Alumni Spotlight

Honors alumni go on to work and study all over the world, with promising careers in a wide range of disciplines. If you are a current or prospective student, you will be able to find in our Alumni Spotlights a variety of different potential life and career paths connected to your course of study.

If you are a member of our alumni community, you may find friends or potential professional connections among this list. Should you want to be added to the list yourself, please contact us at [email protected].

Graduates in Business & Economics

Alexander Carre

BA ‘17, Economics & International Affairs

Alexander Carre is currently a federal consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton, specializing in the strategic communications, risk management, and process governance. Currently, he works directly with civil federal clients in the Finance and Economic Development field to hone their organizational operations and strategy at the portfolio level.

 

Christina Cottiero

BA ‘15, International Affairs; BS ‘15, Economics

Christina Cottiero started her PhD in the political science department at UC San Diego after finishing at GWU, concentrating in international relations and comparative politics. She is now a fourth year PhD Candidate working to complete her dissertation, which is a book project on the strategic use of African regional integration organizations by African political elites.

 

Emilia Totzeva

BBA ‘15, Marketing

Emilia is currently a User Experience (UX) Strategist at a web development agency in Washington, DC. She assists clients in making sure their websites are easy-to-use and accessible to everyone. Previously, she worked at a digital marketing agency where she led website projects and executed digital marketing campaigns for dozens of nonprofit, for-profit, and e-commerce clients.

 

Grace Warrick

BA ‘11, International Affairs & International Economics

Grace started at Charles Schwab in San Francisco five years ago as an entry-level client service and operations professional. She also worked three years in Investor Relations and two years as Chief of Staff to the head of institutional business, Charles Schwab Advisor Services. Before working at Schwab, she worked for UNIQLO, an Asian retail giant that's been in the midst of global expansion for several years now.

 

Maggie Wedeman

BA ‘16, International Relations, Chinese Language & Literature

Maggie is the director of federal government affairs at the Partnerships for New York City. In this role, Maggie helps build strong relationships between the city’s business leaders and representatives in Washington, and she advocates for federal policies that improve the city and promote economic growth. Previously, Maggie was a fellow at the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, where she developed programs to promote strategic, bilateral engagement, particularly targeting young professionals. 

Graduates in the Humanities

 

Taylor Asen

BBA ‘15, Marketing

Taylor Asen graduated from the Honors Program is 2006.  He received an M.A. in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia University in 2007, and a J.D. from Yale Law School in 2012. He is a founding partner of Gideon Asen, LLC, a law firm in Maine. Read more about the law firm at www.gideonasen.com

 

 

Colleen Fisher Simmons

BA ‘08, Political Science & Spanish, MA ‘10, International Trade & Investment

Colleen is the Pacific South Regional Director at the U.S. Department of Commerce. As one of eight Regional Directors, reporting to Washington DC, she leads a field-based team of client-focused trade professionals with deep experience working for U.S. exporters to resolve barriers to market entry and identify new opportunities to grow U.S. export sales. The Pacific South region is part of the International Trade Administration's U.S. Commercial Service global network of over 100 offices in the United States and more than 150 offices in U.S. embassies and consulates throughout the world.

 

 

Jacob Garber

BA ‘14, English & Creative Writing

Jacob is the Digital Media Director at Priorities USA. He is the former Deputy Director of Paid Media for Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign.

 

 

Emma Geller

BA ‘15, Art History

Emma Geller is an arts writer and researcher, currently pursuing a PhD in History, Theory and Criticism of Architecture and Art and The Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her research on the long nineteenth century centers around encounters between the Ottoman Empire, Europe and the United States, particularly in relation to cross-cultural networks of artists, art dealers and art collectors, and histories and theories of collecting and exhibiting Islamic art.

 

 

Naomi Naik

MPH, '19; BS ‘17, Biology; BA ‘17, English 

Naomi has nine years of experience working in public health, communications, and digital content strategy. Naomi is a recent graduate of the Masters of Public Health program at the George Washington University (GWU) Milken Institute of Public Health and manages digital and editorial strategy for Girl Up at the United Nations Foundation.

 

 

Maggie Wedeman

BA ‘16, International Relations, Chinese Language & Literature

Maggie is the director of federal government affairs at the Partnerships for New York City. In this role, Maggie helps build strong relationships between the city’s business leaders and representatives in Washington, and she advocates for federal policies that improve the city and promote economic growth. Previously, Maggie was a fellow at the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, where she developed programs to promote strategic, bilateral engagement, particularly targeting young professionals. 

