The UHP staff had a wonderful time hosting the end of semester Student-Faculty Dinner! We enjoyed wonderful buffet of Chinese food at Magic Gourd Restaurant!
Category: Community Life
The Purpose and Power of Museums, Monuments and Memorials
As part of Prof Kung’s capstone, “The Purpose and Power of Museums, Monuments and Memorials,” UHP students visited a number of museums and monuments around the city earlier this semester!
Ice cream after a visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture
Learning to weave at GW’s Textile Museum!
Making use of the “Play Work Build” space at the National Building Museum
Out and about on a monument walk, including stops at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt and World War II Memorials
Energy: Wind Power & Nuclear Reactor Tour!
Students in Prof. Kung’s “Energy” class were challenged to design and construct turbine blades that would produce the most power. The designs were put into a head-to-head competition and the winning designs are pictured below!
Elek, Aaliyah and Max’s winning design lifted 50 metal washers!
Shamari, Shivani, Zaid and Hannah’s winning design bested all the other designs this semester!
As cell phones and cameras aren’t allowed in the reactor room itself, UHP students pose in the hallway of University of Maryland’s Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Building after the reactor tour. You can take a virtual tour of the reactor here!
Congratulations UHP Sure Award Recipients (Fall 2022)
Congratulations to the following Fall 2022 recipients of the UHP SURE Award, an individual grant of up to $500 to support UHPers’ research activities.
Anais Fang, Senior, International Affairs (Asia Studies concentration)
Research Project Title: The Effect of Education Initiatives on National Identity and the State of Peace in the Taiwan Strait
Caitlin Garrett, Senior, Biology (General Biology concentration)
Research Project Title: Pharyngeal Morphology of Invasive Carp Species
Grace Hallam, Senior, Special Interdisciplinary Program (Sociobiology)
Research Project Title: Hamilton’s Rule in Artificial Families
Gabriel Young, Senior, Political Science (Public Policy Focus); International Affairs (International Politics concentration)
Research Project Title: Politics, Policy, & Puto: Philippine-Americans’ Political Identity
We look forward to hearing more about their research projects later this academic year and will be sure to keep you posted!
Honors Class Trip to the National Mall!
Pictured: Students from Professor Restrepo’s course on Transitional Justice on a trip to the National Mall!
Congratulations Professors Eyal Aviv and Mark Ralkowski!
The UHP congratulates Professors Eyal Aviv and Mark Ralkowski for each receiving a 2022 Morton A. Bender Teaching Award at GW’s 12th Annual Faculty Honors Ceremony! Each year, the Bender Award recognizes faculty at GW who have maintained the highest academic standards while fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for their students. The UHP is extremely proud and grateful that their hard work and dedication has received this well-deserved recognition!
Food for Thought with Professor Thiago Moreira!
Join us next Friday, November 11th, from 12-1PM in the townhouse Club Room with Professor Moreira to discuss: The world’s oldest profession: how systematics helps us to understand biodiversity. RSVP Here
Description:
“Much is said about how our biodiversity is important and its fast decline will bring dire consequences to the planet and to humankind. But whose job is to understand and document biodiversity? How it is done? I would like to invite you to know a bit more about Systematics: A branch of biology that uncovers the depth of our world`s biodiversity and how all living things relate to each other and a bit of my contribution as a systematist to further our understanding of our fauna.”
Navigating Your First Year as an Introvert – By PA Grace Truslow!
Entering college is a large life transition for everyone. As an introvert, it may seem as though many of the keys to integrating into this new and dynamic environment are held by those who are more naturally outgoing. However, you can have an incredible first year by defining goals based on your own strengths, taking small steps to be proactive, and taking advantage of your unique assets.
Choose What Makes You Happy
In transitioning to a new environment, it was very important to me that I was able to make my own definitions of what brought me joy. One of the benefits of college is that you have greater autonomy over your schedule and how you best spend your free time should be an individual decision. At a larger school like GWU and in a city like DC, there are a multitude of options available in how you spend your time. There is no right answer as to how to have fun, relax, and even how to best work! Academics can provide sufficient stress for anyone. It is important to dedicate your free time to things that you personally find stress free and fulfilling. When scheduling activities with my friends, I like to also ensure that I have sufficient buffer time for myself to recharge and reflect. Wherever you are on the scale of introvert or extervertedness, it is important to recognize that how you best spend your personal time is an individual decision.
