Undergraduate Academic Advising
Academic advisors are the principal academic resource for undergraduate students in the Elliott School and advise students throughout their entire collegiate experience. They guide students through academic and professional decisions, assist in connecting students with university resources and opportunities, and encourage students to reflect on how their personal journey can inform responsible citizenship and ethical leadership.
Students are assigned an academic advisor based on their last name and are encouraged to engage with their advisor every semester.
Other ways to communicate with an advisor:
In addition to meeting with your advisor, you can also email your advisor questions. Your primary academic advisor is available to answer emails Monday thru Friday during regular business hours, generally 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST. You can also email [email protected] (our office email account) for more general questions. Email is the best option for short, simple questions (e.g. What date do I register?) and if you have more complex questions (e.g. Could you review my DegreeMAP with me, and discuss my graduation timeline?), we recommend scheduling an appointment. You can also call our office at 202-994-3002.
Note: when emailing any advisor it is important to include your GWID. For security purposes, it is also important to send your message from your GW email account.
- Drop-In Advising
Drop-in advising is a great option if you have a quick question or two about a DegreeMAP issue, class scheduling, academic policy clarification, or other concerns that can be addressed briefly. When coming to drop-in advising, you will be assigned to the first advisor on duty who is available rather than your assigned advisor.
WHERE?
Drop-ins are held both virtually (via Zoom) and in-person (1957 E St. NW, Suite 302).
Click HERE to join virtual drop-ins!
WHEN?
Drop-in advising hours are paused from December 11, 2024 thru January 10, 2025 for the Winter Break. Drop-ins will resume on January 13th, 2025. Come in for quick questions that any advisor can answer. Come in for quick questions that any advisor can answer. These appointments are limited to 10-15 minutes. If you need further assistance, please make an appointment with your primary advisor.
For more in-depth conversation about curriculum planning, personal issues or concerns, or multiple questions that require more time to respond, please schedule a 30 minute appointment. Thirty minute appointments must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance.Use this guide to help you choose between drop-ins or making an appointment!
Leadership Team
Sarah Squire
Director
Paul Wagner
Assistant Director
Colten Karnedy
Assistant Director
Daniela Saez
Administrative Coordinator
Specialized Advisors
- Career Services Special Advisors
Career Services at George Washington University has two industry focused professionals for Elliott School students. If you have questions about internships or employment opportunities you can meet with them to discuss resumes, cover letters, networking strategies, graduate school application materials, and even conduct mock interviews.
Cole Gaudin
Career Coach: International Affairs, Development, & Public Policy
Cole meets Elliott Students at the Undergraduate Advising office Suite 302 on Thursdays 1:00 - 4:00 PM. You can subscribe to the International Affairs Newsletter here. Access IA specific Career Resources here.
Email: [email protected]
Kisha Manning Bilal
Career Development Manager, Elliott School International Affairs
Kisha meets with Elliott Students at the Undergraduate Advising office Suite 302 on Thursdays 2:00 - 4:00 PM. Network with Elliott School alumni by joining the Virtual International Affairs Industry Community on Career Connect. Subscribe to the monthly Career Exploration Newsletter.
- Study Abroad Special Advisor
Do you have questions about studying abroad and want to talk about them with an advisor who understands the experience of Elliott School students? You can email [email protected] or make an appointment with Tyler Gadbury, your study abroad advisor.
ImageTyler Gadbury
Study Abroad Advisor for Elliott School of International Affairs
Tyler Gadbury serves as the Study Abroad Advisor for students in the Elliott School of International Affairs and George Washington School of Business. Tyler holds walk-ins every Tuesday from 1:00-4:00 PM at the Elliott School Undergraduate Academic Advising Office at Suite 302.
You can book an appointment here.
Email: [email protected]
- Pre-Law Advising and Law School Mentors
Interested in Law School? Take these steps and consider meeting with the GW Pre-Law Advisor:
- Review the GW Pre-Law website which is full of amazing resources that might answer some of your initial questions and familiarize yourself with the law school process;
- Join the pre-law listserv;
- Watch this pre-law advising introductory video;
- Review the Elliott School Pre-Law Resource Guide.
Still have questions? Ready to dive in deeper? Set up an appointment with the GW Pre-Law Advisor, Karen Johnson. Karen's bio and contact information can be found here.
