Schedule of Events

This event is for the GWSPH community. The 950 Awards are given to alumni who display outstanding service to the school and have made significant strides in their careers in public health, health policy and health management. The award, launched to celebrate the school's 20th anniversary, is named after the School of Public Health's LEED certified building, located at 950 New Hampshire Ave., which provides a remarkable home to educate our students and nurture the research of our faculty. Registration for this event is separate from AFW registration; register at go.gwu.edu/950.

By invitation only. You are invited to join GW Family Leadership Circle members, university leadership, and fellow GW families for a spirited tailgate at President Granberg’s home, the historic F Street House. Come celebrate the impact of family philanthropy on the student experience and show your enthusiastic support for the GW Men’s Basketball team as they compete against our neighbor, Georgetown. (Buff and Blue attire is highly encouraged!) The GW Family Leadership Circle welcomes all families to engage in community, philanthropy, and connection at GW. To learn more about joining the GW Family Leadership Circle please contact Bonnie Pierce at bonniep@gwu.edu. Students are welcome to attend with their parents; they must also register for the event to attend.

Raise high your Buff & Blue as the Monumental Matchup returns to the Charles E. Smith Center! One of D.C.’s most storied rivalries, dating back to 1907, brings generations of GW pride together for an unforgettable new AFW tradition.

Cheer on GW as we take on Georgetown in a crosstown showdown that’s perfect for kicking off your weekend, whether you’re returning to campus as an alum or experiencing GW spirit for the first time with your GW student. 

Smith Center bag policy: https://gwsports.com/sports/2025/5/30/no-bag-policy

Use this link to access the exclusive AFW discount and reserved seating area specifically for families of current students. There are a limited number of reserved seats available; families are encouraged to purchase their tickets early. 

Raise high your Buff & Blue as the Monumental Matchup returns to the Charles E. Smith Center! One of D.C.’s most storied rivalries, dating back to 1907, brings generations of GW pride together for an unforgettable new AFW tradition.

Cheer on GW as we take on Georgetown in a crosstown showdown that’s perfect for kicking off your weekend, whether you’re returning to campus as an alum or experiencing GW spirit for the first time with your GW student. 

Smith Center bag policy: https://gwsports.com/sports/2025/5/30/no-bag-policy

Use this link to access the exclusive AFW discount and reserved seating area specifically for alumni and their guests. There are a limited number of reserved seats available; alumni are encouraged to purchase their tickets early.

Calling All Alumni! ​Immediately following the GW men's exhibition basketball game, head to Kogan Plaza and kick off the weekend with fellow GW grads! This high-energy celebration is the perfect opportunity to reconnect with classmates, share memories, and make new connections while enjoying great music, food, and drinks. 🎵🎉✨

$25 | Ages 21+ suggested

Join us for the annual family and alumni weekend aca-concert featuring all of GW’s incredible a cappella groups, including: The Troubadours, The Sons of Pitch, The Vibes, The Sirens, The Pitches, The Funkers, and Black and Gold! Doors open at 7:30pm; show starts at 8pm. Seating is first come, first served, and registration on this site does not guarantee a seat. A $5 suggested donation at the door supports Miriam's Kitchen.

Join GW Athletics during Alumni & Families Weekend for an exclusive Open House and Panel Discussion entitled "The Rapidly Evolving Landscape of College Athletics," featuring Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael Lipitz and select guests.

Join us for Deans’ Open Houses at GW’s respective schools to connect, meet faculty and staff, and learn more about the academic experience. See individual descriptions below:

College of Professional Studies (CPS) & Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM) Open House | 9:30 - 11am, CPS Dean's Suite, 3rd Floor, 805 21st Street, NW
The College of Professional Studies and Graduate School of Political Management invite you to join our open house for a unique opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with the college's leadership, faculty, staff, and fellow alumni. Learn about CPS and GSPM’s many exciting initiatives while enjoying a delicious breakfast bar. We look forward to seeing you there!

Columbian College (CCAS) Open House | 9:30 - 11am, Gallery 102, 801 22nd Street, NW
Kick off Alumni & Family Weekend with Dean Paul Wahlbeck and the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences community at our annual Dean's Reception. Reconnect with fellow alumni, families, faculty, and friends while enjoying light refreshments, meaningful conversations, and hearing about the innovative teaching, research, and student experiences shaping the future of the college. Whether you're returning to campus for the first time in years or continuing a long standing tradition, we look forward to welcoming you back to Columbian College.

