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STATE OF THE SCHOOL
ELLIOTT SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT
HIGHLIGHTS OF EXCELLENCE 2023-2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
Dear Members of the Elliott School Community,
During the prior academic year, we celebrated 125 years of teaching international affairs at the George Washington University, from the 1898 creation of the School of Comparative Jurisprudence and Diplomacy through the institution we know today as the Elliott School of International Affairs. Our commemorative gala reception in April 2024, headlined by GW President Ellen M. Granberg, brought together distinguished alumni, faculty, staff, current students, and others in an evening that reminded us of our special strengths in research, teaching, and policy impact. Elliott School Board of Advisors Co-Chairs Marshall Parke and Jenna Segal, followed by former Deputy Secretary General of NATO Rose Gottemoeller, highlighted how their early preparation in international affairs paved the way for their own unique career pathways, and their great successes.
Hearing their stories of impact inflected by an Elliott School preparation served as a wonderful reminder of this school’s distinctive, practical excellence, something that we prize. We were also thrilled to learn in April 2024, that the Elliott School was the recipient of two awards from the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA): one for innovation, for our new data analytics for policy professionals offering, and one for inclusion. Notably, this marked the first time a single school received two APSIA awards in the same year. We couldn’t be more proud of our faculty and their intellectual leadership.
I am pleased to share that, according to Foreign Policy's 2024 rankings of schools of international relations, GW has once again ranked in the top ten for both undergraduate and graduate programs. This recognition among faculty, policymakers, and think tank professionals is a significant achievement, especially in the increasingly competitive landscape of international affairs education.
As you can read here, Elliott School community members see our charge as one of engagement, of making a difference. We roll up our sleeves, and get to work on the most important international affairs issues affecting our world. This State of the School report provides a snapshot of our accomplishments and initiatives during the previous academic year—and we’re off to a great start on our next century of impact.
Best Regards,
Alyssa Ayres
Dean, Elliott School of International Affairs
GALA WRAPS UP 125 YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS EDUCATION AT THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
ACADEMICS AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
RECENT ELLIOTT STUDENT INTERNSHIP LOCATIONS
EMPLOYMENT BY SECTOR
The graduate employment by sector data is derived from the 91% of graduates who reported being employed in 2023. This data was collected at various intervals post-graduation, and ongoing through December 2023, in alignment with APSIA reporting standards.
Graduate Employment by Sector
Class of 2023
FACULTY RESEARCH AND RECOGNITION
Elliott School faculty made significant scholarly contributions through the publication of a variety of single-author books, edited volumes, scholarly articles, and policy-focused publications during the academic year 2023-2024. These works covered diverse topics such as independent media in Malaysia; the establishment of a semi-autonomous region in northeast Syria; the first-ever scholarly edition and English translation of The Tarikh-i Ḥamidi: A Late-Qing Uyghur History; and the Oxford Handbook on Illiberalism, to illustrate the breadth of our expertise. Furthermore, the faculty's research output included over 70 articles and chapters, in leading academic outlets like the Journal of Strategic Studies and the American Political Science Review, as well as in publications that engage the policy community, like Foreign Affairs and War on the Rocks.
FACULTY HONORS & AWARDS
FACULTY BOOKS & PUBLICATIONS
INSTITUTES AND INITIATIVES
ELLIOTT SCHOOL RESEARCH INSTITUTES
CONVENING POWER - EVENTS AT ELLIOTT
ADVANCING EXCELLENCE AT ELLIOTT
Scholarships Provides Opportunities
Fellowships like the Elliott Equity Fund and I/WE scholarships and fellowships can transform opportunities for students.
The International Women of Elliott (I/WE) supports scholarships and fellowships for students of all genders. The awards also inspire future leaders through mentorship and help in launching their careers. I/WE Executive Circle Board Member Ambassador Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley BA ’80, notes that “I/WE's mission to support undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships and diversity in I/WE membership and programs is 'mission critical' in helping to attract the best and brightest students to Elliott who will be future leaders in business, public policy, government, and international affairs.”
Alumni of the Elliott School of International Affairs make their mark on the world as trailblazers, leaders, and innovators. Yet too many aspiring future leaders face financial challenges that stand in the way of success. GW was founded to build futures and open doors—for our nation and for the next generation of leaders. The Elliott Equity Fund was established to increase access to the transformative power of a GW Elliott education.
