The group of more than 320,000 GW alumni worldwide is saying “hello” to new leadership and “goodbye” to an old name.
GW Alumni is the new name for the GW Alumni Association, a move designed to reflect a streamlined identity that reinforces a simple idea: If you graduated from GW, you’re part of the community.
“This is about clarity, inclusivity and strengthening ties,” said Madeleine Jacobs, B.S. ’68, HON ’03. Jacobs is the newly appointed chair of the GW Alumni Council, formerly known as the GW Alumni Association Executive Committee. “We’ve never charged dues, so the term ‘association’ didn’t quite fit. The new name better reflects what we are: a unified community of alumni who share common experiences and a commitment to GW.”
Jacobs said the change aligns with national trends, as many universities move away from dues-based models toward broader, more accessible approaches to building alumni relationships.
“It’s a more welcoming term,” she said. “We want every graduate to know they belong here from day one.”
David L. Unruh, GW’s new vice president for university advancement, echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that the rebrand is more than just a name change; it’s a renewed vision for the future.
“This is about building a culture of lifelong involvement,” Unruh said. “We want every graduate to feel seen, valued and part of something bigger. GW Alumni reflects that mindset. It’s a commitment to shared purpose and pride that endures well beyond commencement.”
Jacobs is a model of what that lifelong alumni relationship can be. A proud D.C. native who attended GW on a full scholarship, she credits the university with launching her 50-year career in science and leadership. As a chemistry major and later a longtime GW trustee, she built a path that led to top roles, including CEO of the American Chemical Society and editor-in-chief of Chemical & Engineering News.
Today, she pays it forward through an endowed scholarship, the Madeleine Reines Jacobs Undergraduate Fund in Chemistry, and an annual dinner she hosts for student recipients.
“We all have something to offer,” Jacobs said. “And when we come together, when we connect and care and contribute, we make this university stronger, and we build something that lasts.”
That spirit will guide the work of the newly appointed GW Alumni Council, a group of dedicated volunteers committed to cultivating alumni pride and advancing the university’s mission.
Here’s a look at the new GW Alumni Council members:
Joseph Alicata, M.P.S. ’19, is the senior policy analyst for government affairs and regulatory strategy at Bloomberg LP. In addition, he serves as the Americas AI policy lead and the regional lead for Latin America. His policy portfolio also includes market structure, bank capital rules, employment law, record keeping, and state and local policy. Alicata joined Bloomberg in October 2021 after serving in the administration of former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, where he developed and oversaw an extensive research and vetting operation in the Executive Office at the New York State Department of Financial Services. Alicata earned his bachelor’s degree in public policy at the University at Albany, State University of New York, and holds a master’s degree in political management from GW.
Sabrina Ashjian, B.B.A. ’01, consults in the legal, legislative and regulatory space internationally, nationally and locally with clients ranging from investment firms to nonprofit organizations. She has taught in environmental law and legislation clinics at UCLA and the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to academia, she advanced animal welfare legislation as California state director of the Humane Society of the United States. Ashjian has been appointed by two governors to serve California: first by Gov. Jerry Brown to the Cannabis Control Appeals Panel and most recently by Gov. Gavin Newsom to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. She is chair of the American Red Cross Pacific Coast Region and president of California Women Lead. Ashjian is admitted to practice law in California, New York and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Asha Aravindakshan, B.B.A. ’02, serves as the chief operating officer for GlobalGiving. Previously, she streamlined business operations to maximize accountability, growth and strategic alignment for public and private stakeholders. She is also the bestselling author of “Skills: The Common Denominator,” a book that explores the essential skills for the 21st century. Aravindakshan serves on the MIT Sloan Club of New York, Alumni Leadership Council for Forté and as a venture partner for Verve Ventures. She has presented at conferences in the Americas and is the recipient of awards on digital transformation and the future of work. Aravindakshan studied business at GW and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Mollie Bowman, B.A. ’16, M.A. ’17, is the managing director of Living Links, a national organization to empower descendants of Holocaust survivors to share their grandparents’ stories. Prior to Living Links, Bowman was the chief of staff and director of external affairs for More Perfect, a coalition of presidential foundations, leaders across industries and more than 100 nonprofit organizations dedicated to securing America's democratic future. She previously worked on racial equity initiatives at Deloitte, as well as at POLITICO, Hillary for America and the Obama White House. Outside of work, Bowman engages with several nonprofits committed to issues near to her heart.