Elliott School (ESIA) Open House | 9:30 - 11am, 1957 E Street, NW
Join the Elliott School for an open house. Take a tour of the building, see the amazing views of D.C. from the City View Room, and get your photo taken with our dean, Dr. Alyssa Ayres. After the open house, stay for brief lectures by select Elliott School faculty as part of the Best of GW Faculty Lectures.

Graduate School of Education and Human Development (GSEHD) Open House | Please note: This event takes place from 2–3:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 17. Please scroll down to this event on the schedule for full details.

GW Business (GWSB) Open House | 9:30 - 11am, Duquès Hall, 2201 G Street, NW
Join the GW School of Business for an open house in Duquès Hall. Hear welcome remarks from Dean Sevin Yeltekin, enjoy a light breakfast with coffee and refreshments, and connect with faculty and staff. Explore our classrooms, collaborative spaces, and community while learning more about the GW Business experience.

GW Engineering (SEAS) Open House | 9:30 - 11am, Science and Engineering Hall, 800 22nd Street, NW
You're invited to GW Engineering's open house at the Science and Engineering Hall. Enjoy a light breakfast while connecting with members of the GW Engineering community, hear remarks from Dean John Lach, and explore our state-of-the-art facilities on a guided tour. We look forward to welcoming you!

Milken Institute School of Public Health (GWSPH) Open House | 9:30 - 11am, Milken Institute School of Public Health, 950 New Hampshire Avenue, NW
We invite you to join GWSPH for an interactive exploration of the dynamic field of public health and our state of the art building and facilities. Connect with SPH leadership, faculty, staff, students and other school partners while enjoying a light breakfast spread.

Celebrate 30 years of treble‑making with the GW Pitches as alumni and current members come together for a special on‑campus reunion brunch. Enjoy a relaxed meal, a Pitch‑perfect sing‑along, and plenty of time to reconnect with the voices and people who helped shape the group’s sound. Since 1996, the Pitches have been GW’s first all‑treble a cappella group. Join us as we mark three decades of music, memories, and community. This event is for alumni and student members of the GW Pitches. 

Learn more about campus resources and the support structures in place to aid in your student’s success at GW! Rain site: Continental Ballroom, University Student Center, 800 21st Street, NW

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 — topics will be posted at go.gwu.edu/bestofgw.

You can decide later which session you’d like to attend — you can even make your choice the day of. We will email everyone who registers with the full list of lecture options, and you can always visit go.gwu.edu/bestofgw for the most up‑to‑date lineup.

A conversation with GW's 19th President Ellen M. Granberg about the collaborations taking place across the university community and the changes at GW designed to enhance our institutional prominence.

Please note: Only pre-registered guests will be admitted. Seating inside JMA is first-come, first-served for pre-registered guests, and a seat is not guaranteed, so we encourage you to arrive early to grab your spot!

What's your education story? Join Dean Howard and the Graduate School of Education and Human Development (GSEHD) for afternoon tea. Enjoy tea, coffee, and light refreshments while mingling with fellow GSEHD alumni, members of GSEHD's National Council for Education and Human Development, faculty, and staff.

Join us for a Grand Re-Opening of Mitchell Hall. Reconnect with old friends, meet current residents, and enjoy the newly renovated residence hall. All alumni, families, and friends are welcome—come see why Mitchell still feels like home!

Celebrate fall on GW’s beautiful Mount Vernon Campus with a traditional autumn festival hosted by the Division of Student Affairs. Enjoy games, pumpkin decorating, crafts, fall treats and more!🍁🎃🍂

Buses for the Vern Harvest
Coach buses are operating between 2 - 6pm on Saturday, 10/17, to take Alumni & Families Weekend attendees to the Vern Harvest at the Mount Vernon Campus. Coach buses will pick up and drop off from Foggy Bottom in front of Funger hall. Coach buses will drop off and pick up at the Mount Vernon Campus on Whitehaven Pkwy (entrance to the Mount Vernon Campus).

