Graduation

George �鶹��Ƶ grad explores environmental management strategies

Katarina Benson — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 20:24:09 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ grad explores environmental management strategies Katarina Benson Fri, 06/13/2025 - 16:24

For Northern Virginia native Ryan McIntyre, the path to a master’s in environmental science and policy at �鶹��Ƶ began with something simple: a love for the outdoors and a family connection.

Ryan McIntyre. Photo by Office of University Branding

While attending Northern Virginia Community College, McIntyre was introduced to a job opportunity in the Meaningful Watershed Education Experience through family friend Cindy Smith, a professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy who runs George �鶹��Ƶ’s program with Fairfax County Public Schools.

“I liked being outside, so I took the job,” McIntyre said. That decision would plant the seed for a future dedicated to conservation and environmental policy.

After completing his associate degree, McIntyre said George �鶹��Ƶ felt like a natural next step. He enrolled in �鶹��Ƶ’s Bachelor’s to Accelerated Master’s Program working on degrees in environmental science, a decision that would shape his academic and professional future.

“The accelerated master’s set me on a research path,” McIntyre said. “I don’t know where I would have ended up otherwise.”

McIntyre with blue crab. Photo provided

That research path led him to a recent fellowship with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE). His work focused on invasive aquatic plants, specifically Trapa bispinosa, a species of water chestnut known for its ability to rapidly spread across the surface of freshwater bodies.

“There’s a history of this genus in the U.S. going back to the 1940s,” McIntyre explained. “One species took over much of the Potomac River, and it took years to eradicate.”

Now, with a new species surfacing in Northern Virginia, the U.S. Army Corps brought McIntyre on board to study how local, state, and federal agencies are managing the threat. His master’s thesis centered on observing the management techniques of different organizations, including Fairfax County Park Authority and the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District. “It became an observational study comparing their management techniques, how effective they are, and how they compare to each other,” he said.

This blend of environmental science and government is no coincidence. When McIntyre earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental science from George �鶹��Ƶ, he did so with a minor in public policy. “It was clear to me that you can’t protect the environment without the law,” he said. “I can do all the science I want to, but unless there is legislation in place, I don’t think we’ll make a lot of progress.”

That philosophy inspired his leadership as president of the George �鶹��Ƶ student organization Science Policy Network, which works to bridge the divide between policymakers and scientists. The group organizes social and professional events that bring together students from both fields.

One of the most defining moments of his time at George �鶹��Ƶ was a semester at the Smithsonian-�鶹��Ƶ School of Conservation (SMSC). “It reset the course of what I wanted to do and changed my perspective on nature and ecology,” he said.

For someone who grew up memorizing environmental trivia and enjoying time outdoors, McIntyre said it was the first time those passions were recognized as valuable academic assets. “There were a lot of skills I had that I’d never applied in an academic setting before,” McIntyre said. “That experience showed me how my knowledge and interests could contribute to a deeper understanding of ecology and biodiversity.”

That semester working alongside Smithsonian Institution scientists at SMSC in Front Royal, Virginia, led to two internships for McIntyre. One summer he spent hunting for Virginia orchids in Shenandoah and identifying plants that grow around them, “in an attempt to understand the factors that make these hyper-specialized blooms call particular areas home.”

The next summer he found himself aboard a boat in the Chesapeake Bay counting fish as part of an internship with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Maryland. There he served as an intern liaison between the Fisheries Conservation Lab and the center’s public-facing education department.

“My background as a science communicator got me a role turning the FishCon’s work into lesson plans for the public,” he wrote in an essay about his experience for a Smithsonian Magazine blog.

As he prepares for the next chapter, teaching as an adjunct professor at Northern Virginia Community College, McIntyre hopes to inspire a new generation of environmental leaders.

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Students

Sit! Stay! Buzz?

Jennifer Pocock — Thu, 29 May 2025 14:56:51 +0000

Sit! Stay! Buzz? Jennifer Pocock Thu, 05/29/2025 - 10:56

These �鶹��Ƶ students are short-circuiting voice commands, dog whistles, and clickers.

Covert Dog Comms Team Leader Paul J. Wyche displays their finished prototype at the Office of Student Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR) Celebration. Photo by John Boal

If you’ve had a puppy, you probably know the patience it takes to train them in basic commands, and it can be a noisy affair involving begging, pleading, and some yelling. Working dogs like those in police and military K9 units need to learn so much more.

Sometimes, they need to obey without hearing a word.

Rescue situations can be chaotic, with so much going on that a command gets lost in the noise. Sometimes, a team of dogs need to hear many different commands, and competing voices are confusing. Other times, operation teams need to go radio silent and any noise at all will give their positions away.

Enter Team Covert Dog Comms. This pack of cybersecurity seniors at George �鶹��Ƶ, all of whom graduated in May, sniffed out a way to direct dogs without barking commands.