Set Small Goals to be Proactive
Part of the college experience is being exposed to new ideas, people, experiences, and opportunities and being open to change. I still think it is very important to make the most or your college experience and therefore to challenge yourself to be proactive. I found it very helpful to set small, short term goals to become integrated into my new community. These can include attending an org fair, going to a general body meeting, going to office hours, or having impromptu conversations with your peers. The great thing about these small goals is that there is no additional pressure attached. If you really like an org or develop a friendship, that is great! If you go to an event and then want to leave, that is great too (so long as to take any freebies before you go). Giving yourself the time and space to explore your environment in your first semester will allow you to build a stronger foundation in the long run. It will also remove unnecessary pressure from these exploratory activities. For me some of these easy tasks have led to meaningful relationships and amazing opportunities. As long as you are taking these small steps to be proactive, you can explore the many possibilities that college has to offer while still protecting your boundaries.
The Introvert Advantage?
I also think it is important to recognize the many assets that introverts bring to both the college experience and to life. For me, being an introvert meant that I already knew how to structure my alone time going into college. I am can both spead quality time with my friends and be happy in my own company. I am also able to enjoy the peace that comes from the time that I need to dedicate to studying by myself. Being more observational and having the patience to assess new situations can enable you to make more informed decisions about to spend your sometimes limited time and energy. In the classroom setting, having strong listening skills has helped me to build greater perspectives and make quality contributions to discussions. Your listening abilities also help to build quality interpersonal relationships. While these might take some time to develop, they will likely be very fulfilling in the long run. Successfully navigating your first year as introvert does not mean changing the things that make you uniquely amazing, but rather understanding how you can use these attributes to your advantage.
For me, successfully navigating my first year as introvert meant challenging myself to engage in new experiences. Doing so with an understanding of the time and space I needed and the importance of my boundaries allowed me to find the friendships, activities, and opportunities that are most fulfilling for me. The beginning of the start of college can understandably be overwhelming for people who are more introverted. Yet through out my first year I found that I was actually able to tap into the many advantages of being an introvert. Give yourself the time and space you need to explore the opportunities that college has to offer, and I am confident that you will find a number of ways to the make the most of your year!
2022 Julian Clement Chase Prize Award Ceremony
Hi UHPers! Are you interested in attending The Julian Clement Chase Prize Award Ceremony? It will be held in-person this year on Thursday, October 13, from 4-6pm in the GWU Textile Museum (701 21st Street NW). We especially encourage students who are working on or anticipating working on capstone projects to attend, as the Prize is a great opportunity for undergraduate students to be recognized for their work, and the Ceremony is a great opportunity to see what is possible!
The ceremony and reception honor exceptional research writing about the District of Columbia. Tom Sherwood, the keynote speaker, is a Resident Analyst for The Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi and a Contributing Writer for Washington City Paper.
This year’s Julian Clement Chase Prize winner is Izy Carney, ““Dirty Work” Pay: Environmental Racism and the 1970 Washington, D.C. Sanitation Strike.”
Honorable Mention goes to Wyatt Kirschner “45 Hardcore, Ass Bustin’ Radicals” and Three Infiltrators: Students for a Democratic Society at George Washington University and the FBI’s Counterintelligence Efforts Against Them.”
Advanced registration is not required to attend in person, but RSVPs are appreciated. To receive the Zoom link to join virtually, please RSVP by October 9. If you have any questions about the award, please contact Phyllis Ryder.
Welcome Tabitha Dean, New Program Manager!
Hi UHPers! My name is Tabitha Dean (she/her) and I am so excited to be joining you all as the new Program Manager. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know more about the program thus far, and am very much looking forward to meeting all of you!
I am from a small city in North Carolina and spent the majority of my life in the state before moving to D.C. last August. I am a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a double major in Peace, War, and Defense and Political Science. Throughout my time in college, I worked for Carolina Housing as an office assistant, resident advisor, and a member of the leadership team for the campus’ only apartment-based residence hall. I always share with students that finding this community was so vital for my college experience, from the opportunities I was given to grow and develop, to the relationships I built with my residents and co-workers. This is what excites me the most about joining the UHP – being there while each of you find your people, develop your academic, personal, and professional goals, and most of all, cheering you on as a member of your community and support team!
After graduating from college and nixing my original plans to pursue a career with the federal government, I found myself wanting to continue in a role that actively supports students along their educational paths. I served as a college adviser within a North Carolina high school for two years, assisting seniors with the application process, financial aid, and most importantly, having dialogues with students regarding their collegiate goals. After finishing my time with college advising, I transitioned into an official higher education role with Johns Hopkins University, assisting graduate students with their administrative needs (mainly, financial aid, student accounts, and registration). Ultimately, I found that I was missing the connections I was able to develop with students while advising, which led me here to be with you!
I hope to be a resource and offer you a space of comfort whenever you find it needed. I look forward to sharing the knowledge I obtain and learning what is important to you. Please feel free to reach out to me via email at tabitha.dean@gwu.edu if there’s ever a time you’re looking for support – best of luck with your studies!
