To commemorate the historic occasion of inaugurating GW’s 19th President Ellen M. Granberg, five GW alumni were recently honored with the Monumental Alumni Award – the highest form of recognition given by the university to outstanding alumni for their monumental achievements. These distinguished graduates join an esteemed group of only 73 alumni who have received this accolade to date.
To honor GW’s Bicentennial Celebration in 2021, the university proudly introduced the Monumental Alumni Award as a special recognition of GW’s living alumni who have made an impact on the world through their work and service and who embody the ideals of the university. Recipients of this award have made enduring contributions that offer inspiration and exemplify the potential of a degree from GW.
Read more about the five honorees:
Aicha Evans, B.S. ’96
Aicha Evans is a distinguished leader in engineering and technology. As CEO of autonomous mobility-as-a-service company Zoox, she is at the forefront of delivering safer, cleaner and more enjoyable transportation experience for all. In June 2020, she led the acquisition of Zoox by Amazon. Evans has decades of experience leading teams that make an impact on the world, managing thousands of engineers at high-profile companies including Intel, Rockwell Semiconductors, Conexant and Skyworks. In 2021, she was named to Forbes’ “50 Over 50.”
Read more about Evans.
Hossein Fateh, B.B.A. ’90, M.S. ’97
Hossein Fateh is a pioneer in digital infrastructure with over two decades of experience developing and operating data centers. He is one of the original developers of the new wholesale asset class of data centers and serves as a veteran in the industry who continuously helps shape the field as new data needs evolve. A multifaceted entrepreneur, Fateh has founded numerous companies that span from data and investing to real estate and renewable energy.
Read more about Fateh.
Emilio Fernandez, M.E.A. ’76
Emilio Fernandez is an accomplished inventor, holding 28 patents across various fields. One of his most notable patents defined key elements of e-reading devices and became the most cited U.S. patent at the time. While pursuing his undergraduate studies, Fernandez co-founded Pulse Electronics, a leading global provider of electronic products and digital solutions for the rail industry. He is retired vice chairman of the board of directors of Wabtec, managing director of Pulse Capital LLC, and serves on numerous corporate, philanthropic and cultural boards.
Read more about Fernandez.
Michael Regan, M.P.A. ’04
A dedicated public servant, Michael Regan has devoted his career to advocating for environmental protection. He currently serves as administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is the first Black man and second person of color to lead the agency. He previously served as secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, where he secured the largest coal ash clean-up in United States history. Throughout his career, he has been guided by a belief in forming consensus, fostering an open dialogue rooted in respect for science and the law, and an understanding that environmental protection and economic prosperity go hand in hand.
Read more about Regan.
Ellen Zane, B.A. ’73
A renowned health care leader, Ellen Zane was the first woman to run Tufts Medical Center and Tufts Children’s Hospital in its 226-year history. Prior to her work at Tufts, she held leadership positions at top hospitals including Mass General Brigham and Quincy Hospital. A respected leader, she holds multiple faculty appointments where she educates the next generation of health care professionals at Tufts University School of Medicine and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and serves as the distinguished global leader in residence at High Point University.
Read more about Zane.