Together, they became the dream team that was the envy of anyone who has ever worked on a bad group project—and proof that great leadership combined with a passionate team yields amazing results.

“Working with this team has been a very positive experience. One key factor that made it successful was the balance of specialized skill sets,” said team leader Paul J. Wyche, who also recently spoke at his College of Engineering and Computing graduation. “While some of our backgrounds overlapped, each team member had a distinct area of expertise, allowing us to overcome any obstacle and collaborate effectively.”

Those members were Maxime Bonnaud, who specialized in the vest’s wireless and cryptographic security; Jonathan Perry, who designed the hardware; and AJ Hoepfner, who set up testing standards and regulations, along with assisting Wyche with project management.

“Mostly, what made this team great was good execution on the fundamentals,” said Bonnaud. “Everyone showed up, communicated well, and looked for areas they could work on instead of having to be assigned work.”

The end result was a securely encrypted working prototype of a vest that can be programmed with three different vibrating pattern commands that a dog can be trained to obey. While they were unable to find a working dog to test on, the team tested the vest on themselves and found it to work as intended.

When asked whether the team planned to patent or commercialize the vest, Wyche said that they wouldn’t rule it out. “We haven’t formally discussed commercializing the project. However, if the opportunity arises and we receive the necessary support, we may explore those possibilities.”

Until then, they achieved their goal of making “a fully operational haptic vest that could be refined for real-world use in special operations.”

And that is something to howl about.

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Senior Capstone Project

Cybersecurity

Military

Police and Public Safety

George �鶹��Ƶ undergrad overcomes health challenges to walk across the stage and accept her degree

Katarina Benson — Thu, 22 May 2025 14:25:23 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ undergrad overcomes health challenges to walk across the stage and accept her degree Katarina Benson Thu, 05/22/2025 - 10:25

Sporting green and gold Air Jordan sneakers, �鶹��Ƶ student Samantha Lewis rose from her wheelchair and put one foot in front of the other. 

Less than four months after complications from medical treatments left her without feeling in her legs, Lewis walked across the stage to receive her bachelor’s degree in psychology at the 2025 College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) Degree Celebration on May 16. 

“It is a surreal moment,” said Lewis, who is from Ashburn, Virginia. “The ability to be able to walk across the stage when in January I was lying in a hospital bed with no feeling in my legs and I had no idea if I’d ever be able to walk again.” 

Heavy on Lewis’ mind at that moment was her late father, Matthew, who 36 years and three days prior also graduated inside EagleBank Arena with a bachelor’s degree in decision science from George �鶹��Ƶ in 1989. 

“He was my best friend,” said Lewis, who was 16 when her father died of skin cancer. “I know my dad is watching over me, and I know he is very proud of me. I wanted to go to �鶹��Ƶ because that’s where he went.” 

Psychology grad Samantha Lewis with the cap she created for graduation. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Last fall, Lewis was diagnosed with and underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, which occurs due to the compression of blood vessels or nerves, causing shoulder and neck pain.

Following treatment in late January, she suddenly lost feeling in her legs. Lewis had suffered functional neurological disorder, a condition that can cause paralysis and kept her in the hospital for more than 10 days. 

After several falls at home, she was admitted to the hospital again for five days followed by two weeks of acute rehabilitation. Lewis finished up an 18-credit hour courseload to stay on track to graduate in three years while receiving physical therapy twice a week along with visiting a neuropsychologist and therapist several times a month. 

“What I learned in my major, particularly in cognitive psychology, helped me navigate those changes,” she said. “Understanding things like resilience, coping mechanisms, cognitive distortions, and the power of mindset gave me practical tools to work through some of my darkest moments.” 

Lewis’ fascination with human behavior drew her to psychology as she desired to learn more about “how and why we, think, feel, and act the way we do.” Instructor Sam Neff, who taught PSYC 317 Cognitive Psychology, recalls Lewis always sitting in the front row and their conversations before class as he set up his presentations. 

“She is intelligent, inquisitive, and was always looking to apply the concepts we talked about to her personal life,” Neff said. “On numerous occasions she had mentioned that the course was giving her information that was causing her to have ‘light-bulb’ moments about herself and the way that her cognitive processes worked.” 

Lewis made the CHSS Dean’s List her last four semesters despite a heavy courseload, which included 26 credit hours over 10 weeks in summer of 2024 while she was also working at George �鶹��Ƶ Recreation as a fitness program assistant.  

Samantha Lewis with her family. Photo provided

Prior to the 2024-25 school year, she shifted all her courses online. She credits George �鶹��Ƶ’s Disability Services for helping and communicating with professors when she needed more time to complete coursework. 

“That kind of advocacy was really important,” she said.  

When her name was called, Lewis—with mother Kristine, stepmother Megan, and three grandparents in the audience—proudly walked across the platform, receiving a huge embrace from CHSS Dean Ann Ardis and a thunderous standing ovation from the thousands inside EagleBank Arena. 

