[SPA 2013-2014] Rauvin Johl ESIA '14 – International Affairs

Get some advising from Rauvin over milkshakes!
Get some advising from Rauvin over milkshakes!

Hi! My name is Rauvin Johl and I am a senior in the Elliott school, majoring in international affairs and concentrating in international development. I am also minoring in socio-cultural anthropology and Arabic. I was born in Vancouver, Canada but have spent the last 12+ years living in Wisconsin. I spend my free time exploring the city, cooking, eating the food I cook, watching the West Wing (an obsession that makes me unique at home and a stereotype at GW) and being overly competitive whilst playing board games. I love the Honors program because of its sense of community, the opportunity to work in small classes with outstanding professors and because it means I get to spend time with my fellow honors dorks.
Rauvin’s SPAcialties: International Affairs majors; balancing the Honors Program with extracurricular activities and employment; community service in the District; Honors Housing; time management/organizational skills
If you’d like to get in touch with Rauvin, email uhpspa@gwu.edu!

[SPA 2013-2014] Rebekah Johnson ESIA '14 – International Affairs

Rebekah showing some love for her native Texas.
Rebekah showing some love for her native Texas.

Hello all! My name is Rebekah, and I’m a senior in Elliott majoring in International Affairs (concentrating in Security Policy) and minoring in History. Coming from a small community at home in Texas, I thought that DC would be really overwhelming. The Honors program provided me, and still provides me, that small community where everyone knows your name and cares about what you’re up to. I have such amazing and talented classmates, and it really is a joy to get to know them- AND THIS INCLUDES YOU! See you on campus soon!!
Rebekah’s SPAcialties: 4-year plans; making up study schedules and other time management issues; double-counting classes for as many Elliott requirements as possible; graduating early
If you’d like to get in touch with Rebekah, email uhpspa@gwu.edu!

[SPA] Connor Schmidt CCAS '16 – Political Science

Connor Schmidt relaxing on the beach, perhaps in his native Massachusetts?
Connor Schmidt relaxing on the beach, perhaps in his native Massachusetts?

Hi everyone! My name is Connor Schmidt and I am a sophomore studying Political Science in the Columbian College. I’m from Hamilton, Massachusetts and I like going to concerts, golfing and watching tv in my spare time. And I’m also pretty seriously colorblind. I’m interested in US science and technology policy so DC, GW and the Honors program feel like the perfect combo for me. I can’t wait for next year and all our great SPA events!
Connor’s SPAcialties: Political Science majors; picking professors (I meet a lot of them through work); any tech problem (fixing things, handling email, Google calendar etc); financial aid and work study; general honors advice; living in non-honors housing; paper writing and editing; getting involved in student orgs (College Democrats!)
If you’d like to get in touch with Connor, email uhpspa@gwu.edu!

[SPA 2013-2014] Eleanor Aldous CCAS '14 – Women's Studies

No other SPA can rock a cowboy hat like Eleanor!
Our fun and fantastic Eleanor!

Howdy y’all! Me llamo Eleanor Aldous and I was born and raised in the great state of TEXAS. I am a senior in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Women’s Studies with a minor in Psychology. For those of you who are already worried about selecting a major, don’t be! I cannot tell you how many different courses I took and how much time I spent before I selected my major. Part of the reason I chose George Washington University is….location, location, location. While my major is women’s studies, I also enjoy an array of random subjects including psychology, criminal justice, and Spanish. When not studying, I am singing with the GW Vibes, participating in alt breaks fun, interviewing for the Senior Interviewer Program, and doing other random (but fun) things at GW. I love the small community the Honor’s Program provides, as well as the wonderful staff and professors that come along with it. Please take full advantage of your advisors (Liz and Catherine). They are the absolute jelly to my peanut butter (nomz).
Eleanor’s SPAcialties: A cappella; Camp Kesem; Alt breaks; theater; internships in DC; State Department application process; transitioning from the south to DC; scheduling; Women’s Studies; Spanish courses/teachers; honors housing; volunteer opportunities; psychology
If you’d like to get in touch with Eleanor, email uhpspa@gwu.edu!

[SPA 2013-2014] Erin Brewer ESIA '15 – International Affairs

Erin enjoying the great outdoors.
Erin enjoying the great outdoors.

Howdy! My name is Erin Brewer and I am a sophomore (kinda) in the Elliot School studying international affairs with a concentration in development studies. My favorite thing about the honors program is all the interesting people you meet, including both your professors and your peers. My experience at GW has been exponentially improved by my involvement with the UHP. Some of my favorite things include eating, cooking, hiking, backpacking, and of course playing Ultimate Frisbee here at GW.
Erin’s SPAcialties: International Affairs Majors-General requirements and scheduling; Graduating Early-major requirements, dealing with anything and everything that could possibly go wrong; Study Abroad- fitting it into your 4 (or 3) year plan; Financial Stuff; scholarships, balancing a job with school and student orgs and having a social life.
If you’d like to get in touch with Erin, email uhpspa@gwu.edu!