Seung Chung, M.S. ’95, is the co-founder and CEO of Cashmere Agency and leads new business development, operations and financial planning. Under his direction, Cashmere has grown into an award-winning agency with business wins of Google, BMW, Kraft Heinz, Activision, Taco Bell, Adidas, Marriott, Disney, Netflix and other brands. He led the successful acquisition of S4 Capital and oversaw the integration with the network of agencies. Previously, Chung worked at NextLinx Corporation and Ernst & Young LLP. He holds an M.S. in information technology from GW and a B.S. in finance from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He enjoys Korean BBQ, playing golf, traveling the world and snowboarding with his three kids.
Prasun Desai, M.S. ’90, is a senior executive with 35 years of expertise in the civil/military aerospace and intelligence sectors, driving transformation, technology innovation and program execution. Prior to his current role, he spent 20 years at NASA Langley Research Center as a senior systems engineer, leading the design and development of spacecraft systems, systems optimization, atmospheric flight dynamics, and flight operations of spacecraft mission elements for robotic and human systems. He holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Rutgers University, an M.S. in astronautics from GW and a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the University of Illinois. He has authored more than 60 technical publications.
Sonni Holland, B.A. ’93, is the president and chief executive officer of the Charles Hayden Foundation, a private foundation dedicated to supporting youth development in New York City and Boston. Appointed in January 2024, Holland leads the foundation’s strategic direction and oversees its annual grantmaking portfolio of approximately $17 million. A graduate of GW with a B.A. in political science, he was a four-year starter and three-year captain of the men’s basketball team and led GW to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in more than three decades. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and is the proud father of two daughters.
Madeleine Jacobs, B.S. ’68, HON ’03, was executive director and CEO of the American Chemical Society from 2004 to 2015, having earlier served 13 years as assistant editor, managing editor and editor-in-chief of ACS’s weekly newsmagazine, Chemical & Engineering News. After retiring from ACS, she served as president of the Council of Scientific Society Presidents and of her own consulting firm, Strategic Science. Her 21-year career in the federal government includes 14 years at the Smithsonian Institution and stints at the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. She earned a bachelor’s of science in chemistry and an honorary doctor of science from GW, and served on the Board of Trustees from 2012 to 2024.
Christopher "Rusty" Mills, M.B.A. ’93, is a distinguished global sales executive with a robust background in managed services and security. His expertise lies in driving revenue growth and pioneering new business ventures, particularly within managed services, managed security services and unified communications as a service. Mills’s leadership is marked by his ability to foster high-performing teams, develop compelling business strategies and execute decisions that ensure mutual success. His proficiency in performance management, employee development and change management is underscored by his adeptness in value selling and implementing key performance indicators and management control systems.
Seung Oh, B.S. ’00, is a dedicated solutions-focused leader with more than 20 years of achievements in enterprise software sales, partnerships and alliances, account management and business development. Oh grew up in Hawaii and lives in Seattle, where he works for Amazon in business development. Prior to that, he worked in the wireless telecommunications industry in sales. Oh graduated from GW in 2000 with a degree in electrical engineering. For fun, he enjoys traveling with his wife and discovering new cuisines.
Sharmishta Sivaramakrishnan, B.A. ’16, a Singaporean development economist, leads global operations for more than 35 countries at the Clinton Health Access Initiative. She previously worked at EY-Parthenon, the government of Singapore and global organizations, including the United Nations and World Economic Forum. She also serves as a board member of Caring for Cambodia, chair of GW's Singapore Alumni chapter and president of the Singapore American School Alumni City Club. She holds undergraduate and master’s degrees from GW and the Graduate Institute, Geneva.
April M. Taylor, B.S. ’02, is the vice president of operations and chief operating officer for The Johns Hopkins Hospital, a 1,100-bed academic medical center with more than 11,000 staff members. As COO, Taylor works closely with physicians and administrative leaders to drive operational excellence, helping to ensure that patient care at The Johns Hopkins Hospital is safe, accessible and of the highest quality. Taylor is president-elect for the National Association for Healthcare Quality and serves on the board of directors for Humanim, a Maryland nonprofit human-services organization.