“I heard the cheering, but I obviously was focused on making sure I didn’t fall,” Lewis said with a laugh. “I’m just overwhelmed by the support and response.” 

“It is giving me chills even now,” Kristine Lewis said. “To watch her actually walk across the stage and then see the reaction from her professors and her dean, who just embraced her with such a strong hug... and then to see the student body do it, there are no words. That was such a moment of support for her and us. I was not expecting that.” 

Lewis says she plans to take a break before considering her next steps. Her focus remains on making a full recovery as she has already gained sensation in most of her right leg.  

“It kind of scares me what I am going to do when I’m healthy,” she said. “You really can do anything when you set your mind to it. You just have to believe in yourself.”

Connect with Disability Services

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Disability Services

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Graduation

Students

George �鶹��Ƶ’s record-breaking Class of 2025 packed the house at Spring Commencement

Colleen Rich — Thu, 15 May 2025 19:10:24 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ’s record-breaking Class of 2025 packed the house at Spring Commencement Colleen Rich Thu, 05/15/2025 - 15:10

�鶹��Ƶ honored its largest ever graduating class at Spring Commencement, turning the event’s “This Is Your Moment” theme into a tassel-turning time to remember for a record-breaking class of more than 12,000 degree and certificate earners.

The ceremony, livestreamed on George �鶹��Ƶ’s YouTube channel Thursday morning from EagleBank Arena, honored graduates from 117 countries and 49 states as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and military installations.

�鶹��Ƶ President Gregory Washington told graduates they are stepping into a time of “profound challenge and change” and urged each to determine their core values to help them make decisions, particularly the difficult ones.

“Your core values are your roots,” Washington said. “In ways large and small, they provide a foundation of support that will enable you to tackle challenges with a clear mind, a clear heart, and a clear conscience.

“When you know who you are, when you know what you stand for, you can proceed with purpose and dignity. Your values are your path. And your path will lead you to strategies and solutions.”

The Class of Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

During the ceremony, Washington asked three different groups to stand and be recognized—first-generation graduates (which accounted for 25% of the class), students who came to George �鶹��Ƶ via a community college, and students who are current or former military members, or military dependents. Each sizable group received a warm ovation and underscored the individual paths each graduate took to earning their degree.

One of the most noteworthy singular paths that Washington shared was the one taken by Yevin Goonatilake, who in December became the university’s youngest graduate to earn a 4.0 GPA, at 15 years old. This spring, at 16, he became the youngest person in university history to earn a master’s degree (computer science), a feat that elicited astonishment from graduates and attendees alike. His path will continue at George �鶹��Ƶ as he pursues his PhD.

The guest speaker, Martina Cheung, president and CEO of S&P Global, advised the graduates to not think of their career arc as a ladder, because sometimes the wisest decision is to move laterally, not vertically. That has been her experience within S&P. She left the position as president of the market intelligence division to become president of the company’s credit rating agency, exposing her to other aspects of the business and to new colleagues inside and outside the organization.

Double major Duy Ha Vu. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

“Looking back now, I realize leading two divisions instead of one actually better prepared me for becoming CEO,” Cheung said. “So the lesson here is: Don’t collect promotions. Collect experiences. That’s going to make you smarter, better prepared for what comes next, and it’ll give you a more reliable gut sense of what you ought to do when the answer isn’t especially clear.”

Board of Visitors Rector Charles “Cully” Stimson, JD ’92, presented Cheung with an honorary doctor of humane letters degree.

Student speaker Duy Ha Vu, a double major in public administration and business who moved to the United States from Vietnam, recalled personal triumphs, such as working at the Schar School of Policy and Government, founding a billiards club, and spending a semester at �鶹��Ƶ Korea.

But Vu also recalled times of struggle and loneliness, particularly during the pandemic when he first arrived at George �鶹��Ƶ.

“I stand before you not because I am the perfect student,” Vu said. “It’s because I never let those mistakes define me. And today, as I look at all of you in your caps and gowns, I see a room full of people who did that just that [too]. If you have made it this far, you have what it takes to go even further.”

Vu’s supporters included his mother, who had flown in from London to attend the ceremony.

Rector Stimson presents the George �鶹��Ƶ Medal to Robert E. Buchanan. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Spring Commencement also provided an opportunity for the university to honor some of its most enduring champions. Stimson awarded the George �鶹��Ƶ Medal, the university’s highest honorary award, to Robert E. Buchanan, a leading real estate developer who has served the university and Washington, D.C., civic causes for decades while also working with other business leaders to shape the region’s economic direction.

Receiving honorary degrees were civic and business leader Albert Dwoskin, another long-time university partner and advocate who has supported George �鶹��Ƶ priorities across access, innovation, and inclusive excellence, and Carolyn Peterson, a passionate advocate for education and the arts whose steadfast support for George �鶹��Ƶ also spans decades. Peterson accepted her honor at the Board of Visitors meeting earlier this month.

