The George Washington University welcomed a new president and a new freshman class this semester, while upheaval marked the news cycle. Below, George Washington Today looks back at some of the semester’s most popular stories.
- LeBlanc Marks First Day as President
Several of the semester’s biggest stories focused on the arrival of GW’s new university president, Thomas J. LeBlanc (pronounced “LeBlanh”). Dr. LeBlanc and his wife, Anne LeBlanc, got to know their new community over the course of the semester, culminating in a daylong inauguration celebration. - GW Monitoring DACA Change, Offering Students Support
The GW community kept up with a frenetic news cycle this semester, responding not only to developments in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, but also to violence by white supremacists in Charlottesville, Va., and to changes in Title IX guidance issued by the Department of Education. - GW Welcomes New Students on Move-In Day
The class of 2021 arrived on campus in August for traditional welcome week activities. - How I Got the Job: Aisha Azimi Aims to Make Global Impact
Job-seekers weren’t the only readers inspired by this story of a GW senior focused on amplifying the voices of female Afghan and Afghan-American writers. - Interview: King Crimson Continues Reign at Lisner Saturday and Sunday
The lead singer and guitarist of one of the most influential and prolific bands in prog-rock history spoke to GW Today during the iconic group’s two-night stand at Lisner Auditorium in October. Lisner’s and GW’s arts lineup for the fall also included actor Alec Baldwin and the “Scraps” exhibition at the George Washington University and The Textile Museum. - Vice Provost and Dean of Student Affairs to Step Down
It was a semester of change for top positions in the GW administration. Dr. Leblanc announced his own staff appointments, while 25- year university veteran Peter Konwerski intends to move on at the end of the spring 2018 semester. The university’s new vice president for development and alumni relations and new chief spokesperson also came on board. - Autism Research Targets Transition to Young Adulthood
A GW-based research project on autism spectrum disorder in youths received a five-year, $11.7 million NIH grant this semester. Readers also flocked to the research stories of Columbian College of Arts and Sciences Professor Arnaud Martin, who uses gene editing to unveil butterfly diversity, and of School of Engineering and Applied Science researcher Matthew Lumb, who has helped develop solar cell technology that could become the world’s most efficient. - Wendy Helgemo Appointed Director of Center for Indigenous Politics and Policy
A former senior advisor on Indian affairs to Sen. Harry Reid, Ms. Helgemo now leads the AT&T-funded center for research and advocacy. Other new GW appointees to attract attention on GW Today were the new School of Media and Public Affairs fellows, who include longtime White House journalist April Ryan and U.S. Rep. Brendan F. Boyle (D-Pa.). - GW Receives $4.1 Million Grant to Support Diverse Doctoral Students
The Milken Institute School of Public Health received this major grant to support the Health Policy Research Scholars Program, which assists doctoral students from communities that are traditionally underrepresented in doctoral programs and policy development due to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and other factors. - Kellyanne Conway: I ‘Say a Prayer’ for Critics
President Donald Trump’s campaign manager spoke to a group of young conservatives about her experience working in the White House. She wasn’t the only Trump administration official to visit: campaign manager Corey Lewandowski also discussed Mr. Trump as both candidate and president, while White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders participated in a GW forum with reporters.