and picked up key come.” instruction to “sail these new team,” says donor and former regular-season home wins over vessels to continuous victory.” gymnast Meena Lakdawala- No. 65 DePaul and No. 61 UNC- The program, which is in just Flynn, BA ’99. “Whether Wilmington to give the Buff [Sailing] its third season as a varsity sport through hard work, skill and Blue a perfect 5-0 record at at GW, achieved its first top-20 development or an encouraging home. After Gust national ranking in 2014 and a word, she made all of us The Colonials entered the No. 15 women’s ranking in 2015. better: better gymnasts, better Atlantic 10 Championship as Of Support, “These boats allow the teammates, better people.” the No. 4 seed and carried their current students to compete at a momentum throughout the Fleet Sails level previously only dreamt of; tournament, defeating fifth- we can host regattas and actually For more on supporting seeded Dayton and top-seeded The temperature was in the have the whole team on the water the gymnastics program, Richmond to reach the finals for teens and there were several at once,” said GW senior and visit go.gwu.edu/30for30. the sixth consecutive season, inches of snow on the ground, captain Alex Hitchcock. “Beyond where the squad met rival VCU, but it might as well have been being a symbol of how far the [men’s Tennis] the No. 2 seed, for the third sunny with a breeze at the back team has come, it signifies how straight year. The Colonials of GW’s nascent sailing team as far we are willing to go to be at downed VCU to become back- the group gathered to dedicate a the top.” Five Years, to-back champions and to claim new fleet of 18 boats on a frigid Will Ricketson, BA ’11, a their fourth-ever berth in the March day. member of the GW Athletics Four Crowns NCAA Team Championship. The It was “an absolute dream Board of Advisors, a Sailing The GW men’s tennis team team wrapped up its season after come true” for the team, head Club alumnus and a donor to claimed the Atlantic 10 falling in the first round to No. 12 coach John Pearce said as he the fundraising campaign, conference championship in Wake Forest. thanked supporters of the “Raise said the sailing program is a April, setting up a dynastic The team’s lone senior, High the Sails” campaign, which “uniquely GW success story. decade in which the team has Francisco Dias, graduated as raised more than $180,000 for This whole adventure started claimed the A-10 crown in four of GW's winningest singles player, the boats. “Big contributions, with a determined group of the past five seasons. notching 87 wins, breaking a small contributions, it all came undergraduates that decided Armed with five freshmen, record that had stood since 1979. together in this beautiful fleet to take on the best teams in a junior transfer and just three “We have grown so much as a of boats, which puts us at a the country,” he said. “GW has returning student-athletes program after winning [in 2011] different level than where we always been a place that rewards for the 2014-15 season, head our first A-10 title since 1979,” were before.” entrepreneurialism, ingenuity coach Greg Munoz put his Mr. Munoz says. “We have been James Merow, AA ’51, BA and effort, and the sailing team squad through one of the most ranked as high as No. 45 in the ’53, JD ’56, a star sailor who has consistently demonstrated challenging spring schedules to nation, and we will continue to competed in several national these qualities over the past few

GW ATHLETICSGW COMMUNICATIONS date, taking on seven nationally use that as the standard for us championships for GW in the years.”

gwmagazine.com / 23 GW NEWS

lions rely on their fore flippers, sea lions died last year, the Research news which are analogous to human lab obtained her flipper. arms. They sweep downward, Josh Waldron, one of six clap their large flippers into undergraduate students working their bodies and glide forward, in Dr. Leftwich’s lab, spent last producing jet propulsion. Sea summer taking high-resolution lions are able to cruise the length images of the flipper’s skin of an Olympic-size pool with a samples at the micro-scale, single clap. using a high-powered scanning Other animals that use jets to electron microscope. propel forward, like octopuses “One really interesting thing and squid, cannot sustain high we found when we looked at the speeds or manipulate their images is that different parts of bodies with the same agility. the flipper have varying amounts Sea lions also produce a barely of fur and smoothness,” says traceable wake in the water, Mr. Waldron, a junior studying differing significantly from other mechanical and aerospace swimming mammals. engineering. “We want to try “I want to know, what is and uncover how the sea lion’s the paradigm for successful hair and skin play a role in its swimming?” Dr. Leftwich says. hydrodynamics to give it such an To find out the science advantage when it does turns in behind the sea lions’ water.” swimming mechanisms, To help Mr. Waldron prepare Dr. Leftwich returned to the to image the sea lion samples, he Smithsonian’s National Zoo. enlisted the aid of researchers As part of an ongoing research in engineering professor Grace partnership, her team visits Zhang’s lab, where new 3-D California sea lions and uses printing techniques are being high-definition video cameras used to create custom-designed to digitize the unique motions of tissue substitutes. their flippers. “Most people in the After analyzing the videos, Mechanical and Aerospace Dr. Leftwich and postdoctoral Engineering Department scientist Chen Friedman don’t handle sea lion tissue, compare differences in the sea oddly enough,” he says. lions’ claps and body maneuvers “So there was a lot of inter- in order to highlight correlations departmental collaboration to in features such as angular help one undergraduate research velocity and flipper curvature. student.” Observing zoo animals does, One potential application however, come with limitations: for better understanding these [fluid dynamics] was Dr. Leftwich who came away It does not allow the researchers highly maneuverable, difficult-to- with a head full of wonder. to analyze how the flipper affects trace mammals is to inform the “I just thought, ‘Man, those the movement of the water. design of underwater vehicles, Amazing are amazing swimmers.’ I really To compensate for that, such as the autonomous ones wanted to study them,” says students and researchers in used by the Navy for disarming Grace Dr. Leftwich, a fluid dynamics Dr. Leftwich’s lab are working underwater bombs. researcher in the Department on a robotic flipper that mimics But Dr. Leftwich is hesitant of Mechanical and Aerospace the sea lions’ motion. Once to say that her research is In sea lions, engineers Engineering. it’s complete, they will send confined to solutions for any one search for mechanisms The marine mammals are not it through a lab-length water problem. behind expert only lithe swimmers, they’re also tunnel and chart the water’s “I feel like if we don’t know swimming capable of reaching 25 miles per movement, as well as the forces all of the potential applications, hour. And they move through it takes for a sea lion to move that’s really a good thing,” When Megan Leftwich took her water unlike any other animals its knuckles, wrists and elbows. she says. “Often problems are children to the zoo two years on Earth. (Sea lions’ front flippers have solved by accident because of ago to see the sea lions, which While fish and other aquatic all the skeletal elements of land investigating some fundamental slipped through twists and flips mammals thrust forward with mammals.) phenomenon in and of itself.” like underwater ballerinas, it their tails or caudal fins, sea When one of the zoo’s —Lauren Ingeno ©ANDREA IZZOTTI/500PX PRIME

24 / gw magazine / Winter 2015 [business] and the average length of an NFL patients each year. to bypass Phase II testing and career is six years for a player In a 20-person clinical trial move into Phase III, which could who makes a club’s opening-day conducted at GW Hospital’s cut years from the time it will After NFL, roster, according to the league. Intensive Care Unit in 2014, take to market the drug. Length of career and total professor Lakhmir Chawla and Now GW has entered into Many Face earnings aren’t predictive of his team used angiotensin II, a a license agreement with when, or how frequently, players peptide hormone, as a successful California-based La Jolla Bankruptcy will go bankrupt, the researchers treatment for distributive Pharmaceutical for GW A new found. shock—a life-threatening intellectual property rights study of “That’s quite striking, medical condition that occurs covering the use of angiotensin II bankruptcy and I think this kind when a patient’s blood pressure to treat patients with hypotension rates among of hints at this plummets. and shock. In the Phase III trial, NFL players lack of financial When patients go into this La Jolla will test the drug on 300 finds that sophistication,” type of shock after a bacterial patients at up to 40 U.S. hospitals many are Dr. Lusardi says. infection, allergic reaction or to confirm its effectiveness and going broke “The players who have severe accident, doctors attempt monitor side effects. in retirement, long careers to raise their blood pressure Vice President for Research and the and higher using either catecholamines or Leo Chalupa says he is problem may incomes are vasopressin therapy. But some “cautiously optimistic” that be a lack of the ones critically ill patients do not the drug soon will be available financial planning. we don’t respond to these drugs, which, in hospitals, noting that In the report, released in expect to in high doses, can cause side roadblocks could arise between April by the National Bureau go bankrupt. effects, including permanent Phase III clinical trials and of Economic Research, GW But they do, and they do at the damage to the heart. manufacturing. If the drug is financial literacy expert same rate as the others. That’s Angiotensin II has the marketed, Dr. Chalupa says, Annamaria Lusardi and an indication that the planning is potential to save patients he believes it will be a “tipping researchers at the California not there.” who don’t respond to existing point” for the university. Institute of Technology and the Where the money goes treatments. “Not only would it bring University of Washington used depends on the player. But bad “In 1940, in substantial court records, news reports and real estate or entrepreneurial if you had a income to other public documents to track investments are common headache, the If the drug is the inventor, 2,016 players drafted by NFL catalysts for financial problems only choice you marketed, university and teams from 1996 to 2003. Nearly among ex-athletes, she says. had was aspirin. Dr. Chalupa the school, but it 2 percent were bankrupt within For that group, she says, “that Twenty years would also be a two years of retirement. Fifteen next stage of life is very long, and later, you could says, he believes tremendous boost percent had filed for bankruptcy so managing money is a more take Tylenol. it will be a to other faculty within 12 years of playing their complex decision. They don’t Now, you can “tipping point” who may realize final NFL game. realize it’s enough for a lifetime if take ibuprofen,” that they, too, “The reality is these people it’s properly managed.” says Dr. Chawla, for GW. have invented have earned enough to not have —James Irwin an associate something with to work for the rest of their professor of anesthesiology and commercial potential,” he says. lives,” says Dr. Lusardi, the [medicine] critical care medicine in the “Success breeds success.” Denit Trust Chair of Economics School of Medicine and Health Dr. Chawla hopes that, in and Accountancy at the School Sciences. “I would argue that addition to treating hypotension, of Business. “But they go Study Finds having a third option is a big the Phase III clinical trials will bankrupt. And they don’t go deal. People have different issues show that the drug improves bankrupt 20 years down the New Drug to with different drugs.” survival rates for patients. But road. It happens right away.” In addition, catecholamines, that is often difficult to prove in a The traditional life-cycle Treat Shock vasopressin and angiotensin clinical study. model of salary and savings—a are natural peptides produced “We know that many of the gradual increase in income over by the human body that all supportive therapies that we use decades, coupled with long-term License agreement work together to increase blood in medicine are important, but it planning—is put to an extreme signed, FDA bumps pressure. Dr. Chawla hopes that is very hard to directly attribute test, she says, when workers drug testing to using these drugs together will them to a mortality benefit,” he earn a large amount of their Phase III clinical trial improve their effectiveness and says. “Our primary goal is to lifetime income in a short burst reduce the overall toxicity of any demonstrate that angiotensin II and at a young age. A GW doctor has discovered a one treatment. is safe and can give clinicians The median earnings of the new use for a drug that could After the clinical trial, the U.S. another tool in the toolbox. If it players in the report was mean the difference between Food and Drug Administration improves survival, that’s a grand

ILLUSTRATION: DOMINIC ABBATE DOMINIC ILLUSTRATION: $3.2 million (in 2000 dollars), life and death for thousands of gave approval for the researchers slam.” —Lauren Ingeno

gwmagazine.com / 25 FIVE YEARS LATER IN

HAITI// STORY AND PHOTOS BY B. D. COLEN, BA '73 // Half a decade after a catastrophic earthquake, a Pulitzer Prize winner finds that life in the beleagured nation goes on, as it always has. COURTESY GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY MUSEUM AND THE TEXTILE MUSEUM (GIFT OF THE FLORENCE EDDOWES MORRIS COLLECTION, GOUCHER COLLEGE; TM 1985.33.288)

26 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 gwmagazine.com / 27 t just past 10 on a morning in early January, it’s already about 90 degrees in a dusty schoolyard a few miles out of Thomonde, on Haiti’s Central Plateau, one of the poorest regions in the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. The glaring white Caribbean sun beats down on a faded sea-green, concrete schoolhouse, which is empty because there are no classes today. Haitians this week are marking the fifth anniversary of the devastating earthquake that killed more than 220,000 people, injured another 300,000 and left more than a million homeless.

Nine George Washington University may have a sense of the nation’s problems, nursing students and two faculty members often they don’t understand the tangle of climb out of the four-wheel-drive vehicles geography, natural disasters and the long, that have jounced them over nine miles of haunting shadow of history that makes road that felt like 50. They’re lugging bags of Haiti so different from the more prosperous medical basics—from gauze pads and Band- Dominican Republic, the nation with which it Aids to a bathroom scale for patient weigh- shares the island of Hispaniola. ins and blood pressure cuffs—ubiquitous Haiti sits on the western end of the stethoscopes draped around their necks, island, where some of the mountains are their own water bottles in hand. 2,000 feet higher than the tallest peak in the It’s day two of a weeklong medical support Appalachians, blocking the winds and thus trip, and the group is fresh off of yesterday’s the rains that make the Dominican Republic taste-of-Haitian-reality grand tour: a ride far more fertile. Extensive deforestation over rocky ruts called a road to a field outside for fuel and agriculture, dating back to the Thomonde for a brief clinic session under a nation’s days as the world’s leading sugar tree; a tour of the clinic run by their host, the producer and France’s richest colony, has nonprofit Project Medishare, in a little town eroded the soil and thinned the ecosystem. called LeHoye not far from the border with After a dozen years of fighting, Haiti’s the Dominican Republic; and a pass through enslaved population threw out the French the tropical Times Square on New Year’s Eve in 1803, establishing an independent nation that is market day in LeHoye. on Jan. 1, 1804. World powers recoiled at the It takes about 30 minutes for the group to specter of the world’s only successful slave transform the dark and empty schoolhouse revolt. Neither Britain, France, nor the young into the closest thing to a medical facility United States, not even the Vatican, would most of the residents here are ever likely to recognize the independent republic, severely see. One steel-roofed concrete room becomes limiting Haiti’s access to world trade. a triage, one is a pediatric clinic and another Refusing to return as workers to the is a facility for adults. plantations on which they had been laboring, Even before the setup work is done, a long former slaves fled to remote areas of the line of patients forms, ranging in age from a countryside, establishing small farms and few months old to elderly, standing politely family-based communities. They lived as waiting to be examined. disconnected as they could from the central government, and two societies developed: a Tell people in the United States that rural, agrarian one, consisting of the great you’ve recently been to Haiti and while they mass of the population, and an urban upper WILLIAM ATKINS

28 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 COURTESY GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY MUSEUM AND THE TEXTILE MUSEUM (AS 174)

gwmagazine.com / 29 30 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 left Professor of Nursing Joyce Pulcini

“What we hope to get out of [these trips] is that we were providing a medical mission and doing sustainable work. But I think the education [is] more sustainable than the clinics.” —professor of nursing joyce pulcini

gwmagazine.com / 31 Haiti

The pop-up clinics established by the group drew lines of patiently waiting people, young and old, often in Sunday best. But the team’s added efforts to teach health care workers and the public—in presentations on topics that ranged from umbilical cord care to tooth-brushing—may prove even more enduring.

