On Friday, January 19, the Presidential Fellowship program re-grouped for its annual spring training. We began the day with a breakfast discussion with an academic leadership panel featuring David Dolling, dean of the School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, Lynn Goldman, dean of the Milken Institute School of Public Health, and Vivek Choudhury, interim Dean of the School of Business. Their expertise and experience shined in their reflections on fellows’ questions regarding GW’s direction, problem solving, and their respective schools.
The day continued with combined professional development sessions on dealing with ambiguity and problem solving, led by first-year fellows Helen-Christy Powell, Emily Somberg, and second-year fellow Marisa Cordon. The sessions led all fellows and members of the Advising Team on a series of problem-solving exercises testing fellows’ abilities to exercise creativity in solving them.
Professional development continued with a presentation on valuing differences, led by first-year fellow, Ian Tang, and second-year fellow, Grace Mausser. Their session emphasized the importance of valuing differences through an exercise involving the selection of humanity’s final eight individuals on a trip to colonize Mars during a fictional apocalyptic scenario on Earth.
The day moved on an opportunity with connect and catch up with Preceptors during lunch, led by first-year fellow Helen-Christy Powell. Fellows and Preceptors were provided a series of get-to-know-you questions, with the one involving what one would build out of materials in the room generating a lot of discussion.
We extend our gratitude to Preceptors in attendance, for both their participation and also for their continued support and opportunity they provide to fellows throughout the academic year.
Fellows then learned the intricacies of budgeting and saving by financial experts at Wells Fargo.
They then received a concise summary of findings from Program Director, Dr. Robert Snyder’s doctoral dissertation on how student leaders can work with institutional leaders to achieve their goals and agendas. Robert’s research can be accessed here. His presentation also marked the first on a series of academic presentations this semester by members of the Advising Team.
The day then transitioned to bittersweet remarks by Advising Team member, Dr. Peter Konwerski, on his transition from GW and with reflections on his decades-long tenure with the Presidential Fellowship. The program is immensely grateful for his contributions, and will greatly miss his advising and perspective.
To continue the day’s emphasis on situating fellows for success for the spring semester, Lenore Webb, associate director of the Center for Career Services, returned to provide a thorough workshop on building a successful resume.
Presidential Fellowship alumni, Darrin Kayser, CCAS BA ‘98, GSPM MA ‘00, Samantha Byrd, CCAS BA ‘99, ESIA MA ‘01, and Meredith (Waters) Barnes, SPH BS ‘13 MHSA ‘15 concluded training with their perspectives and advice on how to communicate the Presidential Fellowship experience on resumes and during interviews. We extend them a big thank you for their participation and perspective.
Our panelists joined fellows and members of the Advising Team during an alumni reception graciously hosted by President and Mrs. LeBlanc at the F Street House. President LeBlanc had also hosted fellows earlier that week during a lunch (link paf article) covered by The Washington Post for an article on President LeBlanc’s transition to GW. We are thankful to President LeBlanc for his continued support of and involvement with the Presidential Fellowship program.
