GW: Tell us about what you are doing now