32 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 gwmagazine.com / 33 and middle class that controlled almost every group. “But I think the education [is] more another of the inescapable conundrums aspect of life in the nation. sustainable than the clinics,” she says. facing aid workers the world over. World powers did come to recognize On past trips, students seemed to return For most of the session, an elderly woman Haiti’s sovereignty: France as early as 1825 disillusioned. “They ask, ‘What did we really in Sunday best—like nearly all the clinic (sources vary), after sailing warships into do? We give out medications for 30 days and patients—lay in obvious distress, alone on a Port-au-Prince and demanding a large sum then there’s no follow-up. We didn’t do harm, cotton quilt spread in a shady area behind the to be paid over a half-century; Britain a little but …’” church. Dr. Dawn found herself repeatedly more than a decade later; and the United The added work to educate patients and glancing at the woman, who was visible States not until 1862. first-line health workers helps to buffer through the open rear door of the church. That relationship would become even that. Medical aid workers will leave, but the Finally she could stand it no longer, and further complicated. From 1915 to 1934, knowledge will stay, and has the potential left the students to go tend to the woman Haiti was occupied by U.S. Marines, sent to spread. On this trip, that has made a on the quilt. She returned to the makeshift by a government ostensibly to stabilize the difference for the students, she says. clinic after a while, sitting down on a bench, spiraling nation, though the occupation— Later on that second day, as the light fades shaking her head. and its political manipulations and racist behind palms and other tropical foliage, and “She looks to be in her 70s, but you really undertones—actually did much to protect a breeze keeps the evening mosquito-free, can’t tell,” Dr. Dawn tells me, “and she’s and expand American influence there. the group gathers under the portico of the obviously in respiratory distress. She belongs Couple all that with more than 200 years Project Medishare guesthouse in Thomonde in the hospital. Her family is trying to figure of roiling political instability, civil war and with eight of the organization’s Haitian out how to help her; it’s very complicated for widespread poverty, and it is inevitable that health care workers. This evening, and on them.” Haiti today would be struggling. three other evenings this week, students give Dr. Dawn explains that she found a Throw in regular battering by hurricanes, presentations—on anemia in pregnancy, on nephew of the woman’s, who said that the to say nothing of earthquakes, and it’s a Ebola, on proper umbilical cord care and on family had the $2.40 needed to have her wonder that the Haitians are doing as well hypertension. They work to dispel myths and taken to the Partners In Health hospital in as they are. Nor is it surprising that Haitian misinformation to which some of the Haitian Cange, about 30 minutes away, by one of the life expectancy is about 62 years, or that the health care workers cling. region’s ubiquitous motorcycle taxis. But, she adult literacy rate—around 49 percent— Later in the week, the students will offer says, they didn’t have the money to have her is among the world’s lowest, or that few presentations at a community gathering, admitted to the hospital. Haitians have access to health care and safe complete with demonstrations, to teach the Plus, Dr. Dawn says, in Haiti families are water. One in five children under 5 years old value and technique of such basics as proper expected to pay for food for hospital patients, has stunted growth, and 1 in 13 die before hand washing and tooth brushing. and the family can’t afford it. reaching that age. Karen Dawn, an assistant clinical “I really don't know what to do,” she says, Were it not for the presence of thousands professor of nursing who is on her fourth trip clearly troubled. “I can easily give them the of nongovernmental organizations—so many to Haiti, says the faculty has worked closely money, but then what?” it’s been nicknamed the Republic of NGOs— with Project Medishare over the years to If she did, she wonders, “the next time and were it not for the incredible resilience of continuously adjust the work of the students someone here gets sick will people just wait the Haitian people, the reality of Haiti would based on needs and maximizing impact. for them to get sicker, thinking that some be far more grim than it is. “Over the past two January nursing foreigner will come along and pay for the trips, we’ve identified a need for sustainable care they need? What does that do to the The GW group is here with Project interventions geared towards several natural balance of things here?” Medishare, one of the many organizations repeated health issues that we see in these She gets up and goes back to talk with the working to keep this island nation from communities: hypertension in the adults, woman’s nephew. sinking under the weight of hardship. diarrheal diseases in the children, oral care, When Dr. Dawn returns, she looks Based at the University of Miami Miller umbilical cord care and nutrition, just to somewhat relieved, but still perplexed. “I School of Medicine, Project Medishare came name a few,” Dr. Dawn says. gave them the money,” she says, “and the to Haiti in 1994, long before the NGO influx The following afternoon, after a four-hour family has arranged for her to get a ride to the that followed the 2010 earthquake, and runs clinic session in a rude wooden church in hospital. She’ll be taken care of. But I wish I programs in Hospital Bernard Mevs, in Port- a rural area near Thomonde, the students knew that I’ve done the right thing,” she says. au-Prince, and here on the Central Plateau, gather outside their guesthouse to debrief. And so it goes, countless times each day, a where it works with the Haitian government “What were today’s high points, and what short two-hour plane ride from Miami, and a and other medical NGOs to provide rural could we do better?” Dr. Pulcini asks. world away. health care. “I think my low point was the language One of its efforts involves bringing [barrier],” says undergraduate nursing B. D. Colen, BA ’73, who teaches groups of nursing, medical school and public student Tiffani Houston, “not being able to documentary photography and science writing health students and professors from nine communicate as well as I wanted to.” at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, U.S. universities, including GW, which has “One high was how well we all worked spent 27 years at The Washington Post and been sending teams to Haiti for more than a together,” says Dayna Leis, another Newsday, where he shared a 1984 Pulitzer decade. undergraduate. But she agreed that the need Prize for general local reporting. This was The faculty members on this trip have few for more translators was an obstacle. his second trip to Haiti. To see more of his illusions. Dr. Dawn had spent part of the photography, visit http://socialdocumentary. “What we hope to get out of [these trips] afternoon’s clinic session dealing with net/photographer/bdcolen. is that we were providing a medical mission and doing sustainable work,” says Professor of Nursing Joyce Pulcini, the leader of the B. D. Colen discusses the story behind the photos at gwmagazine.com.

34 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 Karen Dawn, an assistant clinical professor of nursing

gwmagazine.com / 35 PROMISE

KEEPERThrough his program Gideon’s Promise, MacArthur Fellow Jonathan Rapping, JD ’95, is helping the government

fulfill its duty to stand up for the indigent accused.

// By Tony Rehagen ILLUSTRATION: MINHEE KIM REFERENCE // IMAGE: JOHN D. & CATHERINE MACARTHUR T. FOUNDATION

36 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 gwmagazine.com / 37 Jonathan Rapping. Ms. Kurien had first He got that during his first summer, met Mr. Rapping, or “Rap” as he likes to through an intership with the Public be called, in 2006, when she was an intern Defender Service for the District of at a neighboring public defender’s office Columbia. Mr. Rapping’s mother had been and he was a trainer for the Georgia Public politically active in the 1970s, and he had Defender Standards Council. grown up around attorneys who defended More than just teaching courtroom protesters. In his young mind, defense procedure and caseload management, lawyers were superheroes who stood up Mr. Rapping had emphasized the public against the powers of the state. He says defender’s role in standing up for the that the lawyers he met at the D.C. public humanity in their clients, who are often in defender service lived up to that archetype. the worst trouble of their lives with no one “They were passionate and hardworking,” else to turn to. As a society, we have throw- Mr. Rapping says. “They spent their days away people, she remembers him saying. If defending the world.” you want true justice, you must remind the He shadowed them for the next two years system that these are human beings. and saw how their work affected individuals, “Rap was like a small, bald, Jewish Jesus,” families and entire communities by helping Ms. Kurien says. “He was dedicated to the people when their need was most dire. church of public defense.” He had heard the call. The following year, Mr. Rapping started “In the classroom we learned about the nna Kurien wasn’t sure what would become Gideon’s Promise, an concept of justice,” he says. “Most lawyers she could keep doing this job. She had joined organization devoted to that ideal, work never think about it again. I didn’t want to the Fulton County Public Defender’s Office that would eventually win him a MacArthur be one of those lawyers who realize that, as fresh out of law school in 2008 and dedicated Fellowship, the so-called genius grant. someone once said, ‘the first thing I lost in four years to representing the indigent in In 2010, Ms. Kurien was enrolled in the law school was the reason that I came.’” Atlanta. But this was her first murder trial— Gideon’s Promise training program when During his third year at GW Law, and she had lost. She had no idea how she Mr. Rapping pulled her aside and told her she Mr. Rapping took part in the school’s was going to go back into that courtroom. was “born for this.” criminal defense clinic. There, he For two days, she couldn’t even get out of “I clung to those words,” she says. She also represented his own clients, and following bed. held on to something else Mr. Rapping had the example of his mentors, he got to know Ms. Kurien felt that her client’s case was preached: “The only way to accurately convey them beyond their legal predicaments. He clearly self-defense. She spent months not a person’s humanity is to open yourself to built relationships, and he saw that they all only piecing together events, but getting to their pain.” had similar stories: They were from poorer know the accused and his family, gradually parts of D.C., had come through schools that painting the portrait of a hardworking man didn’t work, faced some sort of mental health who was trying to protect himself. But he From the 24th floor of a challenge and had social needs that weren’t was an undocumented immigrant, a Latino, nondescript high-rise, the being met. and it seemed like that was all the jury, the offices of Gideon’s Promise look out over “These are people we walk past on the prosecutor, even the judge could see. downtown Atlanta. The broad windows street,” he says. “But we’re completely “They didn’t care about him,” and their majestic view belie a workspace desensitized to their struggles. In many ways Ms. Kurien says of the 2012 case. “They that is becoming more and more cramped we ignore them.” He was not going to ignore didn’t think of him as human.” to contain a budding staff. The baseboards them anymore. Now he faced a mandatory sentence of of Mr. Rapping’s modest office—he yielded Upon graduating in 1995, he joined the life in prison, while Ms. Kurien faced the the most spacious quarters to the executive public defender service as a staff attorney. task of making his wife and child understand director, who also happens to be his wife— The office—a federally funded, independent that they would never see their husband are lined with framed news clippings, three- legal organization—stood out to many as a and father out from behind bars again. deep in some places; trophies that can’t find model, even as the city itself was struggling The stepson had given Ms. Kurien a letter, room on the wall. Most of the clippings are to shed its “murder capital” moniker. written in the broad, crooked pencil strokes brand new, fruit of the recent MacArthur Mr. Rapping specialized in cases involving of a 7-year-old, to read to the judge at the grant. “We are growing,” says the 48-year- domestic abuse and sex offenses. He went on sentencing. Please bring my Daddy home. I old Mr. Rapping. “All of a sudden people are to become training director, reminding new miss my Daddy. paying attention.” attorneys that law was more than a code of It would have been easy to just quit, Mr. Rapping first became aware of Gideon rules and procedures. to walk away and apply her education v. Wainwright—the landmark 1963 case in In 2004, after nine years with the D.C. to a less daunting aspect of the law. It which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that office, he received an offer to go to Georgia might have been easier still to fold up that states must provide counsel in criminal cases to set up a new statewide training program child’s letter and stuff it deep down in her for defendants who cannot afford it—when for public defenders. It was an opportunity briefcase, to give in to the exasperation he was a student at GW Law School in the to impart the ideals he had formed in the felt by overworked, under-resourced and mid-1990s. But at the time, it was just another District to a state’s worth of young attorneys. unappreciated public defenders across the chapter of a case law book. But when he arrived in the South, he soon nation, and to stop living and dying with each “In law school, you learn laws in theory,” realized that the supportive atmosphere case. “I didn’t think I had the strength to face he says. “But you can’t understand how they and enthusiasm for public defense that he that loss again,” she says. are applied or the impact they have on people had taken for granted in D.C. was more the

She found fortitude in the teachings of until you have a real-world setting.” exception than the rule. ©CLINTON BLACKBURN/500PX PRIME

38 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 “I DIDN’T WANT TO BE ONE OF THOSE LAWYERS WHO REALIZE THAT ... THE FIRST THING I LOST IN LAW SCHOOL WAS THE REASON I CAME.”

gwmagazine.com / 39 nor those of her brother. But she knows how far and deep the cracks of one criminal case can run and the feeling of helplessness when the one person who was supposed to defend “YOUNG PUBLIC you fails to stand up. So she was skeptical of Mr. Rapping when she first met him during a teaching DEFENDERS WERE externship in D.C. Outside of school, she was a server at a bar that Mr. Rapping and his colleagues frequented after work, and as TALENTED AND the schoolteacher gradually got to know the young public defenders, she saw they were different—Mr. Rapping, especially. PASSIONATE, BUT After the two started dating, she noticed that he would talk about his clients like they were extended family members. He would THE SYSTEM WAS drive to the jail and arrive as soon as the gates opened to meet with a defendant. He secured housing for some, clothing for others, day BEATING THE PASSION care for parents who couldn’t bring their children to court. “He went far beyond the scope of what I thought was expected of a OUT OF THEM.” public defender,” Ms. Askia says. “I wish somebody had done that for my dad.” Once she and Mr. Rapping were married, Ms. Askia became an informal part of that support network. She followed him south in 2004, when he accepted the offer to set up Ilham Askia had her own the training program in Georgia—where he preconceived notions about public defenders. would need her encouragement more than When she was 5, her father was arrested ever. “I learned about Gideon v. Wainwright for an armed robbery he had committed in law school,” says Mr. Rapping. “But I didn’t years prior. Since then he had straightened appreciate it until I moved to the South.” out his life, met and married Ms. Askia’s The fledgling attorneys he encountered mother, converted to Islam, had three in Georgia were as smart, skilled and well children with another on the way and opened intentioned as any he had worked with in a small fish market in Buffalo, N.Y. But the Washington. But the system was broken. attorney appointed to represent him didn’t Each state and even some individual seem interested in telling that story, showing counties have their own public defense the jury and the judge that he had changed. systems, forming a patchwork of structures Ms. Askia’s father was quickly convicted and built from different blueprints and parts. sentenced to 10 years in Attica. Legislatures at the time were slashing It broke the family apart. Her parents budgets all over the country, leaving separated, and even after her father was public defenders offices underpaid and released, he was never the same. Detached understaffed. And while national standards and unaffectionate, he lived alone in his established by the American Bar Association mother’s cinder-block basement until he and a presidential commission recommended violated probation and went back to jail. 150 felony cases per attorney each year, some Ms. Askia’s brother ran afoul of the law and public defenders in Georgia were facing wound up in prison himself. She doesn’t upwards of 400—and as many as 900— blame the attorney for her father’s actions, cases total.

