GW Alumni Association

The mission of the GWAA is to strengthen alumni relationships, promote GW spirit and values, and inspire a connected global community.
The GWAA will…

Create an integrated, engaged, and spirited alumni community
Develop timely, consistent, and inspiring communication
Provide enriching, diverse, and inclusive engagement opportunities

All GW graduates and former students who completed at least 15 credit hours and left the university in good standing are members of the GW Alumni Association. Membership is granted automatically; there are no membership dues and no registration is required.

Meet the Executive Committee

The GW Alumni Association Executive Committee comprises 21 accomplished alumni from diverse backgrounds who were invited to serve based on their common passion for and commitment to GW. Maxwell Gocala-Nguyen GSEHD MA '16 is the current President of the GW Alumni Association.

Angela An

GSPM MPS ‘17
7-time Emmy Award Winning Journalist
Morning news anchor, TEGNA/WBNS
Columbus, OH

Vishal Aswani

SEAS BS ’10
Director, Cybersecurity Activities Budget Oversight
Department of Defense
Alexandria, VA

Ryan Barnette

CCAS BA ‘06
Anesthesiologist
Cedars Sinai
Los Angeles, CA

Char Beales

CCAS BA ’73
President & CEO (Ret.)
CTAM Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing
Arlington, VA

Bret Caldwell

CCAS BA ‘92, GSPM MA ‘96
Deputy Chief Of Staff
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Leesburg, VA

Natasha Dupee

CCAS BA ’12, GWSPH MPH '23
Executive Director, Women's Policy & Initiatives
Mayor’s Office, Washington, DC
Washington, DC

David Earl

CCAS BA ‘09, ESIA MA ‘16
Director, Development for Center of Politics
University of Virginia
Alexandria, VA

Maria Fera

CCAS BA ‘15
Associate Director, Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate
Columbia University
Astoria, NY

Maxwell Gocala-Nguyen

GSEHD MA ‘16
Director, Undergraduate Recruitment & Engagement George Mason University
Bristow, VA

Maley Hunt

CCAS BA ‘13, GWSPH MHA ‘16
Chief Operating Officer & Residential Services Administrator
LiveWell
Wallingford, CT

Jordan D. Jean

LAW JD ’21
Associate
Venables LLP
Baltimore, MD

Bethann Kagan

GWSB BBA ‘89
Partner
Shein Law Center
Wynnewood, PA

Steve LaForte

ESIA BA ‘86, LAW JD ‘93
Director, Corporate Affairs & General Legal Counsel
Cascadia Healthcare
Eagle, ID

Ming Lowe

LAW JD ’98
Associate Director, Civic Engagement
Neighborhood Associates Corporation
Arlington, VA

Amanda Notarangelo

ESIA BA ’09
Marketing Manager
Holland & Knight LLP
Cambridge, MA

Artie Polk

SEAS MS ‘79
Executive Pastor
Mount Gilead Baptist Church
Mitchellville, MD

Felicia Rodriguez

ESIA BA ’07, ESIA MA ‘13
Programme Coordinator, Financing for Sustainable Development
OECD
Paris, France

Calvin Sanders

ESIA BA ‘18, GWSB MBA ‘20
Chief Financial Officer
BOLT Staffing
Sonoma, CA

Traci Scott

GSPM MA ‘96
National Security Coordinator Communications and Research MITRE
Alexandria, VA

Kalpana Vissa

SPH BS ‘18, SPH MPH ‘20
Special Assistant
Department of Health & Human Services Office of the Inspector General
Washington, DC

Frequently Asked Questions

The GW Alumni Association (GWAA) and the GWAA Executive Committee were introduced on May 1, 2019. Read below for answers to some common questions about the GWAA.

What is new about the GW Alumni Association?: The GW Alumni Association has a new structure and new volunteer leadership. The association is further integrated with the university and the greater alignment between volunteer leaders and staff will enable the university to deliver the best possible alumni experience.
How do I become a GW Alumni Association member? Do I need to pay annual dues to be a member?: No need to sign up or pay dues. All GW graduates and former students who completed at least 15 credit hours and left the university in good standing are members of the GW Alumni Association.
What will the GW Alumni Association do?: The association’s mission is to advance the university by working collaboratively to strengthen and promote an invested alumni community that inspires lifelong loyalty through the engagement of current and future alumni. The association’s executive committee serve as strategic advisors, making recommendations and providing counsel to the university administration, working in close partnership with the Office of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving and alumni volunteers across the GW community.
How were members of the new Executive Committee selected?: The Executive Committee comprises several accomplished alumni from diverse backgrounds who were invited to serve based on their common passion for and commitment to GW. The guidelines for the GW Alumni Association, approved by the GW Board of Trustees Volunteer Engagement Task Force in February 2019, outline the process for the university to identify and invite Executive Committee members.
Will Regional Alumni Networks, Industry Councils, Shared Identity and Interests Networks, and Other Organizations Be Part of the Alumni Association?: Yes. Alumni organizations which have an existing relationship with the Office of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving will be considered a “Chartered Alumni Network."
Will alumni have an opportunity to offer input as the new Alumni Association evolves?: Yes. A virtual listening tour held in August and September 2019 provided GW graduates the opportunity to meet the members of the GWAA Executive Committee and to share thoughts about the association’s future. The listening tour and other means of input from alumni and university officials forms the basis of the Executive Committee’s process to establish priorities for the association.
How can I be considered for the GWAA Executive Committee or Leadership Council in the future?: Executive Committee members can serve for a maximum of four years, so there will be an ongoing need to identify potential future leaders. You are encouraged to communicate your interest to your point of contact in the Office of Alumni Relations or by emailing alumni@gwu.edu with “GW Alumni Association” in the subject line.