Yuval Cohen, MA '25
"The Elliott Equity Fund Award is going to help me immensely. As a first generation student who is ineligible for federal aid, I have struggled a lot financially. This award is going to help me be able to focus more on my education and worry a little bit less. Balancing work and school can be challenging enough, and worrying about my finances only adds to the pile. This award alleviates a huge part of that and allows me to have more peace of mind in order to further my academic and career goals. I am very very grateful for this award."
Oscar Rios, BA '23, MA '25
"The generous support provided by the Equity Fund award here at Elliott not only eases my financial burden and stress of getting my graduate school tuition payment in on time, but also demonstrates a steadfast commitment to supporting diversity, inclusion, and equity for all, which has become an important aspect of my work outside of Elliott as a budding scholar focused on Latin American issues.
With this award, I can focus more on making the most of all the opportunities for professional and personal growth the Elliott School and the GW community offers to its students, whether through networking opportunities at events, working with a group conducting impactful research through my Capstone course, or joining organizations that connect like-minded students together. Knowing that the Elliott School, and GW at-large, believes in my and other students’ success and commitment to strive for excellence and contribute meaningfully to our respective fields is the reason why I continue to get up in the morning and continue the work that I do, regardless of the barriers I may face."
May Shine, MA '25
"Receiving the Elliott Equity Fund Award from the Elliott School is such a tremendous help. The scholarship's financial support is instrumental in easing the financial burden associated with my education, allowing me to devote more time and energy to my studies. The award also gives me confidence that I can achieve my goals through higher education."
Liz Bender, MA '25
"As a young woman about to enter the field of international security, I am committed to promoting diversity and inclusion at all levels of society. Women’s empowerment is not just about advancing the role of women, it is about advancing a peaceful and just society for all individuals. The IWE fellowship will support my efforts to foster the visibility and connectivity of women's leadership inside and outside the classroom. I look forward to joining the IWE community and working collectively to dismantle barriers to diversity and inclusion in furtherance of a more equitable field."
Grace Fyfe, BA '26
"I plan to use the International Women of Elliott Tuition Fellowship money to fund my research on technology-facilitated gender-based political violence against women (TFGBPVAW) in Mexico's upcoming election cycle. Through the Dean's Scholars program, I plan to interview and workshop with female politicians and activists to map the impacts and causes of this pressing issue. Observing this phenomenon and better understanding its consequences are the first steps necessary to solidify women's genuine political participation worldwide, something I will work towards throughout my career."
Danielle Whyte, BA '25
"Receiving an International Women of Elliott Tuition Fellowship affirms that I am a part of a supportive community committed to ensuring my success. In my journey to complete my academic and career goals, guided by my mission to create a more just and equitable world for all marginalized identities, this award reminds me that I am supported by a community of incredible women in the Elliott School who are confident in my abilities; so confident that they have taken action to lessen my financial burden so that I can take advantage of the opportunities around me and flourish without worrying about the cost. Embodying true leadership, it is clear that International Women of Elliott community members are dedicated to uplifting young professionals. In the shared pursuit of shooting for the stars, this community works collaboratively to move any obstacles in the way."
ALUMNI AND PHILANTHROPY
THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF OUR STORY
This year we raised nearly one million dollars for scholarships at the Elliott School. And, with your help, we exceeded our goals for GW Giving Day in April 2024, raising more than $180,000 from 186 donors like you.
Please continue to help us shape tomorrow’s leaders with your contribution of any size. Give to GW’s Elliott School and support who we are now—and all that we will become.
STATE OF THE SCHOOL 2024
EXPLORE MORE
Programs of Study at the Elliott School
Undergraduate Degrees
B.A. in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies
Minor in International Affairs
Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degrees
Master’s Degree Programs
International Development Studies
International Science and Technology Policy
Latin American and Hemispheric Studies
Joint and Dual Degree Programs
M.A. & M.B.A, Joint Master of Arts and Master of Business Administration
M.A. & J.D., Joint Master of Arts and Juris Doctor
Graduate Certificate Programs
International Science and Technology Policy
Joint and Dual Degree Programs
Short-Term Abroad Programs (STAPs)
US Foreign Policy Summer Program
Executive Education and Training
National Security Studies Program
Data Analytics for Policy Professionals
FAO Regional Skill Sustainment Initiative
Online Programs
Security Policy Studies (SPS) Online Program of Study
Master of International Policy and Practice (MIPP) Online Program of Study