Georgetown University College of Arts & Sciences

09/12/2024

Georgetown has awarded three associate professors with $100,000 in research funding and leave to advance their scholarship. Two awardees are faculty members in the College of Arts & Sciences.

Timothy Newfield (left), a historical epidemiologist in the Departments of History and Biology, will use his Magis Prize to trace the origins of smallpox — a disease that killed hundreds of millions of people and one whose exact emergence is still unknown.

Carlos Simon (right), a Grammy-nominated composer in the Department of Performing Arts, will use the Magis Prize to compose an original opera for the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.

Both professors plan to engage students throughout their work.

Full story: https://www.georgetown.edu/news/georgetown-awards-3-associate-professors-with-new-100k-research-fund/

09/09/2024

Four Hoyas are recipients of this year’s Voyager Scholarship, a new program that prepares students to be future leaders and public servants. Aria Nimmagadda (C’26), a double major in English and justice and peace studies, is the first student in the College of Arts & Sciences to receive the Voyager Scholarship.

Recipients of the scholarship receive financial aid, a fully funded summer work-travel experience — known as the Summer Voyage — and access to a network of mentors. Following their graduation, the scholars also receive a 10-year travel stipend to continue traveling, experiencing new cultures and creating new connections in their public service careers.

Full story: https://www.georgetown.edu/news/4-hoyas-win-2024-voyager-scholarship/

08/30/2024

That's a wrap on the first week of classes! Hoyas, enjoy your long weekend 🎉

08/29/2024

Fathali Moghaddam is concerned about humanity’s ability to unite, on a mass scale, and address global concerns, from climate catastrophe to extreme wealth concentration, war and famine.

In his new book, The Psychology of Multiculturalism, Assimilation and Omniculturalism, Moghaddam argues for a worldwide, cultural shift towards omniculturalism, an active celebration of human similarities to better confront the obstacles facing humanity.

Read more here:

Fathali Moghaddam is concerned about humanity’s ability to unite, on a mass scale, and address global concerns, from climate catastrophe to extreme wealth concentration, war and famine.

08/26/2024

This summer, Mara Lewis (C’27) traveled to Northern Ireland, where she participated in a Fulbright UK Summer Institute, a competitive and fully-funded program that empowers exceptional American undergraduates to study abroad.

“My time in Belfast was transformative,” said Lewis. “I made deep connections with those in my program and spoke with so many brilliant professors. I’m thankful to have been welcomed into the community and I hope to one day return to Queen’s University Belfast.”

Read more about Lewis’s experience in Belfast and at Georgetown here: https://college.georgetown.edu/news-story/lewis-fulbright/

08/21/2024

We are delighted to share that Andrew Sobanet has been appointed interim dean of Georgetown University’s College of Arts & Sciences.

With the fall semester quickly approaching, Sobanet agreed to sit down with us for an introductory interview. Read on to learn more about Sobanet and the future of the College of Arts & Sciences: https://college.georgetown.edu/news-story/sobanet-introduction/

08/14/2024

Before classes start in two weeks, we wanted to share expert advice from one Hoya to another.

We took a stroll around campus and spoke with two members of the Georgetown community to ask for their best advice on how to live.

Read the full story here: https://college.georgetown.edu/magazine-alumni/expert-advice/

08/08/2024

Professor of History Mireya Loza gathers and shares the stories of the immigrant and migrant farmworkers of the past and today — providing a clearer picture of the people who have fed and continue to feed us.

“We have separated farmers from farmworkers not based on labor or expertise, but because of ownership. I’m trying to pull that thread back as far as I can to better understand how we got here and how we might build a more just food system,” said Loza.

Over the course of six years working with the National Museum of American History’s Bracero History Project, Loza has listened to more than 90 people tell their stories as well as trained faculty and staff who helped amass over 800 oral histories for the project’s online archive.

Read the full story here: https://college.georgetown.edu/magazine-faculty/mireya-loza/

07/31/2024

We love the summer vibes on campus, but we miss our students. We can’t wait to see you in 4 weeks! ☀️

07/26/2024

Polling is fundamentally broken and must be fixed if Americans want to live in a healthy, functional democracy: That’s the premise of Georgetown professor Michael Bailey’s new book, “Polling at a Crossroads”

“Polls are important. We simply cannot understand politics, society and the economy without them,” writes Bailey, the Colonel William J. Walsh Professor of American Government.

Full story here: https://college.georgetown.edu/news-story/bailey-crossroads/

07/22/2024

Mary Nguyen (C’25) and Leah Chen (C’25) are the recipients of the 2024 Chester Gillis Award.

Established by the College Academic Council (CAC) in 2016, the award recognizes students who embody the values of a liberal arts education in the Jesuit tradition, which its eponym championed during his time as dean of the College of Arts & Sciences from 2008 to 2017.

This summer, both Chen and Nguyen are abroad, expanding upon their academic and personal interests through real-world research, foreign study and cultural exchange.

Read the full story here: https://college.georgetown.edu/news-story/gillis-award-24/

07/17/2024

The Georgetown University College of Arts & Sciences is excited to announce the appointment of Jaynelle Hazard as the new director and chief curator of the Georgetown University Art Galleries.