40 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 In the courtroom, Mr. Rapping says, it contained by the name “Southern.” Gideon’s or even acknowledge the problem until they could feel at times like prosecutors and even Promise was battling a nationwide problem. or a loved one find themselves in trouble with judges were more focused on expediency In 2013, at an event marking the 50th nowhere else to turn. than justice, and that public defenders anniversary of Gideon v. Wainwright, then- “Gideon’s Promise is about a cultural were pressured not to gum up the works by Attorney General Eric Holder noted that, transformation,” Mr. Rapping says. “Without rejecting plea deals and going to trial. Over across the country, public defense systems that transformation, all the money in the a four-year period, one Georgia attorney saw “exist in a state of crisis,” which he called world won’t get us to equal justice.” 99 percent of his 1,500 cases result in a plea. “unacceptable and unworthy of a legal system “I started to see systems that had come that stands as an example for all the world.” to accept the poor representation of poor For Gideon’s Promise, what had started as Change is slow, even on an individual people,” Mr. Rapping says. “Young public a three-year training program—a two-week basis. Mr. Rapping teaches young attorneys defenders were talented and passionate, but “boot camp” and semiannual meetings— that they can’t flip a switch and throw the system was beating the passion out of for 16 attorneys in two offices in Georgia themselves into every single case. Even in an them.” and Louisiana had soon grown to include ideal setting, public defender offices carry a When Mr. Rapping was called on to help 300-plus lawyers in more than 40 offices heavy caseload, he says, and the goal should reform the New Orleans public defender’s across 15 states. The curriculum, primarily be to make more of a difference each year. office in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, he geared toward new public defenders who This year it’s 20 cases, next year try for 30. saw the problem extended beyond Georgia. either apply on their own or are sent by And 40 the next. Along the way, he says, “you He returned to Atlanta in March 2007 and their offices, also evolved into five programs have to forgive yourself for those who slip secured a grant from the Soros Foundation to aimed at different audiences, from leaders through the cracks.” start his own organization, dedicated to giving of public defender offices to students still in With Mr. Rapping’s support, Ms. Kurien— young public defenders the tools they need. law school. Last year, Mr. Rapping struck the Georgia lawyer and protégé—was able Ms. Askia quit teaching to join him as a deal with the state of Maryland to apply to move on from that first murder case and executive director, overseeing fundraising the Gideon’s Promise model to the entire return to the courtroom. This year will mark and staffing for the newly dubbed Southern statewide defender system. her eighth with the Fulton County Public Public Defender Training Center, later Then last September, he was notified Office, an anniversary she says she would not renamed Gideon’s Promise. that he was one of 21 MacArthur Fellows— have seen if not for Mr. Rapping, Ms. Askia, recipients of the coveted $625,000 no- and Gideon’s Promise. strings-attached grants from the MacArthur Last year, Ms. Kurien attended a Gideon’s The name wasn’t scrapped Foundation. The sudden windfall of cash, workshop on how to make a biographical merely because it was a mouthful. which comes in quarterly payments, certainly video for clients, aiming to help the court see First, even though it was important has been appreciated. And under the aura of the person behind the defendant’s table. She to instruct young attorneys in verbal and the fellowship’s spotlight, Gideon’s Promise chose a case that she felt had potential for procedural tactics, like challenging a picked up 170 new donors in the six months mitigation. Then she filmed interviews with confession, and on building graphics and that followed. the client’s fiancé, her 15-year-old daughter, multimedia into defense strategy, Mr. Rapping and company are now moving her work supervisor and a childhood friend. Mr. Rapping’s organization was much more to a bigger Atlanta office to accommodate a She took photos of the 15-year-old’s room, than a training center. growing staff, and Ms. Askia says the five-year the walls papered with letters the client As much as technical support, these plan is to have a freestanding training center had written her daughter from prison. young attorneys and many more-experienced that would host entire staffs from other states. Ms. Kurien then edited down hours of footage public defenders needed moral support in But for Mr. Rapping and Ms. Askia, to a five-minute video and showed it to the the struggle against the status quo, and Mr. the most basic aspects of the MacArthur district attorney. Her client, who was facing a Rapping’s expanding roster of disciples grant far exceed coins in their coffers: mandatory 25 years in prison without parole, provided that. The recognition validated their work and had her sentence reduced to three years. “Today you can send out an email asking sacrifice. And with every interview they Ms. Kurien has more than a few personal for help,” says Ms. Kurien, the Fulton County grant to newspapers, magazines and TV success stories she can attribute to Gideon’s lawyer, “and within 30 minutes you have stations, their message is carried to new Promise. But perhaps more important are eight lawyers offering advice and even their audiences—not just beleaguered public the lessons she is now able to pass on to her phone numbers.” defenders who might be on the verge of younger colleagues. “When I see young In fact, Mr. Rapping’s movement was giving up but also members of the general attorneys with desperation on their faces,” growing so rapidly that it could no longer be public, taxpayers who may not understand she says, “I see myself in them.”

gwmagazine.com / 41 “We’re always activists first.” Students on the front lines of a national movement against sexual violence find a battlefield with no

boundaries. BY RUTH STEINHARDT

want an explanation for a bad sexual experience. Others want a word Everywhere she goes, for what happened to them. Most just want someone to listen. Not all of the people who approach her are survivors of sexual violence or friends of survivors. Some want to talk abstractly Kirsten Dimovitz is about policy. Some want to schedule training for their student organizations. As co-president of the GW organization Students the recipient of difficult Against Sexual Assault, or SASA, Ms. Dimovitz is one of the most visible faces in Foggy Bottom for an issue that has hit a flashpoint across the nation. secrets. She and other activists must juggle multiple public and private “At parties, or grocery shopping or in line for food, or sometimes identities, serving as confidants, coaches, diplomats and agitators. I’m on my way to class and I get a text from somebody I only kind of And, when possible, as ordinary 20- and 21-year-old students. know, and they want to talk,” she says. “But we’re always activists first,” Ms. Dimovitz says. “When we

The stories she hears can be emotional and confused. Some people want to be, and when we don’t.” WILLIAM ATKINS

42 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 Kirsten Dimovitz, one of the leaders of Students Against Sexual Assault “It’s On Us” awareness campaign, aimed at the gender-equity law across the sparking communitywide engagement. university, from issues surrounding GW President Steven Knapp attended harrassment and sexual assault to the White House event, along with the discrimination in sports, education ver the rattle of cappuccino president of the Student Association and and the workplace. The office also machinesO and the calls of baristas other university officials. “A culture change added Carrie Ross, assistant director at a crowded Starbucks on H Street, involves an entire university,” Dr. Knapp said for sexual assault prevention and Ms. Dimovitz remembers her spirited afterward. “It’s not just about university response, in March of this year. younger self with a self-deprecating grimace. administrators and survivors. It’s about Both serve on a new Presidential She was a defender of the underdog at her our community refusing to tolerate sexual Committee on Sexual Assault small school, she says, always trying to assault and violence.” Prevention and Response, a group change her classmates’ conservative views Students and administrators had been of administrators, staff, faculty about issues like gay marriage and feminism. bringing the issue to the front burner at the and students who are designing “My dad and I have this motto: When you university, including taking a hard look at and implementing a revised slate talk to someone, you plant a seed,” she says. the extent and nature of the problem, which of educational programs on sexual Broadscale issue diplomacy “was basically is being used to chart a path forward. A violence. my daily routine in school.” Then a close survey of more than 700 students conducted “As important as it is to have friend suffered an assault. in April 2014 found, in part, that 22 percent a response strategy in place, it’s The incident turned her social circle of undergraduate students reported just as important to have our upside down, and the issue of sexual violence experiencing what they would consider to be prevention strategies in place,” became her consuming focus: advocating for sexual harassment, sexual violence, dating/ Mr. Muhammad said during an survivors and fostering a culture where it interview in February. “We want to would not happen to anyone else. provide the community with skills and When she arrived at GW in 2013, she tools that prevent Title IX violations made a point of joining SASA—which at the from happening. That means time, she says, was “more support group-y.” potential assaulters, potential victims, “We spent most of our meetings just talking,” “A culture change potential bystanders—everybody.” she remembers. “It was very supportive, and The committee is focused on that was great.” involves an entire adding resources but also boosting But SASA members no longer have awareness of the resources that exist: much time to talk. Ms. Dimovitz says that In the survey from last year, about in addition to setting up near-constant university. It’s not 80 percent of students said they awareness trainings for fraternities, did not know how to contact GW’s sororities and other student organizations, just about university Title IX office or the Sexual Assault the group’s focus has shifted in reaction to Response Consultative Team, staff members what is shaping up to be a historic moment administrators and trained to assist survivors of sexual assault. or, at the least, a tipping point. New efforts to close that gap include Title IX Public and media engagement on the information sessions for incoming students issue of campus sexual assault has steadily survivors. It’s about our and their parents during this summer’s crescendoed over the past year, demanding Colonial Inauguration orientation events. introspection and change in the face of community refusing to There will be mandatory in-person and troubling statistics. A 2007 study conducted online sexual assault prevention training in by the Justice Department’s National the fall for incoming undergraduates, and Institute of Justice estimated that 1 in 5 tolerate sexual assault mandatory online training for graduate women is sexually assaulted during her students. A dozen student residential college years, and that just 12 percent of and violence.” advisers also are being recruited for special those assaults are reported. (Study findings training on sexual assault issues, and to serve vary and have limitations; regardless, GW PRESIDENT STEVEN KNAPP as points of contact and support. many experts believe sexual assaults are As the issue swelled on campus and across underreported.) the nation, SASA saw a pivot point and began The federal government, in response, staging larger events and positioning itself as has made the issue a priority. More than a representative student voice on the issue. 100 universities are under investigation by “Moments arise in history and you the Department of Education for alleged domestic violence or stalking while enrolled either capitalize on them or you don’t,” violations related to the handling of sexual at the university. Among graduate student Ms. Dimovitz says. violence under the law known as Title IX, respondents, the figure was 6 percent. Many student groups on campus deal with which guarantees equity between the sexes The university also has been consolidating issues surrounding sexual assault, including at federally funded educational institutions. and strengthening its Office of Diversity and Allied in Pride, the Feminist Student Union The White House launched a task force Inclusion, under which most issues of sexual and various affinity groups. But SASA’s on the issue last January. By the summer, violence prevention will eventually fall. position is unique: It is the only sizable legislation had been introduced in Congress Terri Harris Reed, the vice provost at organization dedicated solely to combating to create campus resources for survivors and the helm of that office, brought on board sexual violence, and it has evolved within increase administrative transparency. And Rory Muhammad in November as Title IX student memory from essentially a discussion in September, the White House launched the coordinator, overseeing compliance with group to a lobbying force.

44 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 in Their Shoes,” in which male participants wobble around in high heels while learning about sexual violence statistics. A group from the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, looking dapper in suits from the chapter meeting they’ve just left, try on sets of pumps under the guidance of an older brother. “Dude, your calves look great,” one calls. The fraternity has been a regular participant in the event for years, Ms. Zillman says. “We love them.” It’s particularly gratifying given how difficult it can be to voluntarily engage people on such a volatile issue. The topic, not surprisingly, makes people uncomfortable. “Most people are not victims and are not perpetrators, so they don’t feel it’s relevant to them,” says Sarah McMahon, associate director of Rutgers University’s Center on Violence Against Women and Children. “People often don’t want to talk about it.” The issues are also complex, calling for self-examination and openness to change. “It’s really challenging sometimes … to understand the levels of victim-blaming that go on, and to think about not just why a victim experiences above SASA Co-President sexual violence but Ariella Neckritz right why a perpetrator SASA Vice President perpetrated it,” Laura Zillman Dr. McMahon says. “That’s shifting huge social norms and deeply ingrained In the fall, the group beliefs, not just on brought to campus first college campuses lady Michelle Obama’s but throughout our chief of staff, Tina Tchen, society.” in coordination with a Two SASA universitywide week of activists lead the “It’s On Us”-related events. group off for a SASA followed up with a teetering circuit of semester’s worth of advocacy, the grassy quad, including work with the and in the lull their Student Association to lead colleagues enjoy a groundswell of student a moment of rest. support for mandatory One SASA member sexual assault prevention yawns. He was up programming ahead of the until 6:30 a.m., he university’s announcement. says, playing video The issue appeared as a games. referendum on student election ballots this when that’s not in place,” Ms. Ross says. “Yeah, I don’t really feel bad for you,” spring, and was supported by 92 percent of “Even people who disagree [do so] because Ms. Zillman says dryly. voters. they have a deep commitment to resolving She knows what it’s like to be tired. SASA’s current leaders also serve on this issue. That’s a good problem to have.” Opening a weekly planner with hours that the university’s Presidential Committee on are neatly blocked off with colorful bricks, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, On a bright Sunday in April, SASA Vice she tells me that “everything in pink is for along with Mr. Muhammad, Ms. Ross, and President Laura Zillman stands in University SASA.” There is no day without a pink block. others. Yard squinting against the sun. She and Most of them have several. “Every voice involved wants this about a half-dozen other volunteers are Ms. Zillman’s day starts at 8, when campus to be safe, wants this campus to be running outdoor events as part of Take Back she checks SASA’s email and Facebook responsive when things don’t go well and the Night, an international event that raises accounts. Her own email is usually filled wants us to do as much as we can to promote awareness of sexual violence. with SASA business, too. Mostly there are

ALL: WILLIAM ATKINS health and safety, rather than only reacting The focus of the afternoon is “Walk a Mile logistical concerns—requests for trainings

gwmagazine.com / 45 and partnerships, event nonbinding, and when the speakers details, T-shirt sizes—but were finished, students marched to several times a week, Rice Hall to show their commitment to she says, she receives the issue. an emotional message “I’m so grateful every time from someone in need of someone shares their story with me,” resources. Ms. Neckritz says a few days after the For her, those event. “The fact that people have that messages demand an level of trust with us is so beautiful and instant response, even humbling. But I think it is hard to deal when she is in class or with as human beings—constantly in the middle of another hearing these stories.” commitment. She struggles with reliving her own “I understand that pain during disclosures. it takes a lot to send a Even commonplace training sessions message like that,” she can wear on them, Ms. Dimovitz says. says. “So I always want During small-group workshops, SASA to respond quickly and peer educators sit with a few dozen acknowledge it and classmates for frank discussions on sex, say, ‘I’m not ignoring healthy relationships, what constitutes you, thank you for abuse and resources that are available. trusting me with Sometimes these this, please give me a conversations involve moment to respond dismantling long- substantively.’” held misperceptions about perpetrators “No one told me and victims without that my friends would alienating people blame me,” a survivor who are trying to says to the supportive understand. snaps of a crowd “You have gathered in Kogan to get past the Plaza. A woman in destructive things the audience, also they were taught,” a survivor, weeps Ms. Dimovitz says, almost soundlessly. “and meanwhile “No one told me that you’re also battling I would blame myself. your own demons and No one told me that your own guilt trip, it is much easier to and then it’s three hate yourself than to hours later and you’re hate the person who emotionally drained. violated you.” And you’re like, ‘I’ve The speaker’s voice trembles gotten through to one person!’ One through the megaphone. “It was not person, and that’s great, but you’re my fault. I am not afraid. And I am exhausted.” telling the truth.” All three women agree that, A day after the men floundered anecdotally, most members of SASA in heels, the tone of Take Back are either survivors or have close the Night is raw and emotional. friends who are. That makes it Ariella Neckritz, the co-president difficult to step back. of SASA, was one of several people Carrie Ross, the assistant who shared stories and poetry at director for sexual assault the event, herself a survivor of an prevention and response, founded abusive relationship. a similar student group at her own “Demonstrations like this are alma mater. She says she has “a lot of about expressing pain and healing,” respect and empathic memory” for she tells me later. “Sharing your student activists. story is really powerful.” During events surrounding Take Back the “I think that one of the hardest The group had gathered not only to hear Night: top decorated t-shirts are strung things about being a student activist is the from survivors—the traditional centerpiece across the University Yard; middle Ariella feeling that you absolutely cannot say no,” of Take Back the Night—but also to rally Neckritz (with megaphone) leads students she says. “There are always people in need, in support of the mandatory prevention in a show of support for training; bottom and you feel such a responsibility to your programming. The student referendum was Members of Delta Tau Delta try on heels. community.” ALL: ZACH MARIN

46 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 That feeling of endless obligation can constellation of changes to thoughts and mean that even victories often don’t feel quite actions on individual and societal levels. like victories. Dr. Knapp met with the leaders But if the first step is to peel back the fear of SASA just before the announcement this that obscures the problem, to push it up into spring about instituting student training public consciousness, then it seems that the on sexual assault, affirming the university’s People “want to needle is moving. stance alongside the student referendum After their meeting with Dr. Knapp, the and advocacy work. An hour later, the SASA SASA trio sits in the tempietto in Kogan activists already felt uncertain. Would be involved ... Plaza. They’re dressed professionally, but the training be enough? Would students the April sun is out and before long Kirsten cooperate? What input would they have? Dimovitz has kicked off her shoes to enjoy it. “We’re always looking to the next thing,” On campus, people Passersby stop to congratulate them. Ms. Dimovitz says. “Sometimes I feel like we “People more and more want to don’t let ourselves be happy.” be involved in and give to this work,” But to be “looking to the next thing,” of are feeling much Ms. Neckritz says. “They’re liking the SASA course, is to acknowledge progress. And even Facebook page, they’re following what we’re if the job never feels done, there is healing for doing … On campus, people are feeling the people they reach and for themselves. more comfortable much more comfortable acknowledging the Like Ms. Zillman, Ms. Neckritz says that subject.” activism is a “coping mechanism” for her—a Asked whether this stint in advocacy way of “building peace.” acknowledging the will stay with them past college, “The more I do this work, the more I Ms. Neckritz says she intends to remain an find peace within myself,” she says. Part activist, and Ms. Zillman agrees: “I’ll always of that is because the work also provides a subject.” be doing this work,” she says, shrugging community. “You can share your experiences matter of factly. in a safe space, surrounded by people who ARIELLA NECKRITZ Ms. Dimovitz hesitates. She’s a science can also say, ‘This happened to me.’ That and technology enthusiast, interning this helped me feel more comfortable in owning summer at a biotech firm in Silicon Valley. what happened to me and feeling OK about She’d like to work at Google. sharing it.” “But it still ties back into sexual assault Two of the three SASA leaders also utilize working together, I want to integrate self- awareness, ways I could contribute to that,” counseling sessions offered by Mental Health care into what we talk about,” she says. she says. She ticks off the possibilities: virtual Services at the Colonial Health Center. That “Because it is really essential. There has to be reality as a training mechanism, coding kind of personal care is an important part of some of your time that is not for sale.” for sexual assault prevention apps. Then, the conversation that the university wants to It’s an ongoing education for the student apparently feeling she’s gotten carried away, have with student activists, Carrie Ross says. advocates and for GW administrators, as she breaks off. “As we [the Title IX office and student it is for universities nationwide and the “I could talk about tech forever,” she says activists] have more history together and media and the public at large. Confronting with an embarrassed smile. “But I’m always develop that trust that only comes with and preventing sexual assault will mean a talking about this.”

