2021 CPS Commencement

College of Professional Studies

2021 School Celebration

Undergraduate & Graduate Celebration
Saturday, May 15, 2021
7:30 p.m. EDT

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"On behalf of the university administration, as well as CPS faculty and staff, I want to extend to you my congratulations for your outstanding achievement. One of the defining characteristics of the College of Professional Studies is that it produces leaders in many different fields. And each of these fields is especially relevant to the challenges and opportunities the world currently faces. As GW and College of Professional Studies graduates, you will be in a unique position to contribute to and lead your profession in these and so many other ways. We wish you all the best as you pursue these endeavors."

Melissa R. Feuer

Interim Dean
College of Professional Studies

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What to Expect

CPS Order of Exercises (program will run approximately 1.5 hours)

Dean’s Remarks:
Melissa R. Feuer, Interim Dean of the College of Professional Studies

Distinguished Speaker:
Robert J. Contee III, Chief, Metropolitan Police Department, Washington, D.C.

Student Speaker:
Alfredo Gonzalez Alfonzo, Political Management

Presentation of Awards:

• Dr. Richard F. Southby Police Science Prize
• Founding Dean Arterton Award
• Mark and Debbie Kennedy Frontiers of Freedom Award
• Undergraduate Distinguished Scholar Award
• Graduate Distinguished Scholar Award
• College of Professional Studies Faculty Excellence Award

Presentation of Graduates (graduates recognized in the following order):

• Degree level (undergraduate, graduate)
• Major (alphabetical order)
• Last name (alphabetical order)

Charge to Graduates: 
Melissa R. Feuer, Interim Dean of the College of Professional Studies

GW Alma Mater: 
Sung by Dr. Natalie K. Houghtby-Haddon, Associate Director, GW Center for Excellence in Public Leadership

Order of Graduate Recognition

Graduates are recognized in the following order:

• Degree level (undergraduate, graduate)
• Major (alphabetical order)
• Last name (alphabetical order)

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Bachelor’s Degree | Cybersecurity
Congratulatory Remarks by Program Director Scott White

Bachelor’s Degree | Information Technology / Integrated Information, Science and Technology
Congratulatory Remarks by Program Director Joe Garrett

Bachelor’s Degree | Police and Security Studies
Congratulatory Remarks by Program Director Jeff Delinksi

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Master’s Degree | Cybersecurity Strategy and Information Management
Congratulatory Remarks by Associate Program Director Connie Uthoff

Master’s Degree | Homeland Security/ Security and Safety Leadership
Congratulatory Remarks by Program Director Elaine Lammert

Master’s Degree | Legislative Affairs
Congratulatory Remarks by Program Director Casey Burgat

Master’s Degree | Paralegal Studies
Congratulatory Remarks by Program Director Toni Marsh

Master’s Degree | Political Communication and Governance
Congratulatory Remarks by Program Director Roberto Izurieta

Master’s Degree | Political Management
Congratulatory Remarks by Program Director Todd Belt

Master’s Degree | Publishing
Congratulatory Remarks by Program Director John Warren

Master’s Degree | Strategic Public Relations
Congratulatory Remarks by Program Director Larry Parnell

Master’s Degree | Sustainable Urban Planning
Congratulatory Remarks by Program Director Sandra Whitehead

GW University-Wide Celebration for all Graduates

GW University-Wide Celebration for all Graduates
Sunday, May 16, 2021
Livestream at 1:00 p.m. EDT

When it is safe to do so, the university will host in-person celebrations on the National Mall to honor the Class of 2021 and the Class of 2020, with each class enjoying its own, curated celebration.

This May, we look forward to honoring our 2021 graduates virtually, with some in-person elements. Please see the FAQs for more information about our May 2021 celebrations. Please email [email protected] with questions.

For the most up-to-date information about GW's university-wide Commencement celebration, visit commencement.gwu.edu

Presentation of 2021 Graduates

 

Celebration Program

Please download the program PDF to view digitally and follow along with the ceremony, or print at home.

Download Program (PDF)

Distinguished Speaker

 

Robert J. Contee III,
Chief, Metropolitan Police Department, Washington, D.C.

Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Robert J. Contee III will give the address for CPS’s virtual Commencement celebration. Contee, a native of Washington, D.C., joined the MPD as a police cadet in 1989. He became a sworn member of the Department three years later and quickly rose through the ranks, serving in a variety of roles.

Most recently, he served as the Assistant Chief of the Investigative Services Bureau. He was appointed by Mayor Muriel Bowser as Acting Chief and sworn in to his new leadership role on January 2, 2021. Contee earned a B.P.S. in police science from CPS in 2012.
 

Learn More About Chief Contee

Student Speaker

 

Alfredo Gonzalez Alfonzo,
Political Management

Alfredo Gonzalez is an international student from Caracas, Venezuela. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications (cum laude) from the Universidad Catolica Andres Bello and is a candidate for an M.P.S. in Political Management from the Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM). He served as President of the GSPM Student Association for the 2020-21 academic year, and currently works as a Research Assistant for GSPM’s Latin America program.