“University galleries are centers for teaching, learning and scholarship,” Jaynelle Hazard said. “I look forward to working with Georgetown University students, faculty and departments to collectively present and explore opportunities to deepen understanding of contemporary art, artistic practice and critical thinking through academic courses, lectures, workshops and programs.”

Read the full story here: https://college.georgetown.edu/news-story/hazard-appointed/

07/12/2024

Jinwoo Chong (C’17) is setting the literary world ablaze. His debut novel, Flux, has been hailed as a “brain-bending pleasure,” “an imaginative exploration of how cultural memory and grief interact” and “an impossible-to-simply-label masterpiece.”

He looks back on his time at Georgetown, both in the classroom and without, fondly. He even wrote his first short story while working on his senior thesis.

“That story became one in a collection of linked fiction based on stories my parents used to tell me about their childhoods,” said Chong.

Read here for the full story: https://college.georgetown.edu/magazine-alumni/jinwoo-chong/

06/28/2024

For Jonas Schemm (C’24), the pandemic presented an opportunity to give back, which is why he started volunteering with a local, student-run organization that helped distribute protective equipment to those in need. In the years since, he’s worked with several organizations in a variety of roles, helping get much-needed supplies into the hands of some 200,000 people.

“Having the opportunity to connect both in-person and online with people from a myriad of backgrounds has been extraordinary and one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” Schemm said.

Read the full story here: https://college.georgetown.edu/news-story/jonas-schemm/

06/25/2024

Whether in the farthest reaches of our solar system, her lab on the Hilltop or her New York Times bestselling book, Professor Sarah Johnson seeks out signs of life — and connection.

Her quest for answers has taken her to some of the most remote and inhospitable environments on Earth — the McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica, the Atacama Desert in Chile and the salt lakes of Western Australia — and involved closely collaborating with scientists at NASA to design, launch and run spacecraft.

“I feel like planetary scientists have the best job on Earth,” said Johnson. “We get to ask deep questions about the nature of existence, and then send probes made by human hands out into the vastness of space to uncover the answers.”

Read the full story in the Spring 2024 issue of our magazine here: https://college.georgetown.edu/magazine-faculty/sarah-johnson/

06/21/2024

“My Ignatius Seminar was invaluable from a learning standpoint as I was exposed to a number of new perspectives and ideas that I had not been exposed to in my previous studies. Additionally, because the class was made up of first-years in the same school as me, it served as a great opportunity to build connections in an academically stimulating environment where discourse was valued and respectful, and I made new friendships as well.”

Aidan Munroe (C’27)

Visit the link to apply and learn more about all of the seminars offered for Fall 2024. Applications are open now and close July 10.

https://college.georgetown.edu/first-year-seminars/

06/20/2024

“My biggest takeaway was to dream again. They taught me that I didn’t just have a seat at the table, but the power to radically change things for me and others and that I could be what I wanted to be but the first thing I needed to do was to dream again,” said Assefa.

Emmanuel Assefa (C’27) is a first-year student majoring in biochemistry. His participation in the Regents STEM Scholars program helped jumpstart his academic journey in the natural sciences. We sat down with Assefa to discuss the program, his first year on the Hilltop and all things research.

Read the full story here: https://college.georgetown.edu/magazine-students/emmanuel-assefa/

06/13/2024

Country Music Association CEO Sarah Trahern (C’86) is a lifelong learner.

Trahern, who recently celebrated her 10th year as head of the nation’s premier trade association for country music, believes that remaining curious and passionate about the work you do is not only essential for success but, importantly, it keeps life interesting.

“I have always had a passion for music, a passion for journalism and a passion for history. Pursuing my American studies degree enabled me to dip my toes into those areas while in school, but chasing those passions after graduation has led me to jobs that are fascinating and that have kept me learning and growing,” said Trahern.

Read the full story here: https://college.georgetown.edu/magazine-alumni/sarah-trahern/

06/11/2024

“I applied for the Ways of Knowing seminar expecting to learn a little more about the eighteenth century and to have two of my core requirements covered, but it was everything and more that I'd dreamed of getting from a Georgetown class. I left the course with two incredible mentors, a multitude of new friends, and a wealth of knowledge in both History and English that have made me a stronger writer and a more critical thinker in all of my classes. The only downside is you'll be left wanting to take it again.”

- Olivia Booth (C’27)

First-Year Seminars are unique courses exclusively for first-year students in the College of Arts & Sciences. These courses are designed to enhance the first-year experience by creating small, intellectually rich communities with faculty and peers.

Interested in hearing more about First Year Seminars? Visit our website for all of the seminars offered for Fall 2024. The application opens tomorrow!

https://college.georgetown.edu/first-year-seminars/

06/10/2024

Did you hear? The College of Arts & Sciences released their first magazine issue! In this issue, you can learn all about Country Music Association’s CEO, cicadas, and student success.