 In addition, the Mount Vernon Express Shuttle (VEX) is running every 20 minutes in front of Tompkins Hall.

Attendees with mobility issues should use the VEX shuttle as they will be dropped off at the clocktower stop closer to the Vern Harvest event.

Join fellow alumni for a relaxed, family‑friendly biergarten gathering filled with good conversation, lawn games, and plenty of Buff & Blue spirit. Enjoy an open‑air setting where you can reconnect with old friends, meet graduates from across the decades, and chat with members of the Board of Trustees. Kids are welcome, and casual vibes are encouraged — just bring your GW pride and settle in for an easy, fun afternoon together. 🍺🥤🥨🌭

This event is for GW alumni and their guests. Join us for Cultural Collage, an evening bringing together GW’s Shared Identity & Interest Alumni Communities and all those who value connection and community. Reconnect with fellow alumni, make new friends, and celebrate the vibrant experiences that make GW’s alumni community so unique.

This special reception will offer the chance to mix and mingle across communities, share your GW stories, and explore ways to engage with programs that reflect and honor our shared identities and interests. Visit the Shared Identity and Interest Communities website to learn more.

Reconnect with classmates and celebrate your milestone year at your class reunion party. Enjoy great food, drinks, and conversation as you revisit favorite memories, catch up on life since graduation, and celebrate the community that shaped your GW experience and continues to shape your GW story — all in our newly renovated City View Room and State Rooms, featuring stunning views from the terrace overlooking iconic D.C. landmarks, monuments, and the National Mall.

presented by GW Program Board & the Division for Student Affairs

Get ready for a night of big laughs with Janelle James, the five-time Emmy-nominated comedian, writer, and actress best known for her scene-stealing role as Principal Ava Coleman on ABC's Abbott Elementary! Join the Division for Student Affairs and GW Program Board as Janelle James takes the stage for GW’s annual Fall Comedy Show, one of the university’s favorite traditions. Open to students, families, and alumni, this is a Family Weekend event you won’t want to miss!

CURRENT STUDENTS: purchase your tickets at go.gwu.edu/student25 (student email needed for purchase). 

Doors open at 8 p.m. Please arrive early. The show begins promptly at 9 p.m., and all guests must be seated by then, as doors will close at showtime.

Wrap up Alumni & Families Weekend with Vice President Colette Coleman, staff from the Division for Student Affairs, and a special jazz performance by talented GW student musicians. Enjoy a delicious brunch buffet, connect with fellow GW families, and spend one last memorable morning with your GW student before heading home. Capacity is limited to the first 600 people. Families are encouraged to register early as this event tends to sell out. 🎷☕🥞☀️

Need a few more essentials for your student's room or apartment? Stop by the IKEA Pop-Up Shop during Alumni & Families Weekend to browse a selection of dorm and apartment favorites. Whether you're looking for storage solutions, organization essentials, or cozy touches, it's the perfect opportunity to pick up practical items while on campus.

District Connections trips are designed for incoming undergraduate students at George Washington University. District Connections offers students access to staff- and peer-led events around Washington, DC that allow them to forge connections with other GW students and learn more about our vibrant city.

During Alumni & Families Weekend, all students, families, and supporters are invited to join one of our GWxDC trips around town. The trips are free, but capacity is limited per trip. Families are encouraged to register early as trips will sell out. Guided trips will be using the Metro system to explore the area, just like our students do! 🚇🏛️

We will not have a waitlist, but if the trips fill up, we encourage you to come to the University Student Center at 12:30 pm just in case we have no shows that day.

12:30 - 4:00 pm Trips (50 participants per trip):

• Lincoln Memorial Undercroft Tour
• National Geographic Museum
• National Zoo
• O Street Mansion

Join us for an exciting finish to George Washington's Alumni & Families Weekend as the GW Revolutionaries women's basketball team hosts Towson in an exhibition game on Sunday, October 18 at the Charles E. Smith Center.

Be among the first to see the Revolutionaries in action after last season's historic run to the WNIT Great Eight. Led by returning All-Atlantic 10 standout Gabby Reynolds alongside key returners Sara Lewis, Tanah Becker, Kamari Sims and Jaeda Wilson, plus an experienced transfer class, this year's team is ready to build on one of the program's most successful seasons in recent memory.