When Vanessa Maltin first came to GW, she had dreams of becoming an astronaut.
But after being diagnosed with celiac disease, an autoimmune disease in which the lining of the small intestine is damaged from eating gluten, her plans changed.
Inspired to help others struggling with celiac disease, Ms. Maltin, B.A. ’05, became a journalism major in the School of Media and Public Affairs.
And now just five years after graduating from GW, she’s written two gluten-free cookbooks, serves as the food and lifestyle editor of Delight Magazine, a publication geared toward people with food allergies, celiac disease and other medical conditions relating to food, and sits on the Advisory Board of the Celiac Disease Program at Children’s National Medical Center.
“Instead of treating this as a life-limiting diagnosis, she took this as an opportunity to help others. She’s dedicated her life now to increasing awareness of the disease and teaching patients to live their lives as easily as they can and to eat as good food as they can,” said Peg Barratt, dean of the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. “She’s really a pioneer and a leader in the celiac and gluten-free communities.”
Ms. Maltin was one of seven alumni recognized last week at the 74th annual Alumni Achievement Awards dinner held Sept. 30. The Alumni Achievement Award is the highest form of recognition given by the university to a GW graduate. The Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves through notable achievements in their professional and personal lives. The Recent Alumni Achievement Award honors GW alumni who have graduated in the last 10 years and have notable achievements.
“The award recipients have inspired others who seek to make a difference and brought distinction to themselves, their families and their communities. They have established standards of excellence in their respective fields and have profoundly affected the lives of those around them,” said President Steven Knapp during the awards dinner, which was held at the W Hotel in Washington. “These alumni embody the spirit of service and commitment to excellence found at GW, and they bring recognition to the university through their many accomplishments.”
Gregory G. Garre, J.D. ’91, and a distinguished alumni achievement award recipient, is a partner at Latham & Watkins LLP and chair of the firm’s Supreme Court and appellate practice. Mr. Garre, who was nominated as the 44th solicitor general by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2008, has argued numerous high-profile cases before the Supreme Court and the courts of appeals. He taught constitutional law and Supreme Court practice at GW’s Law School for many years.
“I feel like I have so much to be grateful for and thank the Law School for everything it gave to me in my professional and personal life,” said Mr. Garre. “I’ve had the honor of being a student, an alumnus and a professor at the school, and more than anything else, what I have found unique about GW is the sense of community and the foundation that it provided me.”
Lori B. Garver, M.A. ’89, said she’s certain she wouldn’t be the deputy administrator and second in command of NASA without GW.
“Without coming here, I wouldn’t have my degree in science technology and public policy,” she said.
Ms. Garver was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as NASA deputy administrator in 2009. She represents NASA to the Executive Office of the President, Congress, heads of government agencies, international organizations and external organizations and communities.
Other alumni honored at the Alumni Achievement Awards include:
Rose Gottemoeller, M.A. ’81, is the assistant secretary of state for verification, compliance and implementation. She was previously with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and was most recently a senior associate in the Carnegie Russia and Eurasia Program working on U.S.-Russian relations and nuclear security and stability.
Asghar Mostafa, M.S. ’82, is president, chief executive officer and chairman of the Entourage Systems Inc., a company he founded in 2008. An experienced entrepreneur, Mr. Mostafa has spent more than 25 years creating and building technology companies. ESI is the first company in the world to introduce a dual-display e-reader and Tablet netbook in one multimedia device. Mr. Mostafa is a member of the GW School of Engineering and Applied Science National Advisory Council and received GW’s Distinguished Entrepreneurial Achievement Award in 2008.
Ellen M. Zane, B.A. ’73, is president and chief executive officer of Tufts Medical Center and the Floating Hospital for Children. She’s the first woman to run the hospital in its 214-year history. Ms. Zane is also an assistant professor at Tufts University School of Medicine. Ms. Zane is a member of GW’s Board of Trustees.
Michael J. Avenatti, J.D. ’00, was selected as one of California’s Top 20 Lawyers Under 40 and recently received the Orange Country Trial Lawyer of the Year Award after obtaining a $40 million jury verdict. In 2007, Mr. Avenatti founded Eagan O’Malley & Avenatti LLP, a law firm with offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Newport Beach.