View the Spring 2024 issue here: https://college.georgetown.edu/magazine/

06/04/2024

The Institute for Responsible Citizenship recently announced that Evan Cole (C’26) had been accepted into the 2025 cohort of its Washington Program, which brings exceptional young men to the nation’s capital for two consecutive summers for an array of academic and professional opportunities. Cole has also been named a Laidlaw Scholar, which will allow him to pursue research related to capital investment in Black communities.

“Choosing this program was a deliberate decision to prioritize my growth in settings that not only challenge but also expand my understanding of the world around me,” said Cole. “This opportunity allows me to engage with a talented group of thought leaders and change-makers, deepening my insights into how various fields intersect and influence societal progress.”

Read the full story here: https://college.georgetown.edu/news-story/evan-cole/

05/31/2024

We can’t believe it’s been almost two weeks since the Class of 2024 graduated. We miss them already!

05/20/2024

POV: You got the best angle at Commencement!

05/18/2024

The Most Reverend Evelio Menjívar-Ayala, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington, delivered the commencement address to the Georgetown University College of Arts & Sciences Class of 2024. As commencement speaker, Menjívar received an honorary degree from the university.

“You can make a real positive difference because you are very talented young people and you have received the gift of a lifetime – a great education. You have what it takes to help bring about a world of truth, justice, solidarity, and peace. When all is said and done, that is the measure of true success, and I urge you to never accept less.”

The College of Arts & Sciences celebrated 851 total graduates, with 662 earning a Bachelor of Arts degree and 179 earning a Bachelor of Science degree.

Read more highlights of Bishop Menjívar’s speech here: https://college.georgetown.edu/news-story/menjivar-commencement/

05/18/2024

Incoming: Many photos from the big day! Congratulations, Class of 2024! Drop a 💙 for your CAS Hoyas!

05/18/2024

The Georgetown University College of Arts & Sciences gathered in historic Gaston Hall to honor exceptional graduating seniors and outstanding faculty members at the 105th annual Tropaia Exercises.

The awards ceremony, which takes its name from the ancient Greek word for trophy, honors graduating seniors for their outstanding accomplishments, both within and outside of the classroom.

This year, Joshua Gavsie (C’24) was awarded the Coakley Medal, Renée Clark (C’24) the Kraft Medal, Mike Whittington (C’24) the Louis McCahill Award and Naomi Greenberg (C’24) the Spronck Medal. Connor Hartigan (C’24) delivered the Cohonguroton Address. Amy Leonard received the Bunn Award for Faculty Excellence and addressed the graduating class.

Read the full story here: https://college.georgetown.edu/news-story/tropaia-24/

05/17/2024

When Sabrina Pérez (C’24) graduates from Georgetown in May, she’ll no longer be the first person in her family to graduate from college. Her mom did two weeks earlier.

For the past four years, the mother and daughter have experienced college together, 14 hours apart. As Sabrina studied English on the Hilltop, her mother, Samara Pérez, took classes in social work at a university in Fort Myers, Florida.

“We really were first-gen students together and were able to help guide each other through this journey and talk through the classic college struggles,” Perez said. “I was like, I can’t say my mom doesn’t get it because truly my mom is getting it. She’s living it.”

Read here for The Pérez’s full story and conversation: https://www.georgetown.edu/news/feature-georgetown-mothers-day-commencement/

05/15/2024

Anna Douglas (C’24), an accomplished artist, equestrian and neuroscience researcher, has spent her time at Georgetown exploring the connections between art, neuroscience and therapy. With graduation just around the corner, she’s thankful for the space and time over the past four years to explore the ways her disparate interests overlap and complement one another.

“Georgetown’s liberal arts education encouraged interdisciplinary action in whatever way I found fit. There were many moments when I felt like my arts education at Georgetown supported my neurobiology pursuits, whether that was tackling a lab issue from a new angle or creating out-of-the-box graphics for papers,” said Douglas, a neurobiology major and fine arts minor.

Read the full story here: https://college.georgetown.edu/news-story/anna-douglas/

05/14/2024

You’re as likely to find Akil Cole (C’24) teaching his peers how to plant seeds and w**d a garden as you are to stumble upon him in the podcast studio, where he interviews the people fighting global climate catastrophe at the local level.

Throughout the last four years, Cole has studied community-based, restorative agriculture efforts and believes that they’re a tangible way for regular people to change the world.

“I want people to understand that land is something that’s more than just an asset to buy — it’s not a dead thing on a balance sheet, it’s teeming with life and deeply connected to everyone,” said Cole.

Read here for the full story: https://college.georgetown.edu/news-story/akil-cole/

05/13/2024

“Just being at Georgetown has afforded me the ability to be so close to the institutions that I cover,” Gabe Fleisher (C’24) said. “To be able to race over to the White House or the Capitol on the same day that I’m taking a class.”

As the founder of the daily Wake Up To Politics (WUTP) newsletter, he commands a readership of tens of thousands, including key policymakers, journalists and, evidently, the second gentleman. Today, he’s also just a 22-year-old senior at Georgetown ready to graduate.

Read more about Fleisher’s story here: https://www.georgetown.edu/news/feature-gabe-fleisher-commencement-2024/