Where to Turn University and nationwide resources are available to offer support and further information.

Haven GW Police Department National Dating Abuse At GW haven.gwu.edu Emergency: (202) 994-6111 Hotline Non-emergency: (202) 994-6110 1 (866) 331-9474, Sexual Assault Response A hub for on- and off-campus resources regarding harassment Or text “LOVEIS” to 22522 Consultative (SARC) Nationwide loveisrespect.org Team Hotline and abuse, intended for faculty, (202) 994-7222 staff, students and visitors to the university. National Sexual Assault Deaf Abused Women’s Non-emergency email: Hotline [email protected] Network (DAWN) GW Title IX Office 1 (800) 656-HOPE (4673) TTY (202) 861-0258 SARC team members are Online support hotline: (202) 994-2657 deafdawn.org professionals trained to assist ohl.rainn.org/online survivors of assault. Team Maintained by the Rape, Abuse & Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual members do not act as counselors GW Students Against Incest National Network, this 24- and Transgender National but can provide information and Sexual Assault hour hotline offers free, confidential resources to make informed facebook.com/GWSASA Help Center counseling and support. Hotline: 1 (888) 843-4564 decisions. glbthotline.org

gwmagazine.com / 47 Reuniting Babies and Their Bottles For infants with disorders that leave them unable to eat, feeding tubes and surgeries offer an imperfect fix. The problem is in the brain, and that’s where GW researchers are looking for a cure.

BY LAUREN INGENO JOHN MCGLASSONJOHN

48 / gw magazine / Summer 2015

Monica Jennings could not swallow when she was born prematurely in 1994 at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

SHE would aspirate liquids, inhaling them healthy, very hungry, vocal baby. And I had recognize. into her lungs, which led to a series of exactly the opposite,” Ms. Jennings says. But one of the most debilitating symptoms pneumonia and sinus infections. Soon after “I couldn’t feed her or hold her. Oh, it was of DiGeorge, and the root of overwhelming her birth, doctors inserted a tube into her brutal. Brutal.” anxiety for parents like Ms. Jennings, is nose to feed her, and at three weeks, put Doctors finally diagnosed Monica with the inability to properly chew, swallow and another in her trachea to protect her airway. 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, known as 22Q digest food. Though they told her mother, Lisa, that or DiGeorge syndrome, a disorder that Dysphagia, the medical term broadly the tubes likely would be temporary, they affects an estimated 1 in 4,000 people, applied to these symptoms, is a dangerous remained for more than a decade. though it may be more, as experts suspect it complication that affects not only DiGeorge Ms. Jennings spent the first months of is underdiagnosed. DiGeorge syndrome is patients but also at least one-third of those her daughter’s life consulting geneticists, caused by a small amount of genetic material with neurodevelopmental disorders, like neurologists, speech therapists and missing on the long arm of chromosome 22. Down syndrome and autism. gastroenterologists, but no one could tell her Most often, the deletion occurs at random “It must be terrible, to be brand new in why Monica was unable to swallow. For two and is rarely inherited from a parent. the world and every time someone comes years, they called her symptoms a medical The syndrome can lead to an at you with food it hurts,” says Anthony mystery. extraordinarily large and diverse range of LaMantia, a professor of pharmacology and “My sister and I lived together, and my health and cognitive issues, from learning physiology in the School of Medicine and nephew was born a few weeks after Monica. disabilities and language delays to heart Health Sciences and director of GW’s

So I came home every night to this very defects and seizures, making it difficult to Institute for Neuroscience. ATKINS LAMANTIA: WILLIAM / MCGLASSON JOHN ILLUSTRATION:

50 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 “I thought that if you were going to solve a compelling problem, this would be it.” Anthony LaMantia

gwmagazine.com / 51 The Food Network Eating is an intricate orchestration of moving parts, from jaws to muscles to receptors, that ensures food is processed, pushed along and sent down the right path—and not to the lungs or nasal cavity.

Tongue Pharynx (THROAT)

Larynx (VOICE BOX)

Esophagus (FOOD CHANNEL)

Trachea (WINDPIPE)

And for patients like now 21-year-old trying—to little avail—to relieve swallowing swallowing and lung infections—opening Monica, it is an enduring battle. Though problems in DiGeorge patients. the door to a more detailed look at the she first ate solid food—a banana—at age 13, “None of the clinical literature addressed, disruptions underyling the problem. Monica struggles daily with dysphagia and ‘Why is this happening? And what can you do Analyzing the mouse model, the team the health issues that stem from it. to fix it?’ I thought that if you were going to found that issues with eating and swallowing Dr. LaMantia has been studying solve a compelling problem, this would be it,” were directly linked to a disruption in the DiGeorge syndrome for more than a decade. Dr. LaMantia says. embryonic development of cranial nerves—a He has primarily focused on disruptions in In a 2013 study, Dr. LaMantia and a dozen pairs of nerves that originate in the the development of the cerebral cortex, the team of GW researchers reported finding brain and carry out functions related to part of the brain that does the heavy lifting that an existing, genetically modified different senses in the body. The discovery of memory, learning and cognition. However, 22Q mouse model exhibited all the major reversed a common assumption that as he talked to pediatricians, he realized they dysphagia symptoms found in DiGeorge dysphagia symptoms arise after a child were spending a frustrating amount of time patients—including issues with weight gain, is born. ILLUSTRATION: COURTESY NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS

52 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 Embryonic brain stems from a control mouse (left) and a 22q11.2 mouse model In this image of a 22q11.2 mouse model (right) are stained to show, embryo, a red stain is used to make in blue, the expression of the nerves more visible, while blood a gene. When the gene is vessels are highlighted in green. In overexpressed, as it is in the 2013, Dr. LaMantia’s team found that mouse model, cranial nerve issues with eating and swallowing development is disrupted. were directly linked to a disruption in the embryonic development of cranial nerves. The discovery reversed a common assumption that dysphagia symptoms arise after a child is born. TOP: BEVERLY K ARPINSKI , ANASTAS POPRATILOFF / INSET: COURTESY ANTHONY LAMANTIA

gwmagazine.com / 53 “It turns out that in the development of the earliest, prenatal steps that set up craniofacial structures—like the mouth and jaw— as well as the brain structures and nerves that control those muscles, something just isn’t quite right,” says study co-author Tom Maynard, an associate research professor of pharmacology and physiology. Now, after three years of preliminary studies, Dr. LaMantia has assembled an interdisciplinary team of researchers from GW and Children’s National Health System that will use the mouse model to understand how and why early brain disruptions lead to dysphagia in patients with developmental disorders. The three-part project is funded by a $6.2 million grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and brings together a group comprising neuroscientists, geneticists, developmental biologists and clinicians. Along the way, the team will also consult with pediatricians and speech therapists at Children’s National to see how they may be able to translate their research findings into clinical practice. The research promises not only to define new therapies and prevention strategies that may improve the lives of those with DiGeorge syndrome but may also have an impact far beyond those patients. “If we can understand how the neural circuits are compromised in the part of the brain that regulates this very simple, but very essential behavior of swallowing and food indigestion,” Dr. LaMantia says, “that may give us insight and a framework about how neural circuits are compromised for much more complex behaviors that go awry in developmental disorders.” THE BROKEN BLUEPRINT Though it seems like a simple, even automatic task, the act of eating is a complex orchestration of brain and body. 1in4,000 When all goes according to plan, food is chewed, mixed with saliva Prevalence of DiGeorge syndrome, though and positioned on the tongue for transport to the back of the mouth. experts suspect it is underdiagnosed Sensory receptors in the tongue and throat trigger the swallow, and the palate rises and closes to prevent food from entering the nasal cavity. The voice box elevates to protect the airway, and food is routed into the throat. “There is a whole process of preparing the food, directing it and keeping it on the right path,” says Dr. Maynard, who studies cell signaling during neural development and will serve as co-investigator in two of the dysphagia project studies. “It actually takes fairly fine motor control, considering that most of us don’t have to think about it.” In DiGeorge patients, various points in that sequence are broken. Doctors can surgically correct severe facial defects, such as cleft palate, in an attempt to alleviate dysphagia. But many children with developmental disorders who aspirate do not have any visible facial abnormalities. This suggests something is going haywire in the brain, 35–80 rather than in their facial mechanics. Estimated percentage of people with “As soon as any neural mechanism is involved, it becomes a much neurodevelopmental disorders who are harder problem,” Dr. LaMantia says. “You can recognize it clinically, affected by dysphagia (difficulty eating) but the underlying brain control of this behavior, and also the peripheral mechanism that must be put in place, is very complicated. Our ability to really fix it has been limited, because our knowledge has been limited.” The mystery mirrors cases of children with developmental disorders who have issues with eye alignment, which can lead to double vision. For years, doctors tried to correct these problems—often unsuccessfully— by operating on eye muscles. But the root of the issue was deeper. “The surgery wasn’t dealing with the problem,” Dr. LaMantia says. “The problem was in the cranial nerve circuits in the brain stem that $6.2 million control eye movement.” Amount of a new grant from the National The findings inspired Dr. LaMantia, who thought that those same disruptions could be causing dysphagia in DiGeorge patients. Institute of Child Health and Human The pattern of genes that are switched on and off—called gene Development that brings together the expression—in the embryonic brain stem lays out the blueprint for efforts of seven GW faculty members the proper development of the face, mouth, lips and jaw. It also gives

54 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 rise to the nerve cells that control feeding and swallowing. While analyzing the brain stems of the 22q11.2 mutant mouse models, Dr. LaMantia and his team discovered that gene expression levels and patterning in this One goal, he says, will be to create a region were highly disorganized. The brain’s instruction booklet wasn’t providing correct information to the face. “We were able to show in the animal “genetic map of vulnerabilities.” model that in a surprisingly classical, molecularly mechanistic way, the initial formation of that part of the brain was disrupted,” Dr. LaMantia says. “What course. we now have to figure out is what the Retinoic acid, the active form of vitamin consequence of that disruption is.” A, is instrumental in the patterning of nerves In their new project, Dr. LaMantia, that initiate swallowing. The researchers’ associate director Sally Moody, a professor 2013 study found that the 22Q mouse of anatomy and regenerative biology and embryos appear to be hypersensitive to even an expert in craniofacial development, and the smallest changes of the nutrient. Norman Lee, a professor of pharmacology “Really high or low doses of retinoic and physiology who specializes in genomics, acid can change those cranial nerves, will investigate how these early interruptions so it makes sense that it would cause establish changes in neural circuits in swallowing defects,” says Irene Zohn, an feeding and swallowing. They’ll see how associate professor of pediatrics at GW and neurons in the brain stem develop and a researcher at Children’s National. “But it migrate during the prenatal period and what seems that the mice carrying the 22q11.2 factors may cause that migration. deletion are not able to compensate for small Simultaneously, David Mendelowitz, vice ups and downs.” chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Dr. Zohn, a developmental biologist, will Physiology, will lead a study into whether the lead efforts to determine whether modifying neurons in the brain that control feeding and the vitamin A intake in mouse model mothers swallowing may be misfiring in DiGeorge could prevent dysphagia in their offspring. patients. He will work with Dr. Maynard, “Our preliminary data shows that Dr. Lee and Anastas Popratiloff, director yes, things can change,” she says. “But of GW’s Center for Microscopy and Image the question is: How much do all these Analysis, in these efforts. changes come together to affect the physical “The question is, what’s causing the abnormality?” swallowing difficulty? Is it the function of the If the researchers do find a link between individual motor neurons? Is it the sequence vitamin A intake and the emergence of of events? Is it the timing or the magnitude of dysphagia in people with DiGeorge syndrome, these changes?” Dr. Mendelowitz says. clinicians may be able to offer corrective By identifying the receptors or dietary guidelines for expectant mothers. neurotransmitters that may be overactive Within the next five years, the researchers or underactive in the brains of DiGeorge hope to get closer to assembling the pieces patients, Dr. Mendelowitz is hoping to point that make up the complex picture of pediatric the way to targeted therapies for improving dysphagia and, in turn, uncovering new ways dysfunctional swallowing. to prevent and treat the condition. From the various arms of the project, the In the meantime, nearly two decades team also hopes to better understand the after Monica Jennings was diagnosed with wide variability of DiGeorge syndrome’s DiGeorge syndrome, her mother’s search kaleidoscope of symptoms. In the mouse for answers continues, as well. Years of model, the researchers saw remarkable medications, therapy and multiple surgeries variation among siblings, which should have have yet to resolve her daughter’s difficulties nearly identical genetic makeups. One goal, with swallowing. Dr. LaMantia says, will be to identify other “I could go on for ages about the paths we genes at the root of dysphagia, in order to have followed, plowed or dismissed, and the create a “genetic map of vulnerabilities” that things we’ve discovered along the way,” Lisa could be used to predict or diagnose physical Jennings says. problems. New research endeavors give her hope, though she also understands better than A DIETARY FIX most the challenges facing scientists. “I As the project got under way this spring, the have an entirely different respect for the researchers came into it with one idea for complexity of human biology,” she says, “and straightening out the circuitry that goes off just how fragile the body can be.”

gwmagazine.com / 55 PHILANTHROPY UPDATE

The GW Troubadours perform at the 2015 Power & Promise gala.

