Introducing GW's Inaugural Monumental Alumni
Among their ranks are acclaimed actors, best-selling authors, journalists, politicians, diplomats, activists, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, executives, and more than one astronaut and Olympic medalist. They have served their country and humanitarian causes; championed progress in industry, research and practice; informed and entertained us—and made their alma mater proud.
As the university observes its bicentennial, we’re honoring our most outstanding alumni with the first-ever Monumental Alumni Award. The award was created by the university to recognize living alumni for their exceptional achievements to their communities, to the university and to our world. It is one of the university’s highest honors.
GW Magazine is proud to introduce the inaugural class. Cue the drum roll.
Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley
B.A. ’80
Diplomat
Elizabeth Acevedo
B.A. ’10
Award-Winning and Best-Selling Author and Poet
Amina Al-Rustamani
B.S. ’93, M.S. ’96, D.Sc. ’01
Business Executive
Anousheh Ansari
M.S. ’92
Engineer, Businesswoman, Space Explorer
Michele Anthony
B.A. ’77
Entertainment Executive
Serena Maria Auñón-Chancellor
B.S. ’97
Physician, Engineer, NASA Astronaut
Josh Balk
B.A. ’02
Nonprofit Executive, Entrepreneur
Dana Bash
B.A. ’93
Anchor, Chief Political Correspondent
Rodger Gregory Berman
B.B.A. ’90, M.B.A. ’91
Business Executive, Entrepreneur
Mary-Michael Brown
D.N.P. ’11
Nurse, Healthcare Executive
Ruth Cooper Burg
A.A. ’45, B.S. ’45, J.D. ’50
Judge, Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals
Martin Burt
M.A. ’83
Social Entrepreneur, Author,
Educator, Politician
Eric Cantor
B.A. ’85
Former United States Representative and United States House Majority Leader, Investment Banking
Nelson A. Carbonell Jr.
B.S. ’85
Engineer, Entrepreneur, Business Executive
Gilbert Ray Cisneros Jr.
B.A. ’94
Former United States Representative, Military Veteran, Education and Veterans’ Advocate, Philanthropist
Christine S. Collins
J.D. ’98
Olympic Medalist, Attorney
Tom Cortese
B.A. ’02
Entrepreneur, Business Executive
Christine M. Darden
D.Sc. ’83, Honorary Doctor of Science ’19
Mathematician, Aerospace Engineer, Member of the Senior Executive Service
Sidney Oliver Dewberry
B.S. ’51
Engineering Executive
Tammy Duckworth
M.A. ’92, Honorary Doctor of Public Service ’17
United States Senator, Military Veteran
Mary Hatwood Futrell
M.A. ’68, Ed.D. ’92, Honorary Doctor of Public Service ’84
Educator, Organization Leader
Sara Goldrick-Rab
B.A. ’98
Sociologist, Author, Nonprofit Founder, Educator
Rose Gottemoeller
M.A. ’81
Diplomat, Scholar
Joyce Hens Green
J.D. ’51, Honorary Doctor of Laws ’94
Judge, United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Frederick D. Gregory
M.S. ’77
Pilot, Military Engineer, NASA Astronaut and Administrator
Joneigh S. Khaldun
M.P.H. ’13
State Government Health Executive, Physician
Gail Lebovic
M.D. ’86
Oncoplastic Surgeon, Inventor, Entrepreneur
Hee-Beom Lee
M.B.A. ’87
Politician, Executive, Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Organizer
Mark D. Lerner
B.B.A. ’75
Real Estate Developer, Major League Baseball Owner
Theodore N. Lerner
A.A. ’48, Bachelor of Law ’50
Real Estate Developer, Major League Baseball Owner
Randy Levine
B.A. ’77
Major League Baseball Team President, Attorney
Carlos F. Lucero
J.D. ’64
Senior U.S. Circuit Judge
William P. Magee Jr.
