ByGeorge!

June 2007

College of Professional Studies Celebrates First Commencement

By Jill Lindstrom

GW’s newest school experienced a major milestone this Commencement Weekend: its first-ever graduation. The College of Professional Studies’ now 144 alumni participated in the University-wide Commencement held on the National Mall as well as a special school celebration the night before in the Dorothy Betts Marvin Theatre. They were awarded bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the fields of police science, political management, and legislative affairs.

“This weekend marks the ‘coming of age’ of our young college as
we graduate our first students and create our first alumni community,” says Dean Roger Whitaker. “It’s a thrilling moment for all of us who have been involved with the College of Professional Studies.”

The College of Professional Studies was established in 2001 to develop coursework and degree programs that address the needs of professionals in the community. “We wanted to be the forward-leaning unit at the University that would design new methods of delivering programs,” says Whitaker. “I think we have done just that and believe we have achieved substantial success in a short period of time.”

Stacy Vasquez, who received her master’s degree in legislative affairs, credited the program with opening doors for her. “The benefits to my career are immeasurable,” she says. “My writing and analytical skills have significantly improved, and the graduate program has also given me the opportunity to network with professionals in the legislative and political fields.”

Police science graduate Edward Coates plans to return to the college next spring to begin the master’s degree program. “My experience at GW has been great, and I have become a better officer because of the program,” says Coates. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with a great group of instructors from various backgrounds. Their life experiences and knowledge in their respective fields have directly impacted me and my career as a police officer.”

The school is expanding rapidly, says Whitaker, and next year’s Commencement will include graduates from six other newly created programs. “We intend to keep on keeping on—staying focused on our unique mission and developing new programs,” he says. “We also expect to continue to engage the Washington, D.C., community and region, serving as ambassadors for GW in the marketplace."


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