If you are interested in discussing going into the field of law, please consider reaching out to our Elliott affiliated faculty, staff or alumni. We are excited to present a variety of mentors from various backgrounds. Please see their bios and the best way to schedule a time to meet with them below:
GW University Staff Mentors:
Dr. Lakeisha Harrison, Ph.D., Esq. (she/her)
Assistant Dean, Student Services, Diversity Equity & Inclusion
Professional Lecturer | African Studies
Elliott School of International Affairs (Link to bio)
Email Sebastian Reyes to set up a time to talk with Dr. Harrison
Elliott School Alumni Mentors:
Margaret Meiman (ESIA BA'20)
Maggie Meiman (ESIA BA'20) is a 2L student at New York University School of Law interested in international litigation and arbitration. At NYU, she is a member of the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Team, a Senior Staff Editor on the Journal of International Law and Politics, and a TA for the 1L Legal Research & Writing Class. Maggie worked in the Chambers of the Hon. Timothy M. Reif, U.S. Court of International Trade for her 1L summer, and will be spending her 2L summer at White & Case LLP. Prior to law school, Maggie worked as a Consultant in Deloitte’s Government and Public Services practice, supporting federal agencies to achieve strategic modernization objectives, as well as interning at the Council on Foreign Relations and the Atlantic Council. Maggie holds a B.A. in international affairs and economics from The George Washington University.
Email [email protected] to request a meeting.
Meenu Ann Mathews - Law Clerk at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Meenu graduated with a B.A. in International Affairs from ESIA in 2018 and a J.D. from Columbia Law School in 2023. After graduating from law school, she joined the Litigation Department at Davis, Polk, & Wardwell, a global law firm headquartered in New York, where she works on cross-border and government investigations, as well as civil litigation in federal courts. During law school, Meenu had experiences across the public and private sectors, interning with the Department of Justice, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and two global law firms in Washington, DC and New York. At Columbia, she was the Executive Articles Editor of the Human Rights Law Review, Mentorship Chair for Empowering Women of Color, and an Academic Coach/Teaching Assistant for first-year students. She also served as Co-Director of Law School Mastery®, a national pipeline program dedicated to mentoring and supporting diverse students as they enter law school. At GW, she was involved in the Student Association and the Pre-Law Association. As the first in her family to attend law school, Meenu is excited to help Elliott School students navigate the law school decision and application process!
Email [email protected] to request a meeting.
- Elliott School Student Success Coaches
The Student Success Coaching Program is an academic support service provided to enrolled undergraduates and is uniquely designed to help students build the needed foundation for a successful semester and academic year. The Elliott School has two designated success coaches that our students can meet with. For more information on success coaching, please visit the Office for Student Success website here. To sign up for success coaching, please use this link.
ImageDeepansh Sharma
Email: [email protected]
I'm a computer science graduate student at GW with roots proudly tracing back to India. My world revolves around diving into data and unraveling its mysteries, aiming to become a wizard in Data Analytics. Tech-savvy? Guilty as charged! I'm also a passionate music lover, you might find me strumming my guitar and belting tunes, much to my neighbors' delight (or despair). Football's another love of mine, both on the grass and in the digital realm – let's just say, I know how to score in more ways than one! Hiking and nature walks are my go-to for a dose of adventure, adding a bit of thrill to the mix. As your student coach, I'm here to bring a blend of fun, expertise, and a dash of musical flair to our sessions. Let's embark on this journey of learning and discovery together, with a few laughs and perhaps a tune or two along the way!
ImageSimran Dali
Email: [email protected]
I am currently pursuing a Master’s in Asian Studies at the Elliott School of International Affairs and hold a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from Dickinson College. As a Student Success Coach, I work collaboratively with students to help them develop effective learning strategies, establish study habits, and access campus resources. Success coaching is designed to empower students to set and achieve their academic goals while fostering self-advocacy. I'm passionate about helping students navigate their undergraduate journey and am fluent in four languages: English, Nepali, Hindi, and Marathi!
Resources
Academic Planning
Academic Resources
Community Engagement
Pre-Law Resources
For updates from the UG Advising Office and other student opportunities / events within The Elliott School, check out the bi-weekly Student Scoop email.
*Submission Deadline: Every other Wednesday at noon (see 2024-25 publish dates). Please email [email protected].