M.D. ’72
Plastic Surgeon, Nonprofit Founder and Executive
Ellen R. Malcolm
M.B.A. ’84
Nonprofit Founder, Executive, Activist
Liz McCartney
M.A. ’06
Nonprofit Executive, Social Entrepreneur, CNN Hero of the Year
Julie A. Monaco
B.A. ’85
Finance Executive
Darla Moore
M.B.A. ’81
Investor, Philanthropist
Kenneth Paul Moritsugu
M.D. ’71
Physician, Retired Rear Admiral USPHSCC, Military Leader, Corporate Executive
Nathaniel Ryan Morris
B.A. ’03
Entrepreneur, Business Executive
Charles E. Mullins
M.D. ’58
Retired Pediatric Cardiologist, Health Care Pioneer
Lloyd Warren Newton
M.P.A. ’85
Retired United States Air Force 4-Star General, Military Leader
Alex Nyerges
B.A. ’79, M.A. ’82
Art Museum Director
Yvonne Anuli Orji
B.A. ’05, M.P.H. ’08
Actress, Author, Producer, Comedian
Peter Pace
M.S. ’72
Retired United States Marine Corps 4-Star General, Military Leader
Christopher “Chip” Paucek
B.A. ’92
Entrepreneur, Business Executive
Colin L. Powell
M.B.A. ’71, Honorary Doctor of Public Service ’90
Retired 4-Star General U.S. Army, Former U.S. Secretary of State, Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff and National Security Advisor
Michael Punke
BA ’86
Writer, Diplomat, Policy Analyst
W. Russell Ramsey
B.B.A. ’81, Honorary Doctor of Public Service ’14
Financier, Philanthropist
Harry Reid
J.D. ’64, Honorary Doctor of Laws ’05
Former United States Senator and Senate Majority Leader, Attorney
Jerry M. Reinsdorf
B.A. ’57
Business Executive,
National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball Team Owner
John F. W. Rogers
B.A. ’78
Business Executive
Mary L. Schapiro
J.D. ’80
Attorney, Financial Regulator
Traci A. Scott
M.A. ’96
Communications Strategist
Mark R. Shenkman
M.B.A. ’67
Investor
Joanna Shields
M.B.A. ’87, Honorary Doctor of Public Service ’16
Business Executive
Albert H. Small
ATT ’47 to ’48, Honorary Doctorate of Public Service ’16
Real Estate Developer, Philanthropist
Carol A. Smith
B.A. ’71
Publishing Director, Media Executive
Clarice Smith
B.A. ’76, MFA ’79, Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts ’12
Artist, Philanthropist
Marla Lerner Tanenbaum
J.D. ’83
Nonprofit Executive, Major League Baseball Owner
Robert Tanenbaum
J.D. ’82
Real Estate Executive, Major League Baseball Owner
Elana Meyers Taylor
B.S. ’06, M.T.A. ’11, Honorary Doctor of Public Service ’18
Olympic Medalist
Charles “Chuck” Todd
ATT '90 to ’94
Moderator, Political Director, Television Journalist
Kathy Warden
M.B.A. ’99
Business Executive
Mark R. Warner
B.A. ’77, Honorary Doctor of Public Service ’03
United States Senator
Elizabeth Warren
ATT ’66 to ’68
United States Senator
Kerry M. Washington
B.A. ’98, Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts ’13
Emmy-Winning Actor, Director, Producer, Activist
Daniel H. Weiss
B.A. ’79
Museum Executive, Art Historian, Educator
Nadja West
M.D. ’88, Honorary Doctor of Public Service ’17
Physician, Retired United States Army Lieutenant General, National Military and Medical Leader
Bill Charles Westenhofer
M.S. ’95
Academy Award-Winning Visual Effects Supervisor
Irving A. Williamson
J.D. ’75
Attorney, International Trade and Economic Policy Expert
Ya-Qin Zhang
D.Sc. ’90
Scientist, Business Executive
Rachel Zoe
B.A. ’93
Entrepreneur, Executive, Creative Director, Philanthropist, Author, TV Personality
Monumental Alumni
For more information about our Monumental Alumni, including biographies, photos and favorite memories, visit the GW Alumni website.