Bonnie
Zucker
GWU
literally was the "best four years" ever! I remember
the day I moved into Thurston and what it was like to live on
the 2nd floor (Rm. 216) and make so many new friends. I have countless
memories of time spent at Thurston and later at Columbia Plaza.
Nights at the Exchange and Odds were the greatest. I loved hanging
out on the steps of the Marvin Center and also in the Quad- especially
in the Spring. As a psychology major, I began the foundation of
my career, and had so many outstanding professors- Dr. Rice, Dr.
Poppen, and sociology professor Dr. Chambliss just to name a few.
Being a sister of Alpha Epsilon Phi just made it all sweeter.
I am so fortunate to have such wonderful memories.
After
graduation, I moved to Bethesda for two years while I earned a
Master's in applied psychology (counseling) at University of Baltimore.
It was during this time that I met my future husband, Brian Leventhal,
a Maryland native who was in law school at the time. After my
Master's, I moved to Chicago for four years and earned my doctorate
in clinical psychology at Illinois School of Professional Psychology
(ISPP). I loved living in Chicago, but loved Brian more so I relocated
back to Maryland in 2002 and we married that fall. I am now a
licensed psychologist in private practice- my two offices are
in DC (2 blocks from GW's campus on Pennsylvania & 24th St)
and in Rockville, MD. I specialize in anxiety disorders in children
and adults and love what I do. Brian is an attorney in private
practice and we live in a townhome in North Bethesda.
Pilar
Rivera
These
are the moments in life when you step back and say, "wow,
been there, done that, and it felt Great." My college experience
at GW was filled with moments of friendship, laughter, knowledge,
memories and the setting of great dreams and goals..
So here we are – 10 years later - I wanted to give you a
quick snapshot on what has happened in my life during the last
decade post my International Business degree from GWU.
My love and primary interest has always been in the field of International
Business. I've always been fascinated by how much we are impacted
by what occurs in India, China, South America and overall our
globe. The world is truly a button away as the Internet and Telecommunications
have allowed us to access the most remote areas on earth. I believe
in the importance of being culturally savvy, learning multiple
languages, and feel comfortable working, studying and living with
individuals form the US, Asia and South America. (Sounds like
GW) My parents always instilled in me the importance of learning
multiple languages hence the reason I speak five. They always
exposed us to multiple countries growing up, and we were always
encouraged to have friends from different places in the world.
And so today I run an International Marketing and Management Consulting
firm focused on working with Resort developers around the world.
Through my job, I am able to use my multiple language skills,
my multi-cultural skills, and the reality is that I feel just
as comfortable with a German developer, a Mexican client, or a
North American buyer. I have also continued my graduate education
by finishing a Masters in Business Administration, a Masters in
Technology Management, and an Executive Program at The Harvard
Business School.
So
I've been busy as you can see, however, as you will see from my
picture, I still take a moment to close my eyes, and say, "Man,
life is Good. " :-)
Kendra Bauser
My favorite
memories of attending GW are being in the center of my favorite
city and hometown DC. What a wonderful and diverse city and school.
I loved taking walks to the museums and Georgetown. I took my
studies very seriously and I have fond memories of studying in
the library with my boyfriend late at night, getting pretzels
for a midnight snack. I came to appreciate statistics, economics
and calculus! I never thought I’d enjoy these subjects but
I had wonderful professors for these classes and others too, including
a great marketing class where we did a real life project for an
actual company.
In my life, I use the information I learned at GW all the time:
everything from running my business to having an intelligent conversation
at a dinner party.
After school, I moved to Atlanta and after taking some wonderful
sewing classes for a couple years, I realized that I needed to
be in the fashion industry. So I went back to school at FIT in
New York City. Started a new career as a pattern maker, moved
back to Atlanta after establishing my knit line, and got pregnant.
Now I have a 2 1/2 year old, and I’m expecting my second
child in January! I am flying to Peru in October to get my knit
line produced there so that I can make some money doing something
I adore and take care of two kids!!! Life is pretty rich and busies
these days!
