College Advisory Councils

The GW College of Professional Studies Dean’s Advisory Council is composed of a dynamic and diverse group of industry leaders who bring unparalleled expertise across the fields represented in our college.

Guided by the principles of Work, Wealth, and Wisdom, these accomplished professionals are dedicated to advancing the mission and vision of CPS. Through their work, they serve as ambassadors for the college within their personal and professional networks. Through their wealth, they provide vital philanthropic support that drives innovation and growth. Through their wisdom, they offer invaluable recommendations to enhance professional education, programming, and research.

Together, their leadership and commitment make a lasting impact on the success of our students and the future of the college.

Program Advisory Boards

In addition to the Dean’s Advisory Council, each academic program within the GW College of Professional Studies benefits from its own dedicated Program-Specific Advisory Board. These boards are carefully curated by program faculty to bring together experts, thought leaders, and practitioners who are passionate about advancing the mission of their respective programs. 

Program Advisory Boards play a vital role in supporting program-specific initiatives, offering strategic guidance, and fostering innovation in alignment with industry trends and student needs. Serving as an advisory resource to faculty directors, these boards provide invaluable insights and recommendations that ensure each program remains at the forefront of professional education and prepares graduates to excel in their fields.

The Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM)

The Graduate School of Political Management's (GSPM) Board of Advisors is made up of leaders from the forefront of today’s political and communications arenas who are active and engaged participants in the life of the school. They provide valuable financial contributions and act as advocates on the school's behalf. The board includes former members of Congress, as well as executive administration officials, national party chairs, presidential campaign managers, Washington power lobbyists, and public relations elites. The board plays an essential role in recruiting adjunct faculty to teach at the school, as well as attracting high-profile guest lecturers and speakers. Their advocacy of the merits of the applied education our graduates receive at GSPM has raised the profile of our degrees in the political job market.

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• Blue Co-Chair: Carly Cooperman, Partner & CEO, Schoen Cooperman Research
• Red Co-Chair: Jordan Bernstein, Chief Operating Officer, Cassidy and Associates

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• Lisa Apps, Communication Officer, Marquette University
• Selby Bush Lilley, Regional Vice President, Sempra Infrastructure
• Matt Chase, Executive Director, National Association of Counties
• Jesse Comart, Executive Vice President - Head of Communications, Goodleap
• Shari Dexter, Director of Political Action, American Hospital Association
• Julius Hobson, Senior Policy Advisor, Polsinelli
• Robert Hoopes, President, Vox Global
• Matthew Klink, Partner, California Strategies
• Bill Madway, Advocate-At-Large
• Michele Manatt, Political Strategist and Commentator
• Stephanie Peters, Founder & Global Government & Corporate Affairs Advisor, Dragonfly Strategies
• Traci Scott, National Security Outreach Coordinator, Principal | Communications, The Mitre Corporation
• Rex Wackerle, Vice President & Director of Federal Affairs, Prudential Financial
• Tiffany Waddell, Director of Government Relations, National Governors Association
• Ivan Zapien, Partner, Hogan Lovells

Cybersecurity Strategy & Information Technology (BPS & MPS)

The Advisory Board members of the GW Master of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity Strategy and Information Management program are senior level professionals who have extensive leadership experience with cybersecurity, technology management and national security.  They provide support and advice to the program, its curriculum and the development of new initiatives.

• Danelle Barrett, Former Rear Admiral
• John Felker, President, Morse Alpha Associates, Inc.
• David Pendall, Executive Advisor, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
• Sean Plankey, Chief Architect for Critical Infrastructure, BedRock Systems.
• Paul de Souza, Founder, Cyber Security Forum Initiative (CSFI)
• Cynthia Strand, Global Intelligence Strategy Lead, Primer.ai
• Thomas VanNorman, CISSP, GISC, Sr. VP, GRIMM (SMFS, Inc.)

 Homeland Security (BPS & MPS)

The Advisory Board members of the GW Master of Professional Studies and Bachelor of Professional Studies in Homeland Security programs are senior-level professionals with extensive operational and leadership experience with homeland security.  They provide support and advice to the programs, their curriculum, and the development of new initiatives.