Scott Hine, BS Decision Science ’85, president of the �鶹��Ƶ Alumni Association, welcomed the new graduates to a network of nearly 250,000 alumni and encouraged them to stay connected to the university by attending events, guest-speaking in classes, mentoring students, and supporting George �鶹��Ƶ through philanthropy.

“There is likely an alum in any industry you are joining, and there is likely an alum in any location in which you’re settling,” Hine said. “This is an incredible network that you should leverage.”

Some 41% of undergraduate degree earners in the Class of 2025 are in STEM and health sciences fields, as are 48% of advanced degree earners, an indication of the university supplying workplace-ready talent in high-demand fields.

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George �鶹��Ƶ’s Spring 2025 Commencement in pictures

Lauren Reuscher — Thu, 15 May 2025 18:31:54 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ’s Spring 2025 Commencement in pictures Lauren Reuscher Thu, 05/15/2025 - 14:31

Spring 2025 Commencement at �鶹��Ƶ on May 15 at EagleBank Arena celebrated more than 12,000 graduates and certificate recipients. Graduates hailed from 117 countries, 49 states, and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and military installations. George �鶹��Ƶ photographers captured the excitement and spirit of the day.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Graduates and their loved ones packed EagleBank Arena for Spring 2025 Commencement. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

�鶹��Ƶ President Gregory Washington welcomed graduates and their loved ones to Commencement. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Graduate Samira Plummer-Brown sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” and the Alma Mater during Spring Commencement at EagleBank Arena. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Commencement speaker Martina Cheung, president and CEO of S&P Global, urged graduates to envision what they want their lives to look like in the distant future. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Student speaker Duy Ha Vu shared his inspiring journey as an international student with fellow graduates. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

George �鶹��Ƶ President Gregory Washington, Commencement speaker Martina Cheung, Rector of the Board of Visitors Charles "Cully" Stimson, and Provost James Antony. Photo by Eduardo Macedo

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

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Commencement Speaker Martina L. Cheung’s remarks to George �鶹��Ƶ’s spring 2025 graduates

Colleen Rich — Thu, 15 May 2025 16:37:09 +0000

Commencement Speaker Martina L. Cheung’s remarks to George �鶹��Ƶ’s spring 2025 graduates Colleen Rich Thu, 05/15/2025 - 12:37

Remarks prepared for delivery

Hello, George �鶹��Ƶ! Good morning.

Thank you, Greg [Washington] and Rector [Cully] Stimson. Thank you so much for inviting me to join you on this very special day.

Martina Cheung at Commencement. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Board of Visitors, deans, faculty, staff, distinguished guests, family, friends, and graduates: It’s an honor to be here.

Graduates, I might not be the first to say it. But let me be the loudest to say it. Congratulations Class of 2025!

Look at where you are today and think of how far you’ve come. You’ve made it! But I trust you realize you didn’t get here all by yourself. Look out into the stands and to your left and right—- and find the parents, relatives, friends, and classmates who helped get you to this point. I invite you to give them a big round of applause for the roles they played and the help they gave you on your journey here.

Class of 2025! Thinking about what I should share with you today, I kept coming back to something. I know the unofficial rule book of commencement addresses says to avoid using clichés, but I want to discuss and dissect this one. It’s said you should always look before you leap. But that advice is woefully inadequate. It does not specify where to look. Or when to look. Or even what to you should look at.

So let me fill in the picture for you.

I suggest looking in three directions.

First, look around you.

Second, look far ahead.

And third, look inside.

Let me take you through each of these.

First, looking around—seeing what’s next to us, not what’s just before us— gives us the ability to see adjacencies, expands our thinking, and opens all kinds of new possibilities.

You’re graduating so you’re thinking about what’s way down the road. But if you don’t look at what’s at hand right now, you may miss something.

Apply this approach when you leave today. Most people think of their careers as a ladder. They see the goal as climbing the ladder with promotions or leaving one job to take a bigger one elsewhere.

The truth is, moving up is not the only direction. It’s not even always the best direction. Sometimes it’s the lateral move.

Three years ago, Imade a lateral move. I had been working for a few years as president of our Market Intelligence division. I had a great team. The job was rewarding. I loved it. Then, our former CEO Doug Peterson asked me to serve as president of our credit rating agency.

It wasn’t a promotion. It wasn’t a move up. And when I was a kid, let me assure you I never said, ‘When I grow up, I want to be the president of a Credit Ratings Agency,” but I took it anyway, because it was a great opportunity.

The move exposed me to different customers, a whole new set of colleagues, and the opportunity to meet regulators and policy makers all around the globe—all people that were important when I did move up.

Looking back now, I realize leading two divisions instead of one better prepared me for becoming CEO.

