When George Washington Today talked to GW President Steven Knapp in Vancouver on the evening of Feb. 19, he was in the midst of representing GW at one of the world’s premier athletic events.
Dr. Knapp, who was experiencing his first Olympics in person, spent his first day joining GW professor Lisa Delpy Neirotti and 28 GW students in a special class on the 2010 Winter Olympics. The class, which travels to the Olympics, has taken GW business students to the past 10 Olympic Games for a unique up-close look at organizing, marketing and hosting the event.
Interacting with the students, Dr. Knapp heard their excitement about meeting members of the International Olympic Committee, athletes and heads of companies serving as corporate sponsors of the Olympics.
One student he spoke with was Gillian Coleman, who was friends as an undergraduate student with Elana Meyers, B.A. ’06, who is a member of the U.S. bobsled team. Ms. Meyers – “our GW Olympian, as we are calling her” -- gave her former classmate a tour of Olympic village, said Dr. Knapp.
Dr. Knapp was also scheduled to attend an event with students, alumni and parents on Feb. 19. Although GW’s alumni statistics “always undershoot,” Dr. Knapp said he knew of 45 alumni in the Vancouver area, and he expected at least 70 people to come to the reception.
“The purpose of these events is really to bring people together, so they can appreciate the fact that we do have a presence in all these different parts of the world,” he said, “and to encourage them to become more strongly connected with the university.”
In his travels around the globe, Dr. Knapp estimates he has met some 30,000 of the 220,000 GW alumni worldwide. GW has been revamping its alumni relations office so it can effectively follow up on those meetings and reconnect alumni to the university, he said.
The Olympics presents a unique opportunity to mix business and pleasure, and Ms. Meyers’ participation raises the university’s profile.
“To see somebody who has that connection to GW, and was able to do something extraordinary -- to transform herself in such a short time from a softball player to a bobsledder -- tells you that she has some incredible innate athletic ability as well as extraordinary drive,” said Dr. Knapp. “I think that is a source of pride for the university.”
At GW, the university community means both competitive academics and athletics.
“I think it’s important that we balance our academic excellence with things that really strengthen our community as an institution,” said Dr. Knapp. “I think athletics becomes a rallying point for community.
“When I go to a basketball game, I don’t just see faculty or students there, I see faculty, students, staff, alumni and parents. It’s the kind of event that pulls people together. I think it is a valuable part of what you need to do to build a strong university community.”