• Damon Alexander, Deputy Director of Security, Acuity International
• Bobby R. Baker, Jr., Principal CBRNE Training Specialist
• Robert Crane, Project Manager – Energy Sector, Institute for Homeland Security at Sam Houston State University in Texas
• Nairi Simonian Gruzenski, Associate Counsel, USCIS, Office of Chief Counsel, Strategic Litigation Division
• Greg Morgan, Lieutenant, Los Angeles Police Department
• Joshua Pena, Communication Strategy and Operations Officer, United States Marine Corps
• Vincent Politte, Lions of Leadership
• Nick Reese, Co-founder and COO, Frontier Foundry
• Alex Wibe, Defense Acquisitions Professional & Retired Naval Aviator 

Paralegal Studies (MPS)

• Dayna Bowen Matthew, Dean, The George Washington University Law School (Board Role: Law Dean)
• Rhonda Carter, Paralegal Manager, Williams & Connolly (Board Role: Paralegal Manager DC)
• David Ettinger, Research Librarian and Paralegal Liaison, GW Gelman Library (Board Role: GW Library)
• Jacquie Hogan, Vice President, Westat (Board Role: Member of the public)
• Angela King (Board Role: Co-chair, Paralegal Manager Professional Organization DC [IPMA])
• Lisa Leibow, Assistant Professor, The George Washington University (Board Role: GW Paralegal Faculty)
• Toni Marsh, Director, GW Paralegal Studies Program (Board Role: Paralegal Program Director)
• Sherene McDougall, Compliance Paralegal, Northrop Grumman (Board Role: President, Paralegal Professional Association [NCAPA])
• Nicole Mintz, Director, CPS Career Services (Board Role: GW CPS Director of Career Services)
• Scott Pagel, Director, GW Law School Library (Board Role: Director, GW Law Library)
• Liesl Riddle, Dean, The George Washington University College of Professional Studies (Board Role: Administration)
• Morgan Rohrhofer, Paralegal Manager, Wilkinson Walsh + Eskovitz (Board Role: Paralegal Manager DC, Professional Organization DC)
• Christine Villareal Cunetta, Paralegal, Bowman and Brooke (Board role: GW Paralegal Alumna)

This section is currently being updated. Please contact program director Toni Marsh with any questions.

Publishing (MPS)

The Advisory Board for the Graduate Program in Publishing, College of Professional Studies, George Washington University, hold professional senior leadership positions in trade, academic, scholarly, government, and international publishing, providing support and advice to the Program Director on program curriculum, new initiatives, and career opportunities.

• Becky Brasington Clark, Director of Publishing, Library of Congress 
• Christie Henry, Director, Princeton University Press
• Geneva Henry, Dean of Libraries and Academic Innovation, Vice Provost for Libraries and Information Technology, The George Washington University
• Dennis Johnson, Publisher, Melville House
• Jed Lyons, President and CEO, The Globe Pequot Publishing Group, Inc.
• Gita Manaktala, Editorial Director, The MIT Press
• Brian F. O'Leary, Executive Director, Book Industry Study Group
• Cristóbal Pera, VP and Publisher, Editorial Planeta USA
• Niko Pfund, President, Oxford University Press US
• Barbara Kline Pope, Director, Johns Hopkins University Press
• Chris Reid, Director, Publishing and Product Development, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
• Liesl Riddle, Dean, The George Washington University College of Professional Studies
• Josephine Sciortino, MPS (2019), Managing Editor, Canadian Science Publishing; Professor, GW Publishing
• Kimberly Ayers Shariff, Executive Vice President, Director of Strategy for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Penguin Random House
• Dean Smith, Director, Duke University Press; Professor, GW Publishing
• Randy Townsend, MPS (2014), Origin Editorial; Professor, GW Publishing

 

Sustainable Urban Planning (MPS)

• Robert Duffy, Former Arlington County Planning Director/Consultant
• Alexander Freedman, Planning Manager, City of Takoma Park
• Jill Schreifer, CEO, The Schreifer Group
• Alexander Ochs, CEO, SD Strategies
• Anneta Arno, Director of Health Equity, D.C. Department of Health
• Nick Kushner, Community Planner, D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation
• David Owens, President, Fort Washington Forward

This section is currently being updated. Please contact program director Dr. Sandra Whitehead with any questions.