The lesson is: Don’t collect promotions. Collect experiences. That’s going to make you smarter, better prepared for what comes next, and it’ll give you a more reliable gut sense of what you ought to do when the answer isn’t clear.

Because I collected experiences and took lateral moves, there are not many challenges I see these days that I haven’t navigated in some way before, although… if someone can explain whether rubbing George �鶹��Ƶ’s toe over in Wilkins Plaza really does bring you good luck, I’d love to hear it!

The bottom line is: If something’s interesting, go for it. Don’t worry as much about the pay or the prestige. If it captures your attention, your passion, it’s going to get you where you want to go faster.

Vision not only opens you up to lateral moves; it also gives you a window into the benefits of taking on new assignments.

Renowned American virologist, Dr. Jonas Salk said, “The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more.”

That’ll work for you, too, and unlike Dr. Salk, you don’t have to cure a disease to prove it’s true.

The added work may not come with extra pay immediately, but I promise the way it expands your own vision can be golden.

During my 15 years at S&P Global, I’ve taken on several special assignments that were more than my day job.

In 2015 and in 2020, my boss asked me to lead the due diligence on the two largest acquisitions in our company’s history. This was on top of my normal responsibilities. I looked at these as opportunities for professional growth and development, to meet new people outside my network, and to develop what I like to call an enterprise mindset—not being siloed in your thinking but rather having an attitude of delivering value across the entire organization.

These projects required us to merge two separate companies, two distinct cultures, and two different leadership teams—and they taught me another valuable lesson. Mergers and acquisitions can be stressful events. Opinions can differ about strategy, synergies, and value. Assuming the person on the other side of the table has good intentions can help you lower the temperature and work toward your shared goals.

So that’s what you can learn looking laterally.

With that established, let me tell you my second point, the value of a long-term view.

Having a long-term view allowed me to envision my future far across an ocean.

I left Ireland in 2000 to come to the U.S. I was so proud when I became a U.S. citizen. When I was sitting where you are, I might not have known that this was exactly where I would wind up—but I was thinking about the life I wanted to shape, and the type of work I wanted to do.

In the U.S., I saw opportunities to work on exciting consulting projects for companies who are global leaders in their field.

I am a long-term thinker and a lifelong learner, and I wanted to be at the heart of innovation, technology, and value creation across many industries.

And I’m proud that I’ve contributed to the American economy. In the six years since I joined the S&P Global executive team, our company has returned nearly $28 billion to our shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases. That money has gone into the 401(k) accounts of workers saving for retirement. And we have supported tens of thousands of companies to help them grow their businesses, invest in new opportunities, and support employees and their families.

For me, this is very meaningful—a very real part of the American Dream.

By the way, speaking of long-term vision, if you don’t have a job lined up yet, don’t let it scare you. Start somewhere. Start anywhere. Figure out your long-term goal—and give yourself permission to change it if your experience leads you to do so. Taking a long-term view frees up your thinking to take lateral moves and to understand they are learning experiences, and it gives you permission to really start anywhere.

When I was a teenager, I started working for my father’s restaurant. It wasn’t glamorous and it wasn’t what I had in mind over the long term, but it was a great place to start. I learned about product quality, service excellence, and building customer loyalty. Those values still drive me today.

My long-term view was a little different back then. Things changed for me. They’ll change for you, too.

Your career is going to span decades. When you come to a crossroads, stop and ask yourself: Where do I want to be in five-to-10 years and what can I do over the next two-to-three years to help me get there? This can help you decide which way to go.

The third important skill I encourage you to hone is introspection.

Be honest with yourself. As you look within, also ask someone else for honest feedback—and tell them you want a candid assessment, not just encouragement.

When you leave here today, go find others who can help you. Look for mentors—people who are good at what they do and who enjoy what they’re doing. They can be relatives, professors, professionals, and entrepreneurs. Then… just ask: Will you be a mentor for me? Can I come to you for advice?

Don’t be afraid to ask just like that. Most of them will be flattered. It’s a pretty high honor to be asked to help figure out somebody’s life.

And then make this relationship mutually beneficial. What I mean is that the relationship should not be one-way learning, from mentor to mentee.

You might be surprised that mentors are going to learn from you, too. You’re smart, have incredible talents, interesting experiences, and a George �鶹��Ƶ education to boot! …. which means you have something valuable to contribute. You may be proficient in a topic your mentor knows very little about. The people you’re seeking out will benefit from your perspective as well as you benefiting from theirs.

I’ll let you in on a secret, too. You never outgrow needing a mentor. Even CEOs have mentors.

Taking time to reflect, acquiring new perspectives, and thinking about self-improvement are critical life skills.

On this day 25 years ago, Peter Drucker—a management expert, a very good one—said something that at the time was only beginning to be clear. He said that knowledge is our main resource, and knowledge workers are the main part of the workforce.

But now, some people believe that GenAI is going to upend that. I beg to differ.