THE POWER OF in 1979, she set her sights on Power & Promise dinner in impressed me most when I law school without a clue how April, Ms. Speights said that came to this institution, I always PHILANTHROPY she would pay for it. When scholarships provide the give the same answer: It’s our the acceptance letters came opportunities and foundation for students,” Dr. Knapp said. “It’s Donors and students in, only one school offered student success. Established in the energy, the inventiveness, the toast scholarships her a scholarship: the George 2009 by GW President Steven creativity, the entrepreneurial Washington University. Knapp, Power & Promise helps spirit they bring to our campus. and the future at “That offer was a life- lower the cost of a GW education Our students come to this great GW’s annual Power & changer,” said Ms. Speights, and reduce loan burdens capital city and they begin to Promise gala JD ’82, who last year established of graduates by providing dive into the life’s work they see the Grace Venters Speights scholarships to qualified ahead of them, and they do that She grew up in one of the Endowed Law Scholarship Fund students, regardless of financial with an extraordinary amount of roughest neighborhoods in at GW. Today, she is a managing resources. The fund—part of dedication and commitment.” south Philadelphia, raised by a partner at Morgan Lewis. “It GW’s commitment to support That commitment, he said, is single mother who worked long was for all of these reasons that I students, which is one of the key supported by donors, including hours in a drapery factory. As endowed a scholarship at the law pillars of the university’s $1 billion Ms. Speights, a member of the a child, Grace Venters Speights school. This is my way of paying “Making History” campaign— university’s Board of Trustees. was surrounded by poverty, GW back.” has raised more than $120 million In total, GW provided more than homelessness and gang warfare. Speaking to more than in scholarships and fellowships $160 million in undergraduate After graduating from the 300 donors, students, trustees since 2009. assistance during the 2013-14

University of Pennsylvania and staff at GW’s annual “Whenever I’m asked what academic year. Nearly two-thirds AMANDA LOMAX

56 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 Making History: The Campaign for GW | Philanthropy Update of all undergraduate students at A BUILDING FOR academic affairs. DONORS HONOR the university receive need- or “We felt it was most fitting merit-based financial assistance. THE FUTURE that the space be named for MUSEUM’S PAST, In a speech, aerospace OPENS, AIDED Dr. Lehman because I’m not sure POSSIBILITIES engineering doctoral candidate BY DONORS we’d have first-class science and As they walked around the Joseph Lukas, a recipient of engineering research, education galleries of the new George the Douglas L. Jones Endowed With the grand opening of and facilities without his Washington University Museum Mechanical Engineering Science and Engineering Hall, advocacy over many years,” says and The Textile Museum, Harry Graduate Fellowship in the the largest academic building of Mr. Hughes. “I think he deserved and Diane Greenberg came School of Engineering and its kind in the nation’s capital, a premier spot in this building.” across the piece they donated, an Applied Science, challenged the the university is aiming for a Asghar Mostafa, BS ’81, early 20th-century tunic from audience to look at the world in a future marked by innovation, MS ’82, was committed to Cameroon. different way. discovery and state-of-the-art helping GW build Science and Their interest in textiles— “I did a PhD not for the money, academic opportunities. The Engineering Hall because of his now a collection spanning 450 but because I love learning,” said philanthropic support of donors own “tremendous” experience at pieces—was sparked by a fake Mr. Lukas, who is part of a team was crucial to building the the university. Persian textile they brought into sending two satellites into space facility and will continue to be He and his wife, Holly, The Textile Museum years ago. this year. “Because of you, I’m important to the work conducted donated $1 million to create The Greenbergs discovered that achieving a childhood dream within its walls. the Asghar and Holly Mostafa the textile, described to them as of mine—I get to change the “With this new building, we Lab and Asghar and Holly a 2,000-year-old Persian antique, way I see the world by sending are indeed making history,” GW Mostafa Dean’s Conference was actually a modern rug with a satellite into space. How will President Steven Knapp said at Room. Visiting the brand- chemical dyes. you change the way you see the the building’s opening in March. new laboratory at SEH was “That whetted my appetite for world?” Many of the building’s donors particularly moving for learning more, and The Textile That perspective is one shared were on hand to celebrate the Mr. Mostafa, who spent hours Museum was a place to learn by scholarship recipients and event. in dark, cramped laboratories more,” Dr. Greenberg says. donors alike. Mark V. Hughes, BA ’69, as an undergraduate student “The space is beautiful, the As her children reached their MS ’77, and his wife, Susan in the Electrical and Computer new museum is beautiful, the teenage years, Denise Dombay, Dekelboum Hughes, made a Engineering Department. things in the museum are more BA ’88, began thinking of how to donation for the building even “Seeing this lab—the lab I than beautiful,” he adds. reconnect with her alma mater. before the university broke was in was so different,” he says. The Greenbergs, who are A former member of the GW ground on the project. “This one is so beautiful and will Founding Patron-level donors swim team and a senior finance Mr. Hughes, chair of the inspire students.” to the museum—those making business partner at Marriott School of Engineering and GW became a second home commitments from $50,000 International, Ms. Dombay joined Applied Science’s National for Mr. Mostafa when he left his to more than $1 million to the the School of Business Board of Advisory Council and a former home country, Iran, at the age of museum—were among the Advisors and later created the trustee, studied physics and 18. He credits GW for providing more than 3,000 guests who Dombay Family Scholarship, computer science at GW and him with the foundation to start celebrated the opening of the which supports an undergraduate understands firsthand the his own company, and he believes new museum complex in March. student-athlete studying business. importance of facilities to the SEH will provide students with The opening and the museum’s The current beneficiary, junior strength of a university. even more opportunities to three inaugural exhibitions Lauren Steagall, also is a member “It’s one of the steps we are develop their potential. were made possible, in part, by of the swim team. taking to make GW a truly great “Today to see the result after the support from individuals “This scholarship really university,” he says. “It may take 10 years is unbelievable,” he says. like the Greenbergs, as well as means a lot to me and my family,” a long time, but I hope someday “It makes [me] so happy to walk corporations and foundations. Ms. Steagall said, standing GW will be one of the top 10 through the labs and see the To date, Founding Patron next to her benefactor on stage. universities in the country. I students. It’s a great statement commitments total more than “However, the support didn’t end think we are on that path, and I of what the school could be in $16.5 million. on a financial level. Denise has think this facility is an important the next 20 or 30 years, and I am For conservator Harold F. become a great mentor for me. I’ll step in realizing that.” hoping that all the new students Mailand, supporting the museum be forever grateful for that.” In addition to the Hughes’ who come to GW will have the was a way to show his gratitude —James Irwin initial gift, the couple donated same impression.” for the training he received $1 million to construct the —Julia Parmley in the museum’s conservation Dr. Donald R. Lehman department in the late 1970s. He For more on Power & Auditorium, a reconfigurable recently made a Founding Patron Promise and the room that will serve as a venue To learn more about gift in memory of former Textile university’s $1 billion for teaching and major lectures Science and Engineering Museum conservators Clarissa “Making History” and symposiums. The space is Hall, visit seh.gwu.edu. Palmai and Helen Kovacs, who campaign, visit named for Dr. Lehman, PhD ’70, prepared Mr. Mailand for a campaign.gwu.edu/power- professor emeritus and former career in textile conservation. promise. executive vice president for “I was very honored to be

gwmagazine.com / 57 Making History: The Campaign for GW part of that realm of students,” Gil Cisneros, BA ’94. This winter, he says. Mr. Cisneros, a member of the Mr. Mailand says he hopes GW Athletics Advisory Board, that GW students will take returned the favor by creating advantage of the museum as a the Buff & Blue Fund Challenge new educational and cultural to support GW athletics. resource. “The old Textile For the inaugural fundraiser, Museum was a domestic which ended March 30, structure and was not designed Mr. Cisneros offered to donate to be a museum. Now we have a $10,000 to the Buff & Blue Fund purpose-built museum, which for every 100 people who also is totally amazing,” he says. donated. In total, the challenge “Everyone is beaming.” raised $80,000 for GW athletics: The museum is also $50,000 donated by more than home to the Albert H. Small 300 alumni, parents, coaches, Washingtoniana Collection, an staff, current and former assemblage of a thousand maps, student-athletes, and fans, and prints and other documents that Mr. Cisneros’ $30,000 bonus. chronicle the evolution of the “I hope it can be used to help capital city from the 18th century Students jot notes of thanks on GW Flag Day. take the athletic programs to the to the 20th century. next level,” Mr. Cisneros says. The museum’s director, John The money raised will Wetenhall, says that ongoing many students contemplating donors, including members of the provide unrestricted support for support for the museum is philanthropy at the April 8 event, Parents Campaign Philanthropy facility upgrades and enhance essential to its continued growth called GW Flag Day, which Board. More than $45,000 was GW’s commitment to providing and cultural reach. “Funding recognized alumni, parents, raised in support of student the best resources and collegiate curators and educators broadens faculty, staff and friends of GW life, academic research and experience to its students. the scope of our exhibitions, who give back to the university. scholarships over the two days. Originally scheduled to run increases the number of research “Without donations,” The Commander-in-Chief from January 3 through the projects and internships we can Ms. Dempsey said, glancing flag—said to have been designed end of the men’s and women’s offer, and expands the cultural around the Mid-Campus Quad, “a by George Washington to basketball seasons, the challenge programming we provide the lot of this wouldn’t be possible.” travel with him during the went to overtime when the GW community,” he says. Signs around campus that Revolutionary War, and adopted gymnastics team won the 2015 day reinforced the point. Nearly as a symbol of GW’s $1 billion East Atlantic Gymnastics two-thirds of all undergraduate philanthropic campaign, League Championship. For more on the museum students at GW receive need- or “Making History”—marked Among the more than 300 and current and upcoming merit-based financial assistance. campus locations where donors, many were members exhibitions, visit museum. More than 22,000 GW alumni, philanthropy has made a of GW athletics—including gwu.edu. students, faculty, staff and friends difference. The flag represents 100 percent participation by made a donation to the university a common goal of generating the executive officers of the last year to strengthen student philanthropic support and GW Student-Athlete Advisory RALLYING resources, capital projects or perpetuates Washington’s vision Council, head coaches, athletics THANKS UNDER academic programs. of a university in the nation’s senior staff, the volleyball team “This is a very visual thing,” capital that would serve as and its coaching staff, and the GW’S BANNER said sophomore Jessica Allen. America’s intellectual hub. softball team. Nearly a thousand members of “I’ve seen staff from a lot of “I think it’s a pretty cool “We were very fortunate to the university community—from different offices; I’ve seen deans idea and way to bring George receive a new locker room at the students to GW President Steven come by. A lot of students are Washington into the campaign,” start of our 2014 season,” says Knapp—gathered in April to writing about their student said Ms. Dempsey, a history volleyball head coach Amanda write notes of thanks to donors organizations and things they major. “And the notes and cards Ault. “When we heard about the for their support. are studying here—things that make this day a little more Buff & Blue Fund Challenge and “I wouldn’t have been able to wouldn’t be possible without personal and meaningful.” Gil’s generosity, our team and attend this university without [my support.” —James Irwin staff had a great chance to show scholarship], so that’s something She and more than 600 our appreciation by giving back.” I’m always grateful for,” said GW students made their own CHALLENGE —Craig Burdick Annie Dempsey, a senior in donations to GW throughout the Columbian College of Arts the day, unlocking a $5,000 RAISES $80K and Sciences and the recipient gift from an anonymous donor. FOR ATHLETICS The Buff & Blue Fund of financial aid from the E.K. The following day, more than Challenge is over, but you Morris Education Fund. 200 alumni made gifts to the GW sporting events were a big can still get in the game

Ms. Dempsey was one of university, matched by a group of part of the college experience for by visiting go.gwu.edu/bbfc. FLAG DAY: NGA LE

58 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 Philanthropy Update

2 RESEARCHERS eight students in the School of We need to take risks.” BBA ’63. “However, it’s not Engineering and Applied Science. The Vivian Gill Distinguished often you get the opportunity to FILL ENDOWED “Every great university is Research Professor was created see such an legendary actor or FACULTY SPOTS about people, and the people in 1967 by a gift from Thomas H. actress as Angela Lansbury in Two professors were installed in who make universities great Gill in memory of his wife, Vivian. what may be one of their final endowed positions this spring: are students and faculty,” roles—one of those can’t-miss Igor Efimov as the Alisann Provost Steven Lerman said AN EVENING performances.” and Terry Collins Professor of at Dr. Efimov’s installation in Members of GW Loyal, a Biomedical Engineering, and March. “Gifts like this one are FOR ‘GW LOYAL’ giving designation created last Robert H. Miller as the Vivian an enduring commitment to the Playwright Noël Coward once year to honor the university’s Gill Distinguished Research quality of faculty and students. said, “The one and only thing most committed donors, Professor. There’s no substitute for that.” that counts is: Do you have Mr. Douglas and his wife, Eileen, Dr. Efimov joined GW in Dr. Miller, a neuroscientist, staying power?” have supported GW for more January as chair of the new joined the School of Medicine and To honor more than 40 than 45 years through gifts as Department of Biomedical Health Sciences in 2014 as senior people who have supported GW well as engagement with the Engineering. His cardiovascular associate dean for research for more than three decades, School of Business and athletics. research has advanced new and professor of anatomy and the university in March invited “When we returned to therapies, including an regenerative biology. He has them to an evening featuring the D.C. area 12 years after implantable device that wraps focused on advancing and Michael Blakemore’s revival of graduation, I was able to become around a patient’s heart and expanding research at GW. Mr. Coward’s Blithe Spirit at The actively involved in campus detects impending cardiac arrest. “We are becoming National Theatre in D.C., starring activities,” Mr. Douglas said. The Alisann and Terry collaborative as an institution,” Oscar recipient and Tony Award “The involvement in programs Collins Professor of Biomedical Dr. Miller said at the installation winner Angela Lansbury. with fellow alumni, faculty and Engineering was established in in May. “We’re increasing that “Obviously, my wife and I students not only convinced me October by GW Trustee Terry collaboration in a research appreciate the opportunity to of the need for support, but that Collins, DSc ’76, and his late wife, spectrum. I think that is the spend an evening going to dinner GW was on a path to being an Alisann, part of a $2.5 million gift future. It’s different. It’s a and the theater,” said even greater institution.” that also created scholarships for challenge. We need to be bold. R. William “Bill” Douglas, —Carey Russell

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2015

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gwmagazine.com / 59 Alumni profiles ... class notes ... artists’ quarter ALUMNI NEWS

Former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, BA ’85, on stage during the Wall Street Symposium, in April.

