The Presidential Fellows participated in a week-long session of training, service, and a retreat to prepare for the new academic year. These activities, diligently planned by the second-year cohort and the Advising Team, served to immerse the first-year cohort into Presidential Fellowship culture and operational procedures. The week enabled the Presidential Fellows to strengthen team cohesion, level common expectations, and charter collective goals to uphold the Presidential Fellowship program’s tradition of leadership, service, and excellence.
Summer training commenced on Monday, August 14 with the Presidential Fellows orienting themselves at their placement offices. Training afforded Presidential Fellows the opportunity to improve their self-knowledge through an advanced workshop series on StrengthsFinder, delivered by Professional Development Advisor, Mae Cooper. To bolster their personal-professional development, Presidential Fellows also participated in a Q&A on finance management, and a workshop on elevator pitches and networking. Several Presidential Fellowship alumni also graciously contributed to our professional development by evaluating and providing critical feedback to Presidential Fellow elevator pitch performances. Thanks again to the following alumni for participating in the elevator pitch session: Will Alexander, SEAS BS ‘04, GWSB MBA ‘06; Alyscia Eisen, GWSB BBA ‘08 MBA ‘10; Jordan Evert, ESIA BA ‘08 MA ‘10; Josh Lasky, CCAS BA ‘07 MPA ‘09; Tim Savoy, SPH BS ‘12 MPH ‘14; and Michelle Suarez, ESIA BA ‘12 MA ‘14. Following the session, Presidential Fellows were joined by additional alumni during an Alumni Happy Hour.
The Presidential Fellows also conducted an engaging series of conversations with senior university leaders, including an informative and insightful conversation with President LeBlanc. In his first engagement with the program, the President expressed robust support and admiration for the program’s legacy. President LeBlanc also outlined his vision and priorities for strengthening the George Washington University.
Presidential Fellows completed the Harvard-developed Inherent Biases Test in preparation for a session on diversity and inclusion by GW’s Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Community Engagement, Caroline Laguerre Brown. Vice Provost Laguerre Brown’s presentation was an intriguing, well-researched discussion on inherent bias and its societal implications. It also provided useful reminders and context for Dr. Miranda Ward’s presentation on “A Tale of Two Cities” -- an in-depth analysis on Washington DC’s most pressing public policy challenges. Dr. Ward’s presentation transitioned the Presidential Fellows nicely for a morning of service the following day, as a kick-off to retreat. Each of these discussions enhanced the Presidential Fellows’ civic awareness and challenged fellows to think critically on how they might further contribute to GW and their communities.
Retreat began with a morning of service at the Capital Area Food Bank’s (CAFB) DC Warehouse, located in DC’s Brookland neighborhood. Presidential Fellows received background on the organization in a short morning presentation, learning about CAFB’s vast pipeline annually delivering food to over 400 organizations ultimately reaching over half a million residents in the DC metropolitan area. To support CAFB’s mission, Presidential Fellows and the Advising Team sorted through thousands of potatoes and prepared hundreds of meal kits for distribution to senior citizens in the DC metropolitan area. The service concluded with a reflection, where Presidential Fellows and the Advising Team commented on their service highlights and insights.
Per tradition, in mentor-mentee-Advising Team-liaison teams, fellows and the Advising Team raced to complete the pre-retreat grocery run. From there, Presidential Fellows then departed for Harpers Ferry, in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. There, fellows and the Advising Team established committees, discussed goals and committee expectations, and bonded over many delicious meals and a series of team-building activities, to include an “Iron Chef” competition, GW word games, and a mini golf competition based off of professional development competencies. Retreat concluded with a hike through Harpers Ferry, where Presidential Fellows were rewarded by a beautiful view overlooking the historic town. Reinvigorated by retreat, the Presidential Fellows returned to Foggy Bottom on Sunday to begin work at their placements and prepare for the fall semester.