The truth is the set of interests, perspectives, and passions that define your mental landscape creates an intellectual curiosity that is yours alone.

This quality is unique to you, like a fingerprint. It cannot be duplicated, cannot be imitated, and cannot be captured by silicon and software.

Critical thinking matters. Look within. No one else will have exactly the perspective you have—not now and not ever.

One of the keys to success, now and in the future, is to never stop learning. People need to learn skills of all kinds. Part of self-reflection is being intellectually curious.

In practice, that means learning everything you can about topics you’re passionate about or topics that intrigue you. For me—right now—it’s GenAI. At S&P Global, GenAI is a great enabler. It helps us to be more productive and it enhances our products and services. I’m constantly learning about it, asking questions about what our partners are doing with it, and how we can use AI to help our customers be better at their jobs.

The most successful people I know are lifelong learners demonstrating precisely why they’re successful!

Today may be the end of your formal education, but it’s just the start of a process of accumulating the knowledge, capabilities, and relationships that will serve you well for the rest of your life.

Over the course of your lifetime, you’ll be inundated with information. Some of it will be trustworthy. Some will be noise. Over time, you’ll learn who to pay attention to and what to take onboard.

The important thing is to be open-minded about feedback and keen on hearing from a diverse set of voices…and never stop learning.

In the days and years ahead, you’re going to face difficult challenges and make difficult choices. And when that happens, pause. Spend a little time in the gap between “when the question comes” and your reaction. Take a moment. Remember how to look before you leap.

Look around you.

Look ahead of you.

And look within.

That will give you the vision to clearly see the path ahead.

Congratulations Class of 2025! I wish you much success and I’m so excited to see what you do next.

Thank you.

Q&A with Martina Cheung

Topics

Graduation

Spring Commencement

Economics grad leaves their mark and legacy on forensics team

Katarina Benson — Thu, 15 May 2025 15:11:27 +0000

Economics grad leaves their mark and legacy on forensics team Katarina Benson Thu, 05/15/2025 - 11:11

When Dawn Lowry, the director of �鶹��Ƶ’s forensics team, recruits prospective students to join the university’s intercollegiate speech team, she reviews videos of high school competitions.

A competitive speech coach for more than 30 years, Lowry remembers being blown away the first time she watched footage of now economics major Prem Ganesan in action.

Prem Ganesan. Photo provided

“They reminded me of a hurricane—all power, all energy,” Lowry recalls. “It was like if we can figure out how to harness that and control that energy, then they would be a real force.”

Four years later, Ganesan left their mark and legacy on a George �鶹��Ƶ program already rich in history.

Ganesan, who is graduating this spring with a bachelor’s degree in economics, won individual national championships during their career in a record six different categories—the most by a student in the 75-year history of intercollegiate competitive speech.

They captured seven national titles in six different categories at national tournaments recognized by the American Forensic Association and the National Forensic Association: After Dinner Speaking, Communication Analysis, Duo Interpretation, Informative Speaking, Poetry Interpretation, and Program Oral Interpretation.

“They are a wonderful mix of artistry and analysis,” said Lowry, who is also an instructor in the Department of Communication. “They have a wonderful ability to find the story that hasn’t been told and show a complete diaspora of human experiences. They give performances that make people cry, but if you look at them closely, they are also technically beautiful.

While still in high school in Minnesota, Ganesan was drawn to George �鶹��Ƶ due to its economics program and the forensics team. The competitive speech program, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, has ranked in the top five nationally since 2007.

Ganesan has added to that reputation, helping George �鶹��Ƶ finish as national champion runners-up three of the last four years. They often delve into LGBTQ+ issues; the Indian diaspora; and issues pertaining to diversity, economic development, and racial injustice.

“There are not a lot of people who look like me,” Ganesan said. “Or who believe what I believe in, who are in this field advocating for what I want to see the world moving toward.”

As a sophomore, their championship-winning speech in the After Dinning Speaking category focused on economics’ diversity problem.

The category, “persuasive in nature,” Ganesan said, requires competitors to present a societal problem, explain why that issue persists and then offer a solution—all within 10 minutes. Ganesan utilized humor, a device they turn to often in their speeches, to address the problem and finish atop a category with more than 100 participants.

“I don’t like aiming for results; I like chasing the process of speech,” Ganesan said. “How can we take new risks? How can we push the bar on performance choices? How can we write cool lines that the audience hasn’t heard before?”

Ganesan speaking. Photo by Eduardo Macedo.

Ganesan has emerged as a leader, serving as a co-captain of the forensics team and teaching at high school speech camps during the summer both at George �鶹��Ƶ and Illinois State University, along with coaching part-time at a high school back home in Minnesota.

They were also the senior student representative on the National Council for the National Forensic Association, serving as the voice of the students and pushing for accessibility for all participants at competitions.