[events] have been a better feeding ground for me, given where I am now,” he said. As vice chairman of Moelis & Company, Eric Cantor Headlines Mr. Cantor said his position allows him to pursue the same interests he had in Congress: encouraging people to invest Wall Street Symposium capital to drive growth. “I still care about the country,” he said. “I think what we do helps people help their Former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor David Rubenstein Atrium at New York’s companies. That helps grow our economy, (R-Va.) reflected on politics past and present, Lincoln Center. and ultimately, I think contributes to upward family life and favorite GW memories at The university, Mr. Cantor said, is a mobility for everybody.” the sixth annual Wall Street Symposium in “pivotal presence” in the nation’s capital and Although no longer a civil servant, April. was the foundation for his career in politics. Mr. Cantor said he still keeps an eye on Mr. Cantor, BA ’85, spoke on stage in a “I think the experience I had in downtown Capitol Hill. conversation with Emmy Award-winning D.C., sandwiched between the State He expressed concern about politics reporter Tara Rosenblum, BA ’00, at the Department and the White House, could not surrounding the Dodd-Frank Wall Street SOLOMON BEN

60 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 AlumniAlumni news

Reform and Consumer Protection Act and [Politics] “I think the nicest part of the whole thing the normalizing of U.S.-Cuba relations. And was how instantly it put us in this familiarity he told Ms. Rosenblum that Congress and with each other,” Mr. Sayegh says. “Sally President Obama should strive for more I’m Sorry ... sits in a lot of green rooms, and so do I. And comaraderie. Do We Know it was just nice to feel like you reconnected “This may sound too simple, but I really with a friend versus just making small talk think that the human nature of dealing Each Other? with a colleague.” with one another is somehow lost in the Today, Ms. Kohn is a contributor with noise down there,” he said. “I plead with the CNN and Mr. Sayegh is a contributor with president and his team to use that office to A dozen years after GW, two Fox. Both live in New York. Both have their entice members on my side of the aisle to politicos reconnect on the air. ideological convictions. But both also are come have a meal, coffee or drink and enjoy sensible. They complement each other on the one another’s company just to establish some The news segment is over and the host has a air. They tease each other over the phone. rapport. Unfortunately, not enough of that question for her guest analysts: Is it possible “The last time Tony suggested a get- takes place.” they know each other? together he proposed it at an anti-union On the 2016 presidential election, Tony Sayegh and Sally Kohn laugh. They restaurant,” Ms. Kohn says. Mr. Cantor said he would bet on the get this a lot. They have a familiar rapport “Is there an anti-union restaurant in New Republican nomination going to Chris on the air and have appeared on TV together York City?” he deadpans. “That’s impossible.” Christie, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush or Scott before, Mr. Sayegh as a Republican strategist For a while, Fox was booking them Walker. Asked if he would run for office and Ms. Kohn as a progressive pundit. But together on a regular basis. Though it’s again, Mr. Cantor said he thinks he can still the reason this question—asked in March not possible now, given their contracts make an impact in the private sector. 2013 by Fox anchor Megyn Kelly—is funny is with different networks, both hope for an “I feel like there is such an opportunity because it’s one they asked themselves about opportunity to work together again. at the intersection of what GW represents a year earlier in the green room at Fox. “I hope there’s a format one day for us,” and what we represent here—a connection “We’re sitting in this little room in the side Mr. Sayegh says. “I have rarely met someone between the nation’s capital and the world’s studio, and we’re doing our own little thing— with her talent, in terms of being incredibly financial center,” he said. “There is so much checking phones and reading,” Ms. Kohn says. brilliant and funny together—incredibly opportunity between the two. I look forward “And we keep looking at each other. I’m wrong most of the time, but incredibly funny to the opportunity to continue in both thinking, ‘You look familiar somehow.’” and brilliant.” spheres.” Ms. Kohn broke the ice, and for a few “Listen,” Ms. Kohn says, “two out of three The annual symposium brings together minutes they tried to find their common ain’t bad.” GW’s alumni, parents and friends in the connection, backtracking through nearly 15 “In baseball that’s phenomenal,” he world of real estate and finance in New York. years of unshared history before landing in responds. Nearly 18,000 alumni call the region home— Foggy Bottom, where both had attended GW. Ms. Kohn laughs. “The truth is, some the largest concentration of alumni outside of “And it was an ‘Of course—got it!’ day I hope Tony reenters the formal world Washington. moment,” Ms. Kohn says. of politics,” she says, referring to his two In introductory remarks, GW President Ms. Kohn, BA ’98, and Mr. Sayegh, terms as deputy mayor of Tuckahoe, N.Y. Steven Knapp noted that there “is nothing BA ’98, MPA ’00, had been members of the “I think, parties aside, any district and any more important to the long-term strategy College Democrats and College Republicans, state would be lucky to have him, and I would and the contribution that our university respectively. They weren’t very close but be in the position of supporting him. And I makes, both to its students and to our nation, crossed paths a few times. would, without reservation. He’s my kind of than this very powerful connection between The revelation triggered a barrage of Republican.” —James Irwin the world’s financial capital and the world’s memories. political capital.” For Matthew Cohen, BBA ’08, MBA ’11, a member of the NYC Real Estate & Finance Board of GW’s Real Estate and Finance Alliance, the event was a chance to see a man who created his biggest “only-at- GW” moment: As an undergraduate, Mr. Cohen had the opportunity to participate in a video interview with Mr. Cantor about job creation. “As a young student and young mind Sally Kohn who is filling myself with all these different experiences at GW and in Washington, D.C., Tony Sayegh it was truly one of those moments I’ll never forget and further made me appreciate all the opportunities you have at GW that you don’t have anywhere else in the world,” he

COURTESY TONY SAYEGH AND SALLY KOHN said. —Julia Parmley, MS ’10

gwmagazine.com / 61 Alumni news

[service] The Pennsylvania native and political cow, have I made a terrible mistake?’” communication major is no stranger to But a year later, Gfifat feels like home. foreign countries and cultures; Ms. Ayes is a Ms. Ayes initially struggled with finding In Distant Land, veteran of five alternative-break trips, from an appropriate way to reach out to Gfifat’s Finding a Home South America to South Africa. women. “Gender is a very complicated “I have always had the community service issue here,” she says. Gradually, she began Away From Home bug, and my time at GW broadened my introducing ways for women to connect, like international focus,” she says. “Those travels all-female aerobics sessions and art classes Everyone in the tiny Moroccan village of made me realize what I wanted to do with my for young girls. At the youth center, her Gfifat knows Caroline Ayes, BA ’13. She’s life.” nuanced approach resulted in an uptick in the American instructor at the Dar Chabab But none of her journeys quite prepared teenage girls stopping by for everything from youth center who teaches English to their Ms. Ayes for her Peace Corps experience English instructions to first-aid workshops. sons and daughters. She’s the enthusiastic after graduation. Her latest project is her most ambitious volunteer who converted an old garage into Expecting that her Spanish fluency yet: outdoor excursions to teach team- an exercise studio for house-bound Gfifat would land her a Central American building, leadership and environmental wives. And she’s the energetic architect of a assignment, the self-described “outspoken, stewardship. At the end of the program, the development program that connects youth to liberal woman” instead found herself with 15 teens—including eight girls—will hike to the country’s natural environmental beauty. a 26-month spot immersed in Morocco’s the 13,000-foot summit of Mount Toubkal, And no one here at home is surprised by conservative Muslim culture and its sensitive North Africa’s highest peak. the impact she has made within the modest, gender dynamic. There, she is a youth Her Peace Corps assignment ends in April predominantly Muslim hamlet surrounded development specialist, with responsibilities 2016, and she knows she’ll be emotional by acres of orange and banana farms. ranging from encouraging young women about leaving Gfifat behind. “You don’t dabble in the Peace Corps,” to pursue education to engaging teens in “I’ve grown so attached to the families says Associate Professor of Media and environmental awareness—all while learning and young people here,” she says. “These Public Affairs Kerric Harvey. “It’s a serious to hold a passable conversation in Darija, a are the most hospitable, welcoming people commitment to bettering the world. It takes hybrid of French and indigenous languages. I’ve ever met. We don’t always think alike, alert, energetic, committed and big-hearted “Coming here was like being dropped on but they have gone out of their way to make a people to do that. People like Caroline.” the moon,” Ms. Ayes says. “I thought, ‘Holy stranger feel at home.” —John DiConsiglio

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62 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 Alumni news

“Colonials helping [From the alumni association] Colonials ... means that [we] should Fellow Colonials:

expect—and must Most of you probably remember a favorite course or professor at GW. For me, it be counted on—to is 19th-century European art with professor Lilien Robinson, herself an alumna open doors for who remains an active member of the GW faculty and a good friend. She inspired in me a lifelong interest in art history and a sustained passion for inquiry. each other.” A painting we discussed in her class became a favorite of mine: Paul Gauguin’s masterpiece, Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? That title is a good frame of reference for considering the state of GW alumni as my term as president of the GW Alumni Association concludes this summer.

Where Do We Come From? While GW has always appreciated its alumni, for a long time the alumni staff was small and resources for alumni activities were modest. As the 21st century arrived, that began to change but resources focused on alumni remained limited. GW significantly enlarged its commitment to alumni when President Steven Knapp arrived in 2007. The university has made engaging you—GW’s lifelong and worldwide community of alumni—a central element of university life. In the intervening years, the staff at Alumni House has more than tripled. There are experts to serve you and help you connect with each other and the university.

What Are We? You are among more than 270,000 living alumni. There are countless opportunities to be involved. We have affinity groups: multicultural, LGBT, veterans, Greek, legacy, young alumni and more. Whether you are in New York or New Delhi, we have alumni groups to serve you. There are more than 40 alumni networks in the United States, more than 30 international networks and myriad events on campus and across the globe. Alumni receive many benefits and services, such as career services support, courses and discounts. Alumni leaders are at the table on your behalf, in close contact with Dr. Knapp and trustees, administrators, faculty and student leaders. The GWAA Board of Directors meets five times a year, the executive committee six times and numerous committees constantly work to advance your interests. This summer, the GWAA installs a new president, Jeremy Gosbee, BA’98, MBA ’02. Jeremy has served in leadership in the GWAA for years and has an outstanding agenda. A professional in communications strategy, he is an insightful and engaged leader who will serve you well.

Where Are We Going? The overarching goal in my term as GWAA president has been to promote a culture of Colonials helping Colonials. Helping each other is not unusual among GW alumni, but talking about it as part of GW’s value system and value proposition is new. It means that Colonials should expect—and must be counted on—to open doors for each other and to help each other become successful. This theme has gained great traction. Your network of 270,000 fellow Colonials looking out for you can take you almost anywhere. GW is in the midst of a campaign, called “Making History,” to raise $1 billion. This is not just about raising funds, it is about changing people’s lives. I hope you will join us in supporting students, enhancing academics and breaking new ground. It has been a privilege to serve you as GWAA president, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside you to advance the university and GW alumni.

Best regards, and Raise High!

Steve Frenkil, BA ’74, and past parent (’06, ’10) President, GWAA, 2013-15

MILES & STOCKBRIDGE P.C. alumni.gwu.edu/gwaa

gwmagazine.com / 63 Alumni news

[honors] President’s Medal Awarded to Luther W. Brady When he stepped to the podium on a Saturday night in May, at an event in his honor, Luther Brady wanted to talk about the GW he enrolled at in fall 1942, as a “wet-behind-the- ears 16-year-old” from Wilson, N.C. “It was a revelation to me,” Dr. Brady said. “Immediately, I was gathered together into the arms of an incredible faculty. Elmer Louis Kayser taught European history. He was an incredible teacher, and his classes were huge—they occupied every seat in Lisner Auditorium and even the steps up and down the auditorium.” Dr. Brady, AA ’44, BA ’46, MD ’48, HON ’04, recalled Dr. Kayser’s classes with clarity and humor. “His lectures on Antony and Cleopatra [business] “GW completely changed my life—it were so salacious that the university turned me into the person that I am today,” censored them,” he said. “Today, it would the Columbian College graduate says. “GW have not made any difference whatsoever.” At 2U, Aiming is hugely important to my life story and the Dr. Brady, a trustee emeritus, was at the To Disrupt the story behind 2U.” Corcoran to receive the President’s Medal— GW is also a part of the story of 2U’s the highest honor the university president Learning Curve general counsel, Todd Glassman, BBA ’92; can bestow—at a Commencement-eve its executive vice president for brand and ceremony attended by members of the Board product marketing, Mark Mashaw, BA ’92; of Trustees, the university’s senior leadership, Education technology and its regional executive vice president deans, students, family and friends. company packed with Colonials for graduate programs, Jason “JZ” Zocks, “We’re very proud to include Luther reimagines college life online. BBA ’92. W. Brady among our [President’s Medal] It was on GW’s Foggy Bottom Campus honorees,” GW President Steven Knapp said. “Let’s change the way people think about that the three 2U executives and its co- A longtime GW volunteer and donor, an online education.” founder became friends as freshmen in arts patron and a foremost oncologist, For the past seven years, that’s been the 1988. For Mr. Paucek, Mr. Glassman, Dr. Brady, through his estate, has mantra of Chip Paucek, BA ’92, and dozens Mr. Mashaw and Mr. Zocks, their time at GW provided for the establishment of a named of GW alumni who are a part of 2U Inc., an was transformational. professorship in radiation oncology. He is education technology company based half an “We had a real community of people at the namesake of the Luther W. Brady Art hour outside D.C., in Landover, Md. GW,” says Mr. Glassman, whose nephew is Gallery, which has attracted internationally And the company’s mission is nothing a current GW student and 2U intern. “That recognized artists. And he serves on the less than that. While many still view online community was a very important part of our George Washington University Museum and learning as secondary to traditional campus education.” The Textile Museum Board of Directors. learning, 2U is attempting to shift that image. Mr. Paucek says it’s that sense of “I really cannot begin to tell you how And its unique take on online education has community that has been missing from pleased and delighted I am to be here and to already attracted colleges and universities online programs,” says. receive this accolade from the university,” from across the country, including at GW, “The GW community was so important he said. “It is, I think, the pinnacle of all the and has fueled the company’s rapid rise. to us while we were students,” he says. awards I’ve ever received from any institution 2U has 20 programs with 13 partner “It means something to be a part of the or any organization. And I’m deeply grateful universities and has opened offices in New community at a great school, and we thought to everyone who’s made it possible.” York, Los Angeles, North Carolina and Hong we could bring this experience to online Previous recipients of the President’s Kong. Along the way, it’s helped to provide education, too.” Medal include Nobel laureate and former a new standard of online education for There are a lot of moving parts to retooling Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev, thousands of students. how the world thinks about online education. musicians Dave Brubeck and Judy Collins, Mr. Paucek, the co-founder and CEO 2U staff is involved in every level of launching philanthropist Albert H. Small and journalist of 2U, was the first in his family to attend a school’s program and helping to run it:

Walter Cronkite. —James Irwin college. market research, recruiting, admissions ALL: NGA LE

64 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 Alumni news counseling, program development, state and students on campus.” your input is valued and needed is a big part national regulations compliance, operations, GW’s Milken Institute School of Public of why we’re so successful and why we love data analysis and student advising. Health started its partnership with the working here.” The goal throughout is to ensure that the company in 2012, but 2U has tapped into the All told, more than 45 employees of 2U quality of the online programs matches the talent at GW since its early days. hail from GW, and students from Foggy quality that students come to expect from 2U Blair Gardner, BBA ’10, MS ’11, director Bottom are regularly a core part of the partner schools like GW, Georgetown and of web strategy, remembers that there were company’s annual crop of interns. “Early the University of Southern California. only 18 full-time employees when he started interns and employees from GW were really “We have to become experts in at 2U as an intern in 2009. He was drawn driven and smart and knew how to think— understanding the field of study, the student in by the company’s mission to legitimize when you see that pattern, you go back to the body, the professors, the classes so there is no online education and was “hooked” by the well,” Mr. Zocks says. distinction between on campus and online,” enthusiasm and opportunities at 2U. Along the way, the company has helped says Hilary Swaim, BA ’11, vice president for Ms. Swaim, who started as an intern provide a new standard of online education brand marketing at 2U. with Mr. Gardner, says she never planned to for thousands of students. The staff works closely with each school work for an online education startup, but the “It makes me really excited that this and program to develop the right blend challenge of working at a new company that company allows people to have broader of videos, live classes and even real-world “needed help with a little bit of everything” access to education than was possible online learning experiences. The end result is a interested her. before,” says Chip Paucek, the co-founder learning environment that reaches for the “We realized when we were interning and CEO. “And to do so, to succeed with the quality and depth of traditional programs together that we were part of something help and influence of so many fellow GW and provides a campus experience—where special,” she says. alumni—that’s special.” —Gray Turner cohorts of online learners grow together and When Mr. Gardner’s GW roommate stay connected after earning their degrees— of four years, Ed Goodwin, BA ’09, from a virtual classroom. graduated into a tough job market, he For more on 2U and the work of GW’s Milken Institute School of Public recruited Mr. Goodwin as a 2U intern. Colonials there, visit Health offers two graduate-level degree Now senior director of investor relations go.gwu.edu/gwalumni2U. programs through its partnership with 2U: at 2U, Mr. Goodwin believes that one of a Master of Public Health and an Executive the company’s biggest strengths is the Master of Health Administration. interaction between every piece of the “What separates 2U from other online organization, every staff member. opposite, from left 2U employees Ed providers is that our programs are taught by “The culture here is about giving people Goodwin, BA ’09, Hilary Swaim, BA ’11, and school faculty members,” Mr. Mashaw says. the opportunity to challenge themselves and Blair Gardner, BBA ’10, MS ’11 below More “When you’re enrolled in GW’s public health challenge others,” he says. “It’s about giving than two dozen GW alumni who work at program, you are being taught by the same people the freedom to raise their hand to say, the company—among more than 45 in renowned faculty and professionals as the ‘This could be done better.’ Knowing that total—gather to show a little GW pride.