[SPA 2013-2014] Fatema Ghasletwala CCAS '16 – Political Science

Just Fatema hanging out at the White House, nbd.
Just Fatema hanging out at the White House, nbd.

Hello! I’m Fatema, a sophomore in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Political Science (Public Policy Focus), minoring in Biology, as well as following the pre-med track. I’m from East Windsor, New Jersey (which will always be the bee’s knees to me, despite the notions Hollywood perpetuates). I’m infatuated with the University Honors Program; basement study hours, professors, and all. I wear the battle scars from my two semesters of Honors Chemistry as badges of honor. When I’m not dweebing out with my Honors professors in office hours, I love Gchatting the wonderful Honors advisors (yes, I still Gchat), binge Netflixing (if it’s on TV, I’ve seen it. Try me.), and exploring DC. I also always have at least 3 board games in my room at any given time and sometimes I stress shop. Feel free to get in touch with me with about anything mentioned here, especially if you too are a future POTUS.
 
Fatema’s SPAcialties: Political Science things; pre-med things; Honors housing vs non-Honors housing; balancing academics, extracurriculars, and all the great things GW/DC have to offer; handling the expectations of super-involved parents; general #Honorsproblems
 
If you’d like to get in touch with Fatema, email uhpspa@gwu.edu!

[SPA 2013-2014] Sarah Rood SEAS '14 – Biomedical Engineering

Sarah Rood: SPA, engineer, Disney fan.
Sarah Rood: SPA, engineer, Disney fan.

Hello! My name is Sarah Rood and I am a senior majoring in Biomedical Engineering. I am a part of a ton of orgs relating to engineering, including Theta Tau, the engineering fraternity and Tau Beta Pi, the engineering Honors society. Outside of the lab I am cheering on the Colonials as part of the Colonial Brass, GW’s very own pep band. I love the Honors program and the fact that I have gotten to take awesome classes with awesome professors outside my major. Fun Fact: I spent this past summer interning at NASA making fruit flies feel G-forces by spinning them in a centrifuge.
Sarah’s SPAcialties: Being an engineer and balancing engineering and honors; finding internships and scholarships; going abroad (especially as a science or engineering major); finding professional organizations and on-campus research
If you’d like to get in touch with Sarah, email uhpspa@gwu.edu!

[SPA 2013-2014] Siddhi Salvi GWSB '14 – Business Administration

Siddhi's all smiles for a new year with the UHP!
Siddhi’s all smiles for a new year with the UHP!

Hello, my name is Siddhi Salvi! I am a senior (yikes!) double concentrating in Business Economics and Public Policy as well as International Business in GWSB. I was born in India, lived in Wyoming for 4 years, and now call Nashua, NH (as well as DC) my home. At first the honors program scared me. I did not have a strong literary background and hadn’t read any religious work, ever. To put my ignorance in perspective, I didn’t even know who Adam and Eve were or what the significance of the “apple” was in the Bible. With that being said, I am proud to say that I have now read and analyzed the Bible, Bhagavad Gita, Quran, Saint Augustine, and many works by well-known philosophers. As a business student, I find it crucial to use the transferable skills that classes in the Honors Program (including Origins) teach to expand my way of thinking. Obviously none of this could have been done if it wasn’t for Catherine and Liz, who seriously have been a god send. Now obviously my life is not the Honors Program (although I basically live in the townhouse during exams), so for fun I enjoy eating my way through DC, exploring the city, and playing with my wonderful friends! I am so grateful for all this university has given me and am stoked for my final year!
Siddhi’s SPAcialties: Business School students; general scheduling/requirements; stress management; searching for on campus jobs; balancing work and play; typical #Honorsproblems (including not always knowing everything, adjusting to a new school/year, not knowing exactly how everything will work, etc.)
If you’d like to get in touch with Siddhi, email uhpspa@gwu.edu!

[SPA 2013-2014] Thomas Harr ESIA '16 – International Affairs

Thomas Harr lookin' good in his "Les Mis" style closeup.
Thomas Harr lookin’ good in his “Les Mis” style closeup.

Hello! I’m Thomas. I’m a sophomore in the Elliott School of International Affairs majoring in IA with a minor in Arabic and a concentration in international development. I love leaning and trying many different things, so much that deciding what to do can be very difficult. I love Liz and Catherine because they are genuine and make my life work. The Honors program is also the best part of GW, and I enjoy asking the big questions and learning more about myself. I like investing in people personally, and if you need anything at all please don’t be a stranger.
Thomas’s SPAcialties: Culture shock: transferring from a small private school in the South to a big city; academic stress; organization; program advice; language/major advice; personal well-being; pretty much anything you need I’ll do my best!
If you’d like to get in touch with Thomas, email uhpspa@gwu.edu!