“[Prem] is always at the other end of the phone if you need advice,” freshman Emma Schaible said. “They are probably one of the upperclassmen that has been there the most for me and the rest of the first years (on the team).”

Added Lowry: “They are a powerful advocate in making sure everyone has the resources they need.”

After graduation, Ganesan plans to attend Illinois State—Lowry’s alma mater—to pursue a master’s degree in communication. They will also work as a graduate teaching assistant for the university’s forensics team.

Reflecting on their time at George �鶹��Ƶ, Ganesan said their interactions with students, faculty, and staff in the Department of Economics and on the forensics team sparked “countless relationships, friendships, and mentors.”

“Diversity is such a cornerstone of my college experience,” Ganesan said. “Interacting with a variety of human beings has been so transformational. I am a lifelong student, so learning from as many different people as possible and then taking their experiences and trying to adapt them into my own little pedagogy has been super cool to do. And speech has taught me how to do that. To take in, not to just communicate, but to listen to other people and learn from them.”

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An inspiring internship resume for a blossoming entrepreneur

Sarah Holland — Tue, 13 May 2025 19:45:18 +0000

An inspiring internship resume for a blossoming entrepreneur Sarah Holland Tue, 05/13/2025 - 15:45

One could say that student Leticia Nunez Nova’s path to business was predestined. Genetic, even.

Photo provided

Her maternal grandfather owned numerous businesses around the Dominican Republic—from real estate to auto shops to hardware stores—and her paternal grandmother used business to support her family after her husband’s passing.

“I grew up hearing these stories about how entrepreneurship has helped people out of difficult situations,” she said. Nunez Nova is studying business at �鶹��Ƶ with concentrations in marketing and business analytics. “I was inspired. I wanted to build something from scratch myself.”

Nunez Nova’s desire to nurture a business from the ground up paved the way for a series of internships with start-up companies. In her freshman year, she landed a position with the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) in the Costello College of Business. Her work included supporting the SOAR Initiative for aspiring entrepreneurs and the student venture program The Depot, which she said helped create a strong foundation for her future career.

“Supporting student entrepreneurship and the local business ecosystem aligned with my reasons for studying business,” she said.

Her work at CIE became a foundational experience. “CIE associate director Crystal Fickers helped me build core soft and technical skills, and CIE director of operations and engagement Rebecca Howick taught me how to use kindness strategically to help others and manage challenges in the workplace,” she said.

That interest in local businesses continued with her second and third internships. While continuing her work with the CIE, Nunez Nova worked for the start-up company HomeCook, a platform to connect commercial kitchen owners with food entrepreneurs. Then, she interned with WISE Cities LLC, a student-up developing an app to encourage senior community engagement, social participation, and physical activity with citizens over the age of 65.

Now, she’s trying something a little different: gaining experience working for growing telecommunications start-up Raycom. She’s learning the intricacies of office culture and procedures, something that she says is perhaps the most valuable for students to learn.

“Those basic workplace skills are transferable,” she said. “Working in an office is a unique experience, and it will give you an edge if you can say you’ve done it and done it well.”

While each internship has given her the opportunity to grow in unique skills, all of them have built onto the foundation she’s gained from her classes at George �鶹��Ƶ.

“I learn by doing, so I think it’s so important that you apply whatever you’re learning in the classroom. It helps you understand the reality of the world that you’ll be going into once you graduate,” she said. “It gives you the chance to determine if this is really the path you want.”

Nunez Nova will graduate in spring 2025. She hopes her future continues to be one of discovery and exploration while pursuing her goal of making an impact.

“The more I explore, the more I learn, and the more I find to love about marketing,” she said. “I want to work in a place where I really believe in the mission.”

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Senior of the Year champions kindness

Katarina Benson — Tue, 13 May 2025 18:36:17 +0000

Senior of the Year champions kindness Katarina Benson Tue, 05/13/2025 - 14:36

Senior of the Year Haley White said double majoring in business and art history was one of the best decisions she made during her time at �鶹��Ƶ. Her second best decision was joining the �鶹��Ƶ Chooses Kindness initiative.

White, who is from Lynchburg, Virginia, has been a driving force behind �鶹��Ƶ Chooses Kindness since 2023. “The idea behind the initiative really spoke to me,” she said. “I was raised to be polite, give back, and be kind, and I feel like we can always benefit from more kindness to ourselves and others. It’s not always about giving a compliment or holding a door—though those things are great, sometimes it’s about doing hard things, and �鶹��Ƶ Chooses Kindness really seemed to understand this.”

Haley White. Photo provided.

For her dedication to kindness in both her personal and professional life, White was named Senior of the Year by the �鶹��Ƶ Alumni Association. She will be recognized at the association’s annual Celebration of Distinction this fall.

During her four years at George �鶹��Ƶ, White has been very active with the Costello College of Business, where she works as a business engagement assistant. She was one of the main contributors and design lead on Costello's 47-page handbook on implementing well-being projects and co-authored an article on Costello’s introduction of kindness into their course curriculum.

