As an educator, choreographer and cultural ambassador, Dana Tai Soon Burgess has a unique perspective on the global impact of art. In a video conversation with Dean Ben Vinson, Burgess shares his vision of art-as-diplomacy, his new performance plans and his thoughts on the future of the arts at Columbian College. View video.

For 500 million years, the nautilus has roamed the ocean depths. It has survived asteroids and earthquakes, and outlasted the dinosaur. So why is this ancient sea creature now on “the knife-edge” of extinction? Forensic Scientist Mehdi Moini is uncovering clues to discover what is killing this living fossil—before it's too late. Read more.

Shakespeare's Sonnets are historic, revered and, to some, a bit long in the tooth. How do you rescue the classic poems from textbook obscurity? For his new book, PhD student D. Gilson asked friends, writers and his professors to remix the sonnets in a multimedia free-for-all. Read more.

“Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd and distinguished political scientist Stephen Haber, BA ’79, lead an impressive roster of new dean’s advisory board members. The luminaries and alumni joining the national councils are leaders in journalism, finance, PR and more. Read more.

“Disease detective” Lauren Epstein, BS ’03, MD ’07, is playing a central role in combatting the Ebola crisis. An infectious disease specialist with the CDC, she’s applying her biology training to monitor U.S. health care workers exposed to the deadly virus. She traveled to Dallas to investigate the first case of Ebola in the U.S. Read more.

Maida Withers, founder of a groundbreaking dance company and a GW professor for five decades, received a special recognition at the Mayor’s Arts Awards, D.C.’s highest artistic distinction. Famous for her innovative works, Wither's international tour company was hailed as the “face of dance in Washington, D.C.” Read more.

In a collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, Corcoran student photographers, videographers and designers are pulling aside the curtain of foreign affairs and showcasing the “Faces of Diplomacy”—portraits of professionals in the diplomatic service. The multi-media exhibition is part of the U.S. Diplomacy Center, the State Department’s new educational museum. Read more.

We note with regret the passing of Harden McConnell, BS ’47, a renowned chemistry professor at Stanford University and a beloved member of the GW family. An esteemed scientist, McConnell's accolades included a GW honorary degree and election to the National Academy of Science. His 1999 endowment to GW Chemistry epitomized his generosity and commitment. Read more.

Julie Elman, PhD ’09, authored the book Chronic Youth: Disability, Sexuality, and U.S. Media Cultures of Rehabilitation (New York University Press, 2014).

Michelle Frankfurter published the book Destino (FotoEvidence, 2014), a photo documentary of the Central American migration across Mexico.

Jill H. Wilson, BA ’03, wrote “Investing in English Skills: The Limited English Proficient Workforce in U.S. Metropolitan Areas” for The Brookings Institution.

Read more "In the Spotlight"

• Students Rank Trachtenberg School #3 in List of Top Public Administration Graduate Programs
• Dean Vinson Outlines Corcoran School’s Progress
• GW Students Win at Chinese Speech Competition
• On View: Pilot at Corcoran School’s Gallery 31
• Extreme Makeover: GW Hillel Edition
• Bright Ideas: A Scholar's Introduction to Interdisciplinary Research
• Alumnus Curates a New Arts Partnership
• Student Exhibition Transports GW to Streets of Brazil
• Washingtoniana Collection Energizes Scholarship
• Panetta Calls ‘Dysfunction in Washington’ Biggest Security Threat
• Lessons from Washington Post's Bob Woodward

• GW LinkedIn Virtual Networking Hour
• South Florida Celebrates Making History: The Campaign for GW (Miami, FL)
• GW Culture Buffs at The Kreeger Museum (Washington, D.C.)
• Colonials Serve: Cradles to Crayons Service Day (Boston, MA)

View full Alumni Events Calendar

• Information Sessions: Columbian College Graduate Programs
• All Study Away Exhibition
• Symposium: Monstrous Knowledge in Medieval and Early Modern Europe
• Dean's Lecture Series: Dr. Luvell Anderson
• Hybrid Moments
• Straight Talk From the Streets: Addressing Homelessness in Washington, D.C.
• National Portfolio Day

View full Columbian College Calendar