Best of GW Faculty Lectures

Saturday, October 25, 11am - 1pm | Various Locations

Immerse yourself in the GW classroom experience at our Best of GW lectures. Join our world-renowned faculty for our most engaging, student-favorite lectures. We've got a fantastic lineup of lectures planned - everyone is welcome to attend any lecture, regardless of school. 

Please check back for more information, as additional lectures will be posted throughout the summer.

11am Lectures

• The AI-Augmented Student: How Human-Centered AI Nurtures Lifelong Learning (College of Professional Studies)

  • Featuring Jose Carlos Linares, College of Professional Studies (CPS) Board of Advisors
  • Saturday, October 25, 11am - 12pm | Room 251, Duquès Hall, 2201 G Street, NW
  • Explore the future of learning through the lens of the AI augmented student. Discover how human centered agentic tutors, purposeful prompt crafting, and responsible AI practices ignite curiosity, dissolve learning barriers, and reshape careers. We will navigate the ethical crossroads and managerial complexities of AI driven education, leaving alumni and families inspired with tomorrow’s essential skills. 

• Human Space Exploration in the 1990s - Space Shuttle and Beyond (Elliott School)

  • Featuring Dr. Scott Pace, Professor of the Practice of International Affairs and Director of the Space Policy Institute
  • Saturday, October 25, 11 - 11:30am | Room 213, 1957 E Street, NW
  • The 1990s were a time of transition for NASA as it operated the Space Shuttle and struggled to build what was to become the International Space Station. This talk covers both the dreams and realities of human space exploration at the end of the 20th Century. Professor Scott Pace was a senior NASA official from 2002-08 and was the executive secretary for the White House National Space Council 2017-20.

• Redesigning to Prepare Equity-Centered School Leaders through a University Partnership (Graduate School of Education and Human Development)

  • Featuring Dr. Abe Tekleselassie, Professor, Educational Administration; and Dr. Rebecca Thessin, Associate Professor, Educational Administration
  • Saturday, October 25, 11am - 12pm | Room B108, Gelman Library, 2130 H Street, NW
  • With grant funding from a philanthropic organization, the Educational Leadership & Administration Program (ELA) and the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) established a partnership to prepare aspiring equity-centered school leaders. Central to the program’s redesign effort is the authorship of a Portrait of a Graduate (POG) which informs the knowledge, professional practice and disposition of equity-centered leaders who dismantle systemic inequalities in educational access and opportunities among all students in the district. We will present the key features of our program’s redesign work, including our  Candidate Assessment System and instructional strategies introduced in course work, as well as describe the authentic learning experiences we have planned with DCPS leaders that have contributed to the partnership’s success. We seek to include recent graduates from this partnership program and/or DCPS leaders in our presentation as well.

• Speech, Power, and Leadership: Navigating Hard Conversations in Turbulent Times (Graduate School of Political Management)

  • Featuring Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, Executive Director of the Graduate School of Political Management
  • Saturday, October 25, 11am - 12pm | Room 359, Duquès Hall, 2201 G Street, NW
  • Join Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, Executive Director of GSPM, for a thought-provoking lecture exploring the complex relationship between communication, authority, and political leadership in an era marked by division and uncertainty. The lecture will examine how leaders use rhetoric to shape public opinion, influence policy, and navigate the challenges of contentious dialogue. In a time when polarized debates often hinder constructive discourse, this lecture will provide insights into how effective communication can transcend ideological boundaries, foster understanding, and guide society through moments of crisis. Through her own journey in public life, Debbie has seen firsthand how words can either divide or bring people together. The true test of leadership, she argues, is finding the courage to speak with clarity in the midst of chaos. When we cut through the noise with conviction and purpose, we not only shape outcomes but also strengthen the bonds that hold a nation together.

• Leading Outside Your Comfort Zone: Five Principles for Developing Leaders (GW Business)

  • Featuring Professor D. Christopher Kayes, PhD, Chair of the Department of Management and author of Leading Outside Your Comfort Zone 
  • Saturday, October 25, 11am - 12pm | Kendall Auditorium, Room 151, Duquès Hall, 2201 G Street, NW
  • Leading is inevitably frustrating and emotionally demanding, yet leaders get little training in how to deal with painful emotions. Since the global pandemic, stresses on leaders have only grown. To lead effectively in an age of anxiety, leaders must build the capacity to act in spite of unpleasant emotions, and bring a learning mindset to challenges that can otherwise feel overwhelming. This interactive session helps participants understand key principles that lead to growth as a leader and encourages reflection on their leadership development. A limited number of copies of the book, Leading Outside Your Comfort Zone, will be 'auctioned.'

• Food for Thought: The Science of Living Well (Milken Institute School of Public Health)

  • Featuring Dr. Allison Sylvetsky and Dr. Kyle Levers
  • Saturday, October 25, 11 - 11:45am | Convening Center, 950 New Hampshire Avenue, NW
  • Join our Exercise and Nutrition Sciences faculty for an interactive look at what we eat and how we care for ourselves. Learn the science behind healthy living and find out if you can spot common myths that make it harder to stay healthy.