Elliott SOTS Report

Dear Members of the Elliott School Community,

The report before you highlights numerous accomplishments among our Elliott School community members during our previous academic year. The 2025-26 academic year brought with it some important developments at the George Washington University as began the first steps toward implementing the new GW-wide strategic framework. The Elliott School’s work resonates deeply with these developments, such as an emphasis on interdisciplinary research, strengthening connections between academic and career advising for our students, and strengthening experiential learning through more robust “DC experiences” to build our students’ skills. Our university’s revised mission statement now emphasizes a global outlook, civic-minded community, and orientation toward lasting impact in our communities and around the world. At the Elliott School, we approach our international affairs education and research missions augmented by our mission to engage policy communities in the United States and around the world.

We are so proud of our students and some particularly noteworthy accomplishments during the past academic year. In September 2025, Amanda Valenzuela and Eve Danishevsky received the exciting new two-year Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship, a special public service-focused scholarship that supports student travel to learn about cultures, and mentor support. At the end of November, recent alumnus Andy Tomusiak BA‘24, was named a 2026 Rhodes Scholar. He is now at Oxford pursuing a master’s in public policy and an M.Sc. in global governance and diplomacy. In April 2026, senior Bryson Handy (then a junior) was named a Truman Scholar, one of the most prestigious honors for public service-minded students. Thirty-four  undergraduates were inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society as we moved to the close of the academic year. Each of these honors shows the talent and seriousness of our next generation, and they continue to inspire us.

Our faculty had a wonderful year in scholarship, with six books published by tremendous academic presses demonstrating the high calibre of our scholarship, and distinctive recognitions such as the Office of the Vice Provost for Research Distinguished Career award to Michael Barnett; the Writing in the Disciplines Distinguished Teaching Awards to Alexa Alice Joubin and to Shirley Graham; and Shaista Ehsan Khilji, Human and Organizational Learning & International Affairs who received the Trachtenberg prize for service.

It is a privilege to be part of this accomplished, impact-focused community. As we look ahead to our next academic year, the past year of achievements will serve us well. Raise High! 

Best Regards,

Alyssa Ayres 
Dean, Elliott School of International Affairs