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new painting “Hooked on You” at in Washington, D.C. Ms. Jackson Gallery Plan B’s 10th anniversary says, “the symbolism of a crowd not Class notes exhibition in Washington, D.C. only represents the world’s growing Her full collection can be viewed at population but also serves as a model joeymanlapaz.com. for artistically exploring motion, Laurence S. Litow, BS ’78, light and abstraction reflected in the has been added as a partner in the urban environment's symphony of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., office of figures.” Burr & Forman LLP. Mr. Litow is Bob Flisser, BBA ’85, was Gus A. Mellander, private and family firms, or nonprofit a member of the firm’s commercial elected to a three-year term on the 60s MA ’60, PhD ’66, had organizations.” litigation practice group and board of directors for the Business &earlier two books, Charles Pamela Henson, BA ’71, has experience representing Improvement District of Flemington, Edward Magoon: The MA ’76, was awarded the Secretary’s Fortune 500 companies, as well as N.J. Panama Years (Editorial Plaza Gold Medal for Exceptional Service government agencies and financial Adam Brookman, JD ’87, Mayor, 2000) and The United States by Smithsonian Secretary G. Wayne institutions. was elected treasurer at Boyle in Panamanian Politics: The Clough. Dr. Henson currently works Alex Nyerges, BA ’79, Fredrickson, Wisconsin’s largest Intriguing Formative Years as director of the institutional MA ’82, was honored by the intellectual property law firm. (Interstate Printers & Publishers, history division. She’s been at the French government as a knight in Brian A. Malone, MPA ’87, 1971), lauded as “essential for the Smithsonian since 1973. the Order of Arts and Letters, an retired from the Central Intelligence study of early diplomatic relations Jack Phillip London, international association of leaders Agency after almost 37 years of between Panama and the United DBA ’71, executive chairman of recognized for their contributions service and is now vice president States” in a recent publication by the CACI International, was named toward promoting international of N-Ask Inc., a recognized expert Library of Congress. as one of the 100 most influential relations with France. Mr. Nyerges is provider of software solutions, Vincent T. DeVita, MD ’61, people in business ethics for 2014 by an executive committee member of advanced signal processing, and HON ’84, was mentioned in the the Ethisphere Institute. Dr. London the French Regional and American algorithm development for the U.S. “Oncology Luminaries” series also spoke on character and ethics as Museum Exchange and most intelligence community and the by the American Society of part of the Chancellor Bell Lecture recently spearheaded the move of federal government. Clinical Oncology for introducing Series at the National Defense FRAME’s headquarters from Dallas chemotherapy combinations for University on December 10, 2014. to Richmond, Va. Maria Strong, JD ’90, cancer therapy. The breakthrough Glenn Whitaker, JD ’72, a 90s was appointed deputy occurred in 1965, when Dr. DeVita partner at Vorys, Sater, Seymour Carolyn Page, BA ’82, director of policy and and his colleagues combined and Pease LLP, has been included 80s will have her story international affairs at mustargen, oncovin, procarbazine in the 2015 Ohio Super Lawyers list “Marksberry Road” the United States Copyright Office in and prednisone to treat Hodgkin’s for his achievement in litigation. published in the April January 2015. Before joining the disease. Since then, ASCO has Mr. Whitaker’s practice has an 2015 issue of the New England copyright office in 2010, Ms. Strong named MOPP the top advance in emphasis on the representation Review. spent almost 20 years in private modern oncology. Dr. DeVita is the of individuals and corporations in Seth Price, JD ’82, has been practice in Washington, D.C., Amy and Joseph Perella Professor of complex civil litigation and criminal included in the 2015 Georgia working on international trade and Medicine at Yale University. proceedings. edition of Super Lawyers. Mr. Price copyright matters. Gary Horan, MS ’73, was is a shareholder in Chamberlain Timothy A. Waire Jr., Kenneth Salomon, presented with the 2015 Regent Hrdlicka’s Atlanta office and BS ’91, joined the Cystic Fibrosis 70s JD ’70, has been Lifetime Award by the American focuses his practice on construction Foundation as chief information appointed by the United College of Healthcare Executives. litigation. officer in January 2015. Prior to States Olympic Mr. Horan is president and CEO of Peter J. Roberts, MA ’82, joining the foundation, Mr. Waine Committee to the organization’s Trinitas Regional Medical Center helped design genetic genealogy held executive management ethics committee. Mr. Salomon is the and was recognized for 44 years of software tools for Wikitree. He also positions at Quest Diagnostics and chair of the Thompson Coburn LLP excellence. delivered presentations on DNA and Constellation Energy Group. lobbying and policy group with more Ellen Zane, BA ’73, has been ancestry to the Sons of the American Salvatore Zambri, JD ’92, than 40 years of experience advising awarded the prestigious Leadership Revolution, Clan McKinnon, and was listed in Best Lawyer’s 2015 clients on a broad range of in Corporate Governance Award the Green Turtle Cay Island Roots “Best lawyers in America” for government and public policy issues. from the New England chapter of the Heritage Festival. Mr. Roberts is a personal injury law and was named He is also a founding board member National Association of Corporate speaker for the International Society among the top 10 of the more than and served for 13 years as president Directors. Ms. Zane is a nationally of Genetic Genealogy and welcomes 80,000 attorneys in the Washington, of the Maryland Soccer Foundation. renowned health care leader who contact and queries at peterebay@ D.C. metropolitan area by Super Susan Schiffer Stautberg, recently retired as president and yahoo.com. Lawyers. MA ’70, has co-authored Women CEO of Tufts Medical Center and the Susan Ellis Wild, JD ’82, has Jay Moskowitz, BBA ’93, on Board: Insider Secrets to Getting Floating Hospital for Children. She been appointed as the first female has joined City Point Partners on a Board and Succeeding as a is vice chair of the board of trustees city solicitor of Allentown, Pa. Ms. as marketing manager, where Director (Quotation Media, 2014). at Tufts Medical Center. Wild is a partner at Gross McGinley he will supervise the firm’s She writes: “Board service today Howard Williams, LLM ’75, and will maintain her private law marketing activities and manage requires a more complex set of skills, was among 36 Brooks Pierce practice in addition to her new its strategic marketing initiatives. experiences, and leadership styles attorneys recognized as industry responsibilities as the city’s chief Mr. Moskowitz is an 11-year veteran than ever before, making this new leaders for business and corporate legal officer. of the architecture, engineering and book essential reading both for law in the 2015 North Carolina Kay Jackson, MFA ’84, construction industries. women considering a directorship edition of Super Lawyers. exhibited “Malthusian Paintings, Roger Medd, MA ’95, and for women currently serving Joey P. Manlapaz, 25 Years and Counting” at the published The Voiceprint of on boards of public companies, BA ’77, MFA ’80, exhibited her Addison/Ripley Fine Art gallery God: Recognizing and Following

gwmagazine.com / 67 Alumni news

His Voice (CreateSpace, 2014). The Jason Daniel Myers, BA ’98, and special events. Prior to her time Publishers, 2015). He writes that book, he writes, takes a “fresh look had his short story “Snow and at Hofstra, she worked as director by “thinking of your career as a at the topic of hearing God’s voice.” Aysel” featured in an exhibition of of advisory boards at the Jewish narrative—with a plot, characters, Mr. Medd has over 30 years of reinterpreted works by the Brothers Theological Seminary in Manhattan. and an arc—you can increase your engineering experience. Grimm, A Long Time Ago: The Fairy Christopher L. Soriano, awareness of yourself as a leader and Srikant Sastry, JD ’95, was Tales of Mandy Altimus Pond, at BA ’00, has been promoted to become more effective, insightful honored with a Minority Business Lynden Gallery in Elizabethtown, partner at Duane Morris LLP. Mr. and inspiring.” Leader Award from the Washington Pa. Mr. Myers’ most recent Soriano concentrates his practice Jay Boyles, BA ’03, and Liz Business Journal. Mr. Sastry work was published in Cthulhu on gaming law and commercial Cozart, MA ’09, were married currently serves as the national Haiku II: More Mythos Madness. litigation in the firm’s trial practice in February in McLean, Va. Mr. managing principal of advisory His online serial urban fantasy group. Boyles is a student at the Marine services at Grant Thornton LLP in (BigTroubleInLittleCanton.org) will Babatunde Kayode Oloyede, Corps Command & Staff College in Alexandria, Va. be featured in a forthcoming role- CERT ’01, AS ’02, BS ’04, Quantico, Va. Ms. Cozart is on staff Howard Goldstein, BA ’97, playing game sourcebook. MS ’07, won the 2014 Junior Officer at McLean Presbyterian Church was promoted to vice president of Calvin K. Woo, JD ’98, has of the Year Award from the North and a student at the Reformed FoodMinds LLC. Mr. Goldstein’s been elected partner at Verrill Carolina Commissioned Officers Theological Seminary. nutrition affairs programs have Dana. Mr. Woo maintains a diverse Association. He was also selected in Marcie Feinman, BS ’03, garnered national recognition, commercial and civil litigation 2014 as a member of the Council of MD ’07, was recruited to Sinai including Hass Avocado Board’s practice, representing Fortune Medical Laboratory Professionals Hospital in Baltimore as a trauma/ “Love One Today” campaign, which 500 companies, middle-market by the American Society for Clinical acute care surgeon. Dr. Feinman was named a finalist for PRWeek’s and closely-held businesses, and Pathology. completed her fellowship in surgical 2015 Product Brand Development individuals in complex business, civil Arthur Blain, MBA ’01, was critical care and acute care surgery Campaign of the Year and the “Keep and employment disputes. appointed to chief medical officer of at Johns Hopkins University in 2014. Potatoes in Schools” campaign that Karen Herman, JD ’99, has Mountain Health and Community Habeeba Park, BS ’03, won a 2012 Gold SABRE public been elected to partner of Crowell & Services in Campo, Calif. was recruited to Sinai Hospital in affairs award. Moring LLP and is a member of the Brigitte Dias Ferreira, Baltimore as a trauma/acute care Michael Post, JD ’97, has firm’s corporate group. LLM ’01, and Hernan L. surgeon. Dr. Park also was selected been promoted from deputy general Paul J. Labov, BA ’99, has Bentolila, LLM ’02, were married as a volunteer to the Eastern counsel to general counsel of joined the New York office of Fox in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in July Association for the Surgery of regulatory affairs at the Municipal Rothschild LLP as a partner in 2014. The couple currently resides Trauma’s injury control and violence Securities Rulemaking Board. the financial restructuring and in Arlington, Va. Ms. Ferreira works prevention section. She completed He is currently a legal and policy bankruptcy practice. Mr. Labov as counsel for international affairs at her fellowship in trauma and adviser to the MSRB and its board of represents a variety of stakeholders John Deere, and Mr. Bentolila serves surgical critical care at the R Adams directors. in Chapter 11 bankruptcy as international counsel for Bristol Cowley Shock Trauma Center at John Guevara, BA ’98, proceedings, out of court Myers Squibb. the University of Maryland Medical is the Republican nominee for restructurings and liquidations, Kimberly Gilbert, MFA ’01, Center in 2014. Sully District supervisor on including hedge funds, insurance won a 2015 Helen Hayes Award Erik F. Yassenoff, BA ’03, the Fairfax County, Va., Board companies, commercial banking in the Outstanding Lead Actress has been appointed by Ohio Gov. institutions and trade creditors. in a Play (Hayes) category for her John Kasich to serve as deputy of Supervisors in November’s Alexandre M. Mestdagh, performance as the title character director for general services at general election. Mr. Guevara BA ’99, was appointed to the in the Woolly Mammoth Theatre the Department of Administrative was on the Parent Teacher Central Florida Real Estate Council Company’s production of Marie Services. For the past four Organization Board at Navy Board of Directors. Currently Mr. Antoinette. years, Mr. Yassenoff has served Elementary in Fairfax for two Mestdagh is the managing partner Seth J. Gillihan, MA ’01, on the governor’s staff as his terms and was vice president of of Mestdagh & Wall, a boutique law co-authored a book with Janet assistant director of policy for his homeowners association for firm based in Maitland, Fla. Singer called Overcoming OCD: A asset management, advising in several years. He has lived in Journey to Recovery (Rowman & policy areas that include taxation, Sully, Va., for the last 15 years Ritu Kaur Cooper, Littlefield Publishers, 2015). The transportation and gambling. with his high school sweetheart, 00s BA ’00, has joined the book documents the recovery of Brian Cocca, JD ’04, has been Washington, D.C., office Ms. Singer’s son from severe OCD elected to partner in the Malvern, Marilyn. They have two sons, of Hall, Render, Killian, through exposure and response Pa., office of Stradley Ronon Stevens Peter and Nathan, both of whom Health & Lyman as a shareholder. prevention therapy. Dr. Gillihan & Young. Mr. Cocca focuses his attend Fairfax County public Ms. Cooper has always focused her provides expert commentary practice on intellectual property schools. practice on health care compliance throughout the book on topics issues, with a concentration on Andrew Kozma, BA ’98, had matters. She has also been named to related to OCD. drafting and prosecuting patent his short story “Lullaby” featured in the Lawyers of Color Hot List since Suzanna Morales, BBA ’01, applications in the biotechnology an exhibition of reinterpreted works its inaugural edition in 2013. has joined Fox Rothschild LLP and pharmaceutical fields. by the Brothers Grimm, A Long Amy Reich, BBA ’00, was as counsel in the firm’s New York Julie Gordon, BA ’04, Time Ago: The Fairy Tales of Mandy elected by the Association of office. Ms. Morales represents joined the staff of the New York Altimus Pond, at Lynden Gallery in Fundraising Professionals’ Long clients in a wide array of intellectual Post as deputy editor of PageSix. Elizabethtown, Pa. His poems have Island chapter as a first-term property litigation and trademark com. Previously, she worked as the appeared in Blackbird, Subtropics, member of the board of directors. prosecution. entertainment and style editor of the Qualm, and Copper Nickel. Mr. Ms. Reich is the senior director for Timothy Tobin, EdD ’02, newspaper amNewYork. Kozma’s book of poems, City of alumni affairs at Hofstra University published Your Leadership Story: Alessandra Mediago, BA ’04, Regret (Zone 3 Press, 2007), also in Long Island, N.Y., where she Use Your Story to Energize, Inspire, and her husband, James Edward won the Zone 3 First Book Award. oversees all alumni-related outreach and Motivate (Berrett-Koehler Agnew II welcomed the arrival of

