The Presidential Fellowship celebrated our own annual family reunion on Friday, October 20th during GW’s Colonials Weekend. Current Fellows, the Advising team, and dozens of alumni and guests gathered to chat, celebrate the program’s legacy, and toast to its future. We were also joined by GW’s new president, Dr. Thomas LeBlanc. This year, the Colonials Weekend Reception was held at the American Foreign Service Association. The association hosted us in their newly renovated reception room.
After an hour of mingling, the formal programming kicked off with a speech from Titi (Williams-Davies) Harley (GWSB BA ’07 MBA ’09). Titi is a shining example of an engaged alumna. Titi used her speech to comment on how GW and the Presidential Fellowship shaped her university experience and gave her skills she relies on to this day.
Titi was followed by President LeBlanc. President LeBlanc, who began his tenure in August, discussed the positive experiences he has had with the Presidential Fellows thus far. He said “though I did not think of this program, I wish I had.” The current cohort has been fortunate to get to know President LeBlanc through discussion during Summer Training and assisting in running a presidential lemonade stand at the F Street House during Fall Move-In. The fellows are also looking forward to staffing some of his inaugural events.
The reception was a chance for President LeBlanc to meet alumni fellows, as well as reconnect with the current cohort.
Overall, the Colonials Weekend Reception was a warm celebration of the program's 28-year legacy at GW. Presidential Fellows past and present mingled and discussed how the program has and will continue to shape their professional paths. Thanks to the GW Alumni Association for their co-sponsorship of the reception. For a full gallery of the festivities, please visit our Facebook page.