Jean Marie LaFauci Schutt
GW
Memories: GW 175th Anniversary Class; Sweet 16 Men’s Basketball
team freshman year; Delta Gamma: Anchor Splash, Formals, Sigma
Chi Derby Days, Miriam’s All Nighter, Screw Your Sister
& Crush Parties, Discovery, Champagne & Strawberries with
Phi Sigs, Sunday Night Meetings; Dance and Theater Department:
Dance Concerts, Informals, Building J, Dance Performance Project,
And They Stopped the Show; Talent show dance at Lisner with Renee
Moskowitz; Foggy Bottom Clubs/Bars that closed or changed names
since we graduated: Odds/Flips/Flicks, Samathas, Lulus, Mr. Days,
Tequila Grill (Thursday nights!), Henry’s, Milos, the Dome,
Micks, Sign of the Whale; Hey Jealousy; Summers spent painting
the dorms; 4th of Julys of the mall when drinking was allowed;
Writing in my diary in the hallways of the dorms: Thurston-7th
floor!!!, Everglades, Munson; Lincoln memorial and monuments at
night; Korean War Memorial opening; Shopping in Georgetown &
Pentagon City; Studying on the mall for finals; Graduating on
the ellipse on that sweltering day!!!!!
After graduating with degrees in Psychology and Dance I spent
the next year in DC conducting trademark research and dancing
in a DC based tap company. I moved to Manhattan for two years
to work on my masters in Psychological Counseling at Columbia
University. Following graduation I moved back to the DC area and
began my career as a mental health therapist with a focus on community
and outpatient work. The work I am most proud of involved assisting
with Arlington County’s mental health response to September
11th. I returned to GW in 2004 to pursue my PhD in Counseling.
Last year I got married to Kevin Schutt; we live in Falls Church.
Tara L. Siegman
The
class I enjoyed most during my years at GW was far removed from
my major of political science (public policy). To fill some empty
credits and on a whim, I took Symbolic Logic with Dr. Fleishman.
In doing so, I chanced upon the most challenging and rewarding
course I’ve ever taken!
Since graduation, my career has taken me into the non-profit communities
of Washington, DC and Portland, Oregon. I have worked in public
health advocacy, leadership development, grassroots organizing,
coalition building, event planning, fund development, and philanthropy.
I like to think of myself as a "non-profit specialist."
I've continued my education with several non-profit accounting
classes. At present, I am pursuing a Master of Public Administration
with a Non-Profit Management focus at Portland State University.
Elena S. Massi
GW memories:
European Diplomatic History, spending excessive amounts of time
studying Russian, giving tours for prospective students through
the visitor’s center, hanging out at the Delta Tau Delta
house and/or waking up to the guys from the Delt house knocking
on our apartment window on their way back from the bar!
Since GW- I found that I loved children and wanted to teach. So
instead of using my degree in International Affairs and Russian
Studies I went back and got my M.Ed from George Mason. I taught
1st-2nd grade for three years, and then moved to third grade.
I now teach a 3rd grade gifted-talented class. I also was diagnosed
with Hodgkin’s disease, one year after graduating- I had
chemotherapy- went into remission, and then recurred. In the end
I had to have an autologous stem cell transplant and have been
“healthy” for eight years! As part of my post cancer
recovery, I started training for my first Marine Corps Marathon
in 2001 and met my now husband. After running two marathons I
gave up the long distances and now prefer shorter races!
The highlight of my life is my wonderful daughter Samantha (born
11/6/04) that keeps me busy and on my toes.
Leah Rosen
“Unlike
many of you, I never left GW. Immediately following graduation,
I interviewed at GW and landed a job in the Office of University
Events, where I stayed for just over a year before moving into
my current office. Today, I am the executive director of Communication
and Creative Services for the University and spend my days creating
publications and planning events for our current students and
community members.”
”On
a more personal note, I married a fellow GW alumnus and we live
in Bethesda, just 6 miles away from campus. We continue to make
GW our second home by attending many University events, including
the Men’s and Women’s basketball games.”
“For
the last 10 years I have seen this University grow and change
and I am amazed at the structural and academic improvements that
have been accomplished in such a short time. I truly look forward
to welcoming you all back and exploring all that this campus now
has to offer – we graduated from a really great place. I
hope to share old memories and create new experiences with all
of you soon!”
David
Drykerman
“Since
my graduation from GW, I have attended law school, got married,
and had one child. For the last 2 years I moved to MD to pursue
a self-owned business with my brother (also a GW grad). We have
been open for 4 years now and are thriving. The business is called
Worldwide Express and is partners with DHL.”
“I
chose to volunteer for planning our reunion because I live in
this area and since I have been back I have attended GW b-ball
games and run into several alumni in the area. I think it is a
great chance to stay involved with something that was a very positive
influence in my life. I think it is important and necessary for
alumni to stick together. I am most excited to see some of the
people I have lost touch with and to have one more weekend where
we can pretend we are 21 again.”
Let us feature you! Email alumni96@gwu.edu
or submit a Class Note to tell us about your job, your family,
and a great memory from your years at GW, or to nominate a friend.
