In Action
Leaders in Public Service. Congratulations to Jupiter El-Asmar, MS ’13, for being selected as a 2023 Presidential Management Fellow Finalist, the Federal Government’s flagship leadership development program for advanced degree holders across all academic disciplines. Established 45 years ago by Executive Order, its purpose is to recruit and develop a cadre of future government leaders drawn from all segments of society. Read more about the PMF Program here.
On the Red Carpet. Congratulations to Francis Poon, MS ’09, for winning the 2023 Imagen Award for Best Documentary for his film, Frontline: After Uvalde: Guns, Grief and Texas Politics. The Imagen Foundation was created to support and encourage the inclusion of Latino talent, executives, and voices in all aspects of the creative process in entertainment media, celebrating individuals and entities who elevate the image and status of Latino talent in front of and behind the camera. See the full list of awardees here.
Going Back to Cali: Congratulations to Evelyn Wong, MS ’17, for being admitted to Stanford University’s joint MD/PhD program as a Knight-Hennessy Scholar. Upon completing her Marshall Scholarship in the UK, Evelyn will join a cohort of 100 scholars from across Stanford’s seven graduate schools who will benefit from three years of full funding along with leadership programming to prepare them to be visionary, courageous and collaborative leaders who address complex global challenges.
Add it to your reading list: Dennis Ojogho, MS ’12, published his first novel, The Dreams of Our Ancestors, inspired by his mom's incredible life. Through triumph and loss, love and heartbreak, joy and sorrow—this book tells the story of a young Nigerian woman’s American Dream while exploring themes of kinship, the immigrant experience, gender norms, and race relations. The book is available on Amazon and you can read a sample on Medium.
Forming part of a Global Community of Leaders: Namra Zulfiqar, MS ’17, was selected to form part of the 2023 cohort of Schwarzman Scholars to complete a one-year, fully-funded master’s program at Tsinghua University in Beijing! The Master of Global Affairs degree program provides an international network of high caliber global leaders, academics and innovators the opportunity to work together and serve as a bridge between China and the rest of the world.
Women in Leadership: Sarah Deonarain, MS ’19, was selected for the 2022 Fitzie Award which recognizes and rewards outstanding young women from Harvard College, the Harvard Business School, Tenacre Country Day School and Dana Hall School, institutions that Fitzie Grogan Petersmeyer attended. Sarah joins an ever-growing network of past winners and Foundation supporters and she received a monetary grant which will assist in her career development. Previous awardees have used their funding to travel and live abroad, which is one of Sarah’s top priorities upon graduation! You can learn more about the award here.
Promoting diversity and inclusivity in the asset management industry: Eli Gramajo, MS ’15, will be honored at Nicsa’s 2022 Fearless Leadership Symposium as an awardee of the Rising Star Program, a mentorship program aimed at providing networking and career development opportunities to diverse, aspiring leaders in the asset management industry. Eli was selected from among a group of highly qualified nominees at MFS Investment Management (Massachusetts Financial Services) due to his demonstrated leadership qualities and commitment to diverse and inclusive work environments. You can read more about this program and see the impressive list of awardees here.
Awarded from Coast to Coast: Dr. Joelle Simpson, MS ’95, was selected as a recipient of the Milken Institute School of Public Health’s 950 Award which recognizes a select number of George Washington Alumni who have demonstrated exceptional professional accomplishments as well as a deep commitment to the university community. A week later Dr. Simpson was honored at the American Academy of Pediatric Conference in Anaheim, CA as the inaugural Jane Knapp Emerging Pediatric Emergency Medicine Leader Awardee due to her outstanding contributions to the field of Pediatric Emergency Medicine during the first 10 years of her career. Brava!
Advancing the Brooklyn Navy Yard: Congratulations to Lindsay Greene, MS ’99, on her appointment as CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation! Lindsay is the first Black woman and the first openly LGBTQ+ person to be at the helm of the Corporation, which houses over 500 businesses and 11,000 employees. She is committed to working alongside residents, businesses, government officials, and various stakeholders to help the city recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and expand inclusivity within its economic growth, particularly for business owners of color and other underrepresented groups. Lindsay has continuously sought ways to advance economic opportunities for diverse communities, and we are confident she’ll continue to make a lasting positive impact in the lives of countless New Yorkers.
Leadership in Education: Congratulations to Ben Sorkin, MS ‘16, for receiving the Dennis Washington Leadership Graduate Scholarship from the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc. Recipients of this honor are State and National Horatio Alger Scholar Alumni who have exhibited leadership, integrity, entrepreneurial skills, and perseverance in overcoming personal adversity. Out of 200 applicants, Ben was one of eight to receive this award, which includes $120,000 towards a graduate, professional, or doctoral degree in eligible fields. Ben’s passion for education and investing in future generations drives him to further his studies at Harvard’s Ed.M. Masters in Education and Leadership, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship program, where he will continue to advocate for better opportunities for all.