68 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 Alumni news

their first child, Julia Rose Agnew, and appeals, in the firm’s Seattle Navy Ceremonial Guard. purchase and sales agreements, on July 3, 2014. She writes, “Julia office. Vance Renfroe, CERT ’08, leases, construction and mortgage already has a full wardrobe of Rachel Adcox, JD ’07, a has been appointed professor of loan documents, and other real Colonials attire and cannot wait to member of Axinn, Veltrop & leadership and elected a senior estate-related agreements. visit campus for the first time.” Harkrider LLP’s antitrust group, fellow of New Westminster College, Andrea S. Peterson, MTA ’12, Chevon Brooks, JD ’05, has been promoted to partner. Ms. in Vancouver, Canada. He will be joined Metropolitan State University has been promoted to partner Adcox represents both foreign and working with New Westminster of Denver’s Department of with Traub Lieberman Straus & domestic clients before the U.S. College’s expansion and transition Hospitality, Tourism and Events as a Shrewsberry LLP in New York. Mr. Justice Department and Federal toward university status. Col. full-time faculty member in August Brooks is an insurance and litigation Trade Commission in mergers, civil Renfroe retired from the U.S. Air 2014, after serving as an affiliate defense attorney who specializes in non-merger matters and criminal Force and is currently president of since the previous fall. She recently the defense of property and casualty cartel investigations. Renfroe Associates International. authored a chapter, “Marketing matters in both federal and New Amanda Dubin, BS ’07, His company is engaged in a wide the Meeting,” in the sixth edition York state courts. and Kelly Meyer founded a baby range of business development in the of the Professional Convention Katy Chang, JD ’05, added clothing company called Luc&Lou. Middle East, North Africa, India and Management Association’s Baba’s Dumpling and Soup For every onesie purchased, a new the United States. Professional Meeting Management, Noodles to the menu of EatsPlace, onesie is donated to a baby in need. Amy Rizzotto, BA ’08, which was published in January and her neighborhood restaurant Previously, they both worked as founded her own yoga studio, Yoga is widely available as a curriculum and bar that she describes as a neonatal ICU nurses where, Ms. Heights, and opened a small business textbook within the industry. “food incubator and restaurant Dubin writes, they “shared the same called MOARfit, where she works Mari Mora Trubenbach, accelerator” in Washington, dream to make a positive impact with clients on customized yoga and BA ’12, worked with Operation of D.C. Ms. Chang is the founder on the world by helping babies in nutrition programs. After living in Hope, a volunteer surgical team, to of this community kitchen and need.” For more information on their France and Senegal for a few years, provide Blessing Makwera, a now marketplace and frequently hosts products and story, visit lucandlou. working in San Francisco for a 22-year-old man from Zimbabwe, guest chef residencies. Along with com. global philanthropy nonprofit, and with free facial reconstructive hand-kneaded dumplings and soup Dawn Ursula, MFA ’07, was spending three years as a major gifts surgeries from Sharp Memorial noodles, Ms. Chang will also be nominated for a 2015 Helen Hayes fundraiser for the African Wildlife Hospital in San Diego. Ms. featuring her Baba’s Cooking School Award in the Outstanding Lead Foundation in Washington, D.C., Ms. Trubenbach has gone on surgical line of award-winning hot sauce and Actress in a Play (Hayes) category, Rizzotto writes that she “decided to missions since she was 12 and a new line of bitters. for her role in We Are Proud to turn her personal passion into a new currently is the road manager for Jessica Federer, BS ’05, Present a Presentation About the career path.” Enrique Iglesias. is chief digital officer of Bayer, a Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known April Salomon, MA ’08, was Patrick Gillen, MS ’13, was multinational pharmaceutical and as South-West Africa, From the named executive director of the awarded a 2015 Space and Naval chemical corporation. Previously, German Sudwestafrika, Between the Musical Instrument Museum. Ms. Warfare Systems Center Pacific Ms. Federer was a program analyst Years 1884-1915, by Washington, Salomon, who served as MIM’s research fellowship. His research at the U.S. Department of Health D.C.’s Woolly Mammoth Theatre acting director for the past six focuses on predicting events using and Human Services, helping to Company. months, joined the museum in big data analysis. Currently, Mr. facilitate nationwide discussion on Brian C. Willis, JD ’07, was a 2007 and assisted with the design, Gillen is working toward a master’s a variety of pressing health care panelist at Tampa Bay Startup Week, staffing, collection acquisition and degree in computer science at topics. where he discussed “fostering a launch of the $250 million museum. the Naval Postgraduate School in Seth Linnick, BBA ’05, an start-up and innovation ecosystem.” Previously, she worked for other Monterey, Calif. attorney at Tucker Ellis LLP, has Mr. Willis is an associate at cultural and educational institutions William Giltinan, LLM ’13, been recognized as an “Ohio Rising Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick LLP, including the Heard Museum, the has been elected a shareholder of Star” for 2015. where he represents individuals and Institute of Learning Innovation and Carlton Fields Jorden Burt. Mr. Blaine Rummel, MPA ’05, corporations involved in business, the Smithsonian Institution. Giltinan is a member of several of was appointed director of contract and real estate disputes. Jonathan Freidin, BA ’09, the firm’s practice groups, including communications for the American Michael Hissam, JD ’08, has has joined Freidin Dobrinsky Brown corporate, information security/data Federation of State, County and been elected partner in the firm & Rosenblum, P.A., as an associate. breach, nonprofit organizations, and Municipal Employees. Most Bailey & Glasser LLP. He will concentrate his practice intellectual property and technology, recently Mr. Rummel served as Alex Lawson, MPP ’08, is in the areas of plaintiffs’ personal enforcement and protection. director of special projects in the the executive director of Social injury, medical malpractice and Muhammad Faysal communications department, Security Works, a nonprofit product liability. Islam, PhD ’13, a lead engineer where he prepared the union for its organization that advocates for with Booz Allen Hamilton and upcoming legislative and judicial protecting and expanding the Alfred S. Boone, adjunct professor at the School of challenges. program. His organization published s MS ’10, a major in the Engineering and Applied Science, Stephen J. McBrady, JD ’06, Social Security Works!: Why Social 10 U.S. Army, has been is the 2015 president-elect of the has been elected to partner of Security Isn’t Going Broke and How selected as professor of International Council on Systems Crowell & Moring LLP and is Expanding It Will Help Us All (The military science at Rutgers Engineering Washington metro- currently a member of the firm’s New Press, 2015). University in New Jersey. area chapter. Dr. Islam will assume government contracts group. Andrea Mazzone, BA ’08, and Alson James Mckenna, the responsibilities of the INCOSE Christina J. McCollough, Christopher Bourque, BS ’09, JD ’11, has joined Harter Secrest WMA presidency in 2016. JD ’06, has been promoted to are engaged to be married in August & Emery LLP as an associate in Nicole Picard, BS ’14, is a new partner at Perkins Coie. Ms. 2015. Ms. Mazzone is a defense the firm’s Rochester, N.Y., office. member of the Brooklynettes, the McCollough is a member of the analyst for Booz Allen Hamilton in Mr. McKenna will work in the real professional dance team of the NBA’s litigation practice group, with a Washington, D.C., and Lt. Bourque estate practice group, negotiating, Brooklyn Nets. She performs primary focus on patent litigation is stationed in D.C. with the U.S. analyzing and drafting commercial at Nets home games at Barclays

gwmagazine.com / 69 Alumni news [remembering] Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., as well Keith B. Romney, JD ’55 as at national and international NBA Jan. 21, 2015 events. Salt Lake City A. James Clark Trustee emeritus A. James Clark,

Frieda S. Shapiro, JD ’57 HON ’10, whose Clark Dec. 10, 2014 Enterprises grew to become AND WHAT ABOUT YOU? John P. Craven, JD ’58 one of the nation’s largest Feb. 12, 2015 Submit your own class contracting companies, Honolulu note, book or Artists’ died on March 20 at his Quarter update: Edgar B. May, LLB ’59 home in Easton, Md., of Jan. 19, 2015 congestive heart failure. email [email protected] Washington, D.C. He was 87. Mr. Clark’s mail Alumni News Section company presided over landmark GW facilities, including the new GW Magazine Vida M. Baugh, JD ’61 Science and Engineering Hall, as well as local projects including the Aug. 3, 2014 2121 Eye Street, NW Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, FedEx Field Alexandria, Va. Suite 501 and Nationals Park. At GW, he established an endowed professorship Washington, DC 20052 Edward W. Nypaver, JD ’61 in 1986 and, in 2011, the A. James Clark Engineering Scholars program. Jan. 10, 2015 Dayton, Ohio John Preston Creer III, JD ’62 Laura Finamore Jan. 30, 2015 Among the eight killed in the May 12 derailment of an Amtrak train was IN MEMORIAM Salt Lake City Laura Finamore, BA ’90. Ms. Finamore, 47, lived in Manhattan and was a senior account director at Cushman & Wakefield, a corporate Robert H. Quenon, JD ’64 Kenneth W. Donelson, AA ’47, real estate firm. She was a native of Queens, N.Y. Amtrak’s Northeast Nov. 19, 2013 LLB ’49 Ladue, Mo. Regional Train 188, carrying 243 people, derailed in Philadelphia while Jan. 2, 2015 en route to New York City from Washington, D.C. Sequim, Wa. William T. Deitz, JD ’68 Jan. 27, 2015 E. Scott Dillon, LLB ’48 Stuart, Fla. Sept. 17, 2014 Eddie LeBaron Gaithersburg, Md. Richard D. Gilroy, JD ’68 Decorated veteran and former NFL quarterback Eddie LeBaron, LLB Jan. 25, 2015 Thomas W. Smith, BA ’48, ’59, died April 1 in Stockton, Calif. He was 85. The 5-foot-7 Mr. LeBaron Indianapolis JD ’49 — nicknamed the “Little General” — played 11 NFL seasons, seven Jan. 1, 2015 Harris Elliott Coleman, LLM ’72 for Washington and four for Dallas, while getting his law degree. He Falls Church, Va. Dec. 31, 2014 retired from football in 1963 and practiced law until 1997. A Marine, Mr. Olney, Md. LeBaron was twice wounded in Korea and later awarded the Bronze John R. DeBarr, JD ’50 Star and two Purple Hearts. Dec. 28, 2014 Mark D. Blocher, JD ’73, Riverside, Calif. LLM ’78 Feb. 10, 2015 Warren E. Finken, JD ’51 Cincinnati Marjorie Townsend Feb. 25, 2015 Marjorie Townsend, Delray Beach, Fla. Anne Stowell Davidson, JD ’74 BS ’51, the first June 18, 2014 Edwin S. Nail, JD ’51 woman to earn an Morristown, N.J. Jan. 19, 2015 engineering degree Richard Max Ginsburg, JD ’74 from GW and the first Edward Solomon Jr., LLB ’51 March 1, 2015 Jan. 3, 2015 woman to manage Hillsboro, Ore. Ebensburg, Pa. a U.S. space launch, T. Jay Thompson, LLM ’76 died April 4. She was Peter A. Cerick, AA ’52, BA ’53 Jan. 5, 2015 85. Ms. Townsend Jan. 30, 2015 joined NASA in 1959 Herndon, Va. William Boyd Wharton, SJD ’79 and went on to lead Oct. 9, 2014 Albert L. Jeffers, JD ’52 the Small Astronomy Alvin, Texas Aug. 10, 2013 Satellite program, McAllen, Texas Jackie Ling Der, JD ’80 eventually overseeing March 2, 2015 the development R. J. Kenny, JD ’53 Seattle Oct. 13, 2014 and launch of the first X-ray astronomy Elmer Culberston Hulen, JD ’81 Walter M. Meginniss, JD ’54 Sept. 30, 2014 satellite. She also Dec. 31, 2014 Davidson, N.C. was instrumental Tallahassee, Fla. in the creation of Thomas Anthony Zupanc, Elli S. Riismandel, LLM ’55 weather satellites. Ms.

Dec. 24, 2014 LLM ’82 Townsend retired in Jan. 29, 2015 Washington, D.C. 1980. St. Cloud, Minn. CREDIT TEEKAY CREDIT

70 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 Alumni news

upcoming shows by gw professors and alumni artists’ quarter

Dong Soh, BFA ’15, used a 3-D printer to give shape to the fanciful figurines he created for a thesis exhibition this spring. Square Dancing With a 3-D Printer

When the Corcoran School of the Arts and at Washington State’s DigiPen Institute of as those?” he recalls Professor of Art and Design unveiled its end-of the-year thesis Technology, Mr. Soh went to the Corcoran Design Janis Goodman asking one day, exhibition, NEXT, this spring (Pg. 10), a School to perfect his drawing and animation. while gesturing toward Mr. Soh’s meticulous group of little plastic dragons celebrated But for NEXT, he decided to take his art sketches. He suggested trying a 3-D printer. the opening with more revelry than anyone to another level. He wanted to bring his The burgeoning technology offered in the gallery. The winged creatures had illustrations to life, to make the characters razor-sharp precision. Still, the process was completed a journey through a 3-D printer “spring off the computer screen,” he says. its own dance, with missteps and trial and to become part of “Square Dancing with The problem was that clay, wood and error. Mr. Soh would spend six to eight hours Dragons,” an installation so chipper it other mediums he tried couldn’t quite designing characters in a 3-D program, then seemed to come alive if you stared hard capture the mix of globular shapes and turn to another piece of software to ensure enough. jutting angles that he created digitally. the geometry would print just so; yet another The buoyant spirit of the piece—a “Why can’t you get something as sharp program would give him the file to inject into gaggle of nine diminutive dragons—is not the 3-D printer. a surprise, coming from artist Dong Soh, The printer might spit out inverted or BFA ’15, who says his childhood essentially collapsed pieces of plastic, and Mr. Soh would took place in animated worlds. He grew up He wanted to bring have to start again from the beginning. with video game controllers perennially at But eventually, he generated charming his fingertips, using the buttons to traipse his illustrations to characters that previously had existed only through Game Boy and Nintendo landscapes. life, to make the as flat figures on a computer. He paid attention to the lines that made up “One of my favorite artists, Makoto Super Mario, Megaman, Sonic and Pokemon characters “spring off Fujimura, writes about how art can bring characters, and consumed cartoons and the computer screen,” happiness to other people,” Mr. Soh says. anime from his parents’ native South Korea, “I think that’s what ‘Square Dancing with the epicenter of animation. he says. Dragons’ does, and the 3-D printer helped

WILLIAM ATKINS After picking up video game design skills me get there.” —Julyssa Lopez

gwmagazine.com / 71 Wisdom and how-tos from experts in the gw community Institutional Knowledge [words]

Alumna Elizabeth Acevedo’s brand of poetry—slam poetry—is a highly specialized, intricately crafted art (“...On Slam Poetry,” Pg. 15), but poetry can be anything. An exhibit at GW’s Brady Gallery tested that in May, when it had visitors create “found poems” by redacting, reordering, refashioning or colorizing a canvas of words made from a few pages of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray.

A Cut,B paste and C reorder the words

A B Redact,C highlight

A B C Refashion and colorize

Make Your Own Following that example, here are the first 380 words of Chapter One of Herman Melville’s classic, Moby-Dick. Use this page, or download the text from magazine.gwu.edu, and create your own sonnet, ode or haiku, the next Prufrock—whatever

you want. Send it back to us by mail, email or We gave it a try, with the Twitter hashtag #GWFoundPoetry. We’ll with a bit of color. publish some of the poems in the fall issue.

72 / gw magazine / Summer 2015 Goal = $1 Billion

$740 Million

55,000 SUPPORTERS have raised more than $740 MILLION to support students, enhance academics, and break new ground. There’s still work to be done.

Join us and help GW make history. CAMPAIGN.GWU.EDU

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