“We do not know what we will do without her [when she graduates],” said Gretchen Hendricks, term instructor at Costello. “Haley has been an instrumental part of the ‘goodwill team’ within the Costello College of Business.”

In November 2024, White led 75 students, faculty, staff, and alumni volunteers and helped organize the largest Day of Service event in Costello’s history, resulting in 3,000 lbs. of food packed to support the Patriot Pantry.

“Haley embodies the best of George �鶹��Ƶ students,” said Christine Landoll, BS Accounting ’89, MS Taxation ’92, director of business engagement at Costello and White’s mentor. “She is strong academically, strong civically, strong philanthropically, and a kind and compassionate human.”

White said she fell in love with art history when she enrolled in ARTH 101 Introduction to Visual Arts to meet a �鶹��Ƶ Core requirement. First, she added art history to her coursework as a minor and then realized she needed to just add it as a second major.

Looking forward to where the road after graduation takes her, White said she hopes to travel more and “be happy with what I am doing. I have a lot more to learn, and I hope in 10 years I can look back and be proud of myself for all it took to get me there.”

And of course, kindness will be a part of that future. “I have become more intentional and more aware of what kindness looks like, and it is something that I am going to take into my future work and continue being an ‘ambassador’ for in my personal life,” she said.

Being kind to oneself is a core piece of White’s advice for incoming freshmen.

“It can be easy to beat yourself up when you get a question wrong or feel like you are behind others or not doing ‘enough,’” she said. “You don't have to be perfect every day or even do as much as you did yesterday—focus on being kind to yourself, doing the best you can each day, and even if you are afraid, reach out for help when you need it. Extending yourself kindness every day is a worthwhile practice.”

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Christine Landoll

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The opportunity to conduct research is fueling this community health student to discover life-saving cancer treatments

Taylor Thomas — Tue, 13 May 2025 13:18:27 +0000

The opportunity to conduct research is fueling this community health student to discover life-saving cancer treatments Taylor Thomas Tue, 05/13/2025 - 09:18

During her sophomore year at �鶹��Ƶ, College of Public Health student Paris Stephens sought to gain more experience as a research assistant, but knew not just any project would suffice.

Paris Stephens, BS in Community Health with a concentration in Clinical Science student. Photo provided.

Stephens, who was working on a Bachelor of Science in Community Health with a concentration in Clinical Science, was adamant her work not only contribute to her growth as a researcher, but also aligned with her desire to create meaningful impact. After speaking with her professors about the array of opportunities available, she found her perfect fit with Associate Professor Michelle Williams’s research, developing a culturally relevant breast cancer education intervention for young African American women.

“I felt compelled to be part of research that educates, advocates, and drives change,” Stephens said. "The focus on breast cancer awareness and disparities deeply resonated with my passion for advancing health equity, especially among young Black women. I wanted my efforts to matter."

Black women, at any age, are more likely to die from breast cancer than any other race or ethnic group. Stephens’s work included conducting comprehensive literature reviews, identifying key gaps in research, data collection and analysis, participating in community education campaigns, and communicating with survey participants.

“I’ve gained valuable learning the ins and outs of research protocols, such as how to work ethically with human research participants,” Stephens said. "I also learned how to collect, organize, and publish data—skills that have made me more confident and capable as an aspiring public health professional. Overall, this experience has allowed me to support evidence-based practices that promote community health and drive real-world impact."

Stephens presenting her research at the 2025 National Conference on Undergraduate Research. Photo provided

Stephens was thrilled by the opportunity to work with Williams, absorbing an abundance of knowledge from her as a cancer prevention and control expert. Stephens presented her work at the 2025 National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Pittsburgh.

“Working with Dr. Williams has been an incredible experience. She is a brilliant researcher and she’s helped me grow into a more thoughtful and skilled researcher myself. Her mentorship has been both inspiring and transformative,” she said.

Stephens was the recipient of the Undergraduate Award for Excellence in Research at the 2025 College of Public Health Degree Celebration.

Stephens recently accepted a position with Shady Grove Fertility as a patient service representative, where she will deliver patient support by resolving concerns, coordinating with departments, guiding patients on insurance and financial options, and ensuring compliance and data accuracy while maintaining confidentiality and professionalism. Following her graduation in spring 2025, she intends to pursue a Master of Science in Management.

Stephens aspires to continue pursuing breast cancer research as a clinical research coordinator or work within hospital or pharmaceutical settings focused on breast cancer treatments, ensuring that new drugs and medical devices are safe, effective, and beneficial for communities.

Her ultimate goal is to serve in roles that allow her to contribute to life-saving innovations and clinical advancements.

“I want to be part of the team that makes sure we are not only innovating—but doing so responsibly and ethically,” Stephens said.

In This Story

Michelle S. Williams, PhD, MSPH

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