Graduates in International Affairs

 

 

Alexander Carre

BA ‘17, Economics & International Affairs

Alexander Carre is currently a federal consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton, specializing in the strategic communications, risk management, and process governance. Currently, he works directly with civil federal clients in the Finance and Economic Development field to hone their organizational operations and strategy at the portfolio level.

 

 

Christina Cottiero

BA ‘15, International Affairs; BS ‘15, Economics

Christina Cottiero started her PhD in the political science department at UC San Diego after finishing at GWU, concentrating in international relations and comparative politics. She is now a fourth year PhD Candidate working to complete her dissertation, which is a book project on the strategic use of African regional integration organizations by African political elites.

 

 

Colleen Fisher Simmons

BA ‘08, Political Science & Spanish, MA ‘10, International Trade & Investment

Colleen is the Pacific South Regional Director at the U.S. Department of Commerce. As one of eight Regional Directors, reporting to Washington DC, she leads a field-based team of client-focused trade professionals with deep experience working for U.S. exporters to resolve barriers to market entry and identify new opportunities to grow U.S. export sales. The Pacific South region is part of the International Trade Administration's U.S. Commercial Service global network of over 100 offices in the United States and more than 150 offices in U.S. embassies and consulates throughout the world.

 

 

Kerry Lanzo

BA ‘15, International Affairs & History

Kerry began her career in international security after graduating in '15 with a B.A. in International Affairs and History and with experience interning for the federal government, think tanks, and consulting agencies. She served as a consultant for the Department of Homeland Security as an Exercises Analyst and for the Department of Commerce for the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service for three years.

 

 

Nathan Madson

BA ‘08, International Affairs

Nathan is currently a Ph.D. candidate (ABD) in Cultural Anthropology at New York University. His research on legal anthropology and queer activism in Hong Kong builds on his experience as a human rights lawyer (University of Minnesota 2011). He also founded a non-profit organization that provided legal services to the queer community in Minneapolis, worked as a legal blog writer for Thomson Reuters, and has volunteered at a number of human rights organizations.

 

 

Eva Martin

BA ‘16, International Affairs

Eva Martin is an Emergency Management Specialist at the Federal Emergency Management Agency where she supports a program that manages federal personnel mobilization. Previously, Eva worked as a Program Associate at Winrock International, and served as a Team Lead with AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA Corps. Eva graduated from George Washington University in December 2016 with a degree in international affairs (security policy concentration). While at GW, Eva interned with the government of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Winrock International.

 

 

Rebecca Remis

BA ‘12, International Affairs 

Rebecca Remis recently launched her own floral design business, Birdie's Blooms, amidst the global pandemic. She has worked in Jewish experiential education, technology, and agriculture. Since GW, she has remained passionate about sustainable agriculture and local economics which, in part, inspired her to start her business.

 

 

 

Victoria Roman

BA ‘11, International Affairs & Geography 

Victoria is a law student at the University of Maryland. In addition to balancing law school and raising an 11-month-old, she volunteers with animal rescues, works with children in the foster care system as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, and travels. She also enjoys bouldering and kayaking.

 

 

Beata Safari

BA ‘13, International Affairs 

Beata recently joined a mid-size boutique firm in NYC as an associate attorney. The firm serves as special counsel on a variety of government infrastructure projects across the country. Her work will likely focus on contract drafting and negotiation of these terms. Her first year out of law school, she clerked for a judge in an appellate court in New Jersey.

 

 

Grace Warrick

BA ‘11, International Affairs & International Economics

Grace started at Charles Schwab in San Francisco five years ago as an entry-level client service and operations professional. She also worked three years in Investor Relations and two years as Chief of Staff to the head of institutional business, Charles Schwab Advisor Services. Before working at Schwab, she worked for UNIQLO, an Asian retail giant that's been in the midst of global expansion for several years now.

 

Graduates in Journalism

 

 

Ana Cvetkovic

BA ‘15, Journalism

Ana Cvetkovic is the CEO of BLOOM Digital Marketing, a creative marketing agency that helps the hospitality and tourism industries reach millennials online. Ana has worked with national clients like the Smithsonian, AAA, Shedd Aquarium, and TouchBistro, as well as local small businesses.

 

 

Dan Stelly

BA ‘13, Journalism and Mass Communications 

Dan is currently a social media manager for Major League Soccer (MLS), focusing on daily content, game coverage, collaborations with artists, and overall content strategy. He started as an intern in 2015, and since then has had a hand in the growth of an entire league (especially its social channels) over the past four seasons. His team won Sports Business Journal’s Best in Sports Social Media for 2017, a testament to their growth, creativity, and focus on fan engagement.

 

 

Scott Looney

BA ‘16, Political Communication

Scott first worked as an associate at a government relations and communications consulting firm in DC. At the same time, he was completing his Master's in Media and Strategic Communication at SMPA and applying to law school. He completed his Master's in August of 2017 and began at Harvard Law School a few weeks later. Next summer, he’ll work as a summer associate at Weil, Gotshal & Manges in New York City.

 

Graduates in the Social Sciences (Excluding International Affairs)

 

 

Emily Deanne

BA ‘17, Environmental Studies

Emily is the Communications Assistant for the Federal Communications Team at the Natural Resources Defense Council. Her main areas of work are in protecting public lands, stopping offshore drilling, and improving energy efficiency. She liaises with experts and reporters to spread awareness about environmental issues.

 

 

Jacqueline Drayer

BA, '15; MA, '18, American Studies/Historic Preservation

Jacqueline is an architectural historian with a background in historic preservation advocacy, community engagement, resiliency planning, research, and regulatory compliance. Her work is guided by the belief that the built environment is a powerful tool for exploring history, uplifting communities, and ensuring a sustainable future.

 

 

Colleen Fisher Simmons

BA ‘08, Political Science & Spanish, MA ‘10, International Trade & Investment

Colleen is the Pacific South Regional Director at the U.S. Department of Commerce. As one of eight Regional Directors, reporting to Washington DC, she leads a field-based team of client-focused trade professionals with deep experience working for U.S. exporters to resolve barriers to market entry and identify new opportunities to grow U.S. export sales. The Pacific South region is part of the International Trade Administration's U.S. Commercial Service global network of over 100 offices in the United States and more than 150 offices in U.S. embassies and consulates throughout the world.

 

 

Emma Geller

BA ‘10, Psychology

Emma is entering her third year as an Assistant Teaching Professor in the department of psychology at UC San Diego. Before this position, she was a graduate student in cognitive psychology at UCLA, where she also worked as a teaching assistant and teaching fellow from 2011 to 2016. During that time, she was an assistant for several different classes (statistics, research methods, cognitive psychology, intro to psychology, etc.)

 

 

Victoria Roman

BA ‘11, International Affairs & Geography 

Victoria is a law student at the University of Maryland. In addition to balancing law school and raising an 11-month-old, she volunteers with animal rescues, works with children in the foster care system as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, and travels. She also enjoys bouldering and kayaking.

 

 

Shelly Sharma

BA ‘17, Psychology & Cognitive Neuroscience

Shelly worked in the Emergency Department as a clinical research assistant for two and a half years while at GW. After graduating, she worked at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as a CRA on concussion studies. Now, she is attending medical school at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine.

 

 

Bridget Smith

BA ‘17, Political Science

Bridget is currently a Teach for America Corps Member in the Appalachia Region at Floyd County Schools, Kentucky, teaching sixth grade social studies. Additionally, she was the Chief Operations Officer for the Universal Student Fund from 2015-2017. She was also the only undergraduate recipient of the George Washington Award in 2017, for her outstanding contributions to the George Washington University community.

 

 

Michael Velez

BA ‘15, Psychology & Cognitive Neuroscience 

Michael is a 2nd-year medical student at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at the Thomas Jefferson University. Most recently, he completed a Master's degree in Translational Medicine from UC Berkeley and UCSF. He obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience at the George Washington University in 2015.

 

 

Graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

 

 

Andrea Lehn

BS ‘15, Biomedical Engineering 

Andrea graduated from GWU with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering and an unintentional minor in Philosophy (thanks, UHP!) She is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the MIT.

 

 

Naomi Naik

MPH, '19; BS ‘17, Biology; BA ‘17, English 

Naomi Naik is an Associate Director on FGS Global’s Health team, bringing expertise in commercial and public health to client engagements. Before joining FGS Global, Naomi served as a Senior Communications Associate at Luminary Labs, an open innovation consultancy firm. Her focus on innovative digital strategies and risk management proved instrumental in projects for federal agencies like ARPA-H, CDC, U.S. Department of Education, HHS, and VA, as well as pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer and Roche. She previously gained public health sector experience while working at the United Nations Foundation’s Shot@Life initiative, the Pan-American World Health Organization / World Health Organization, and KIND Snacks.

 

 

Shelly Sharma

BA ‘17, Psychology & Cognitive Neuroscience

Shelly worked in the Emergency Department as a clinical research assistant for two and a half years while at GW. After graduating, she worked at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as a CRA on concussion studies. Now, she is attending medical school at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine.

 

 

Michael Velez

BA ‘15, Psychology & Cognitive Neuroscience 

Michael is a 2nd-year medical student at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at the Thomas Jefferson University. Most recently, he completed a Master's degree in Translational Medicine from UC Berkeley and UCSF. He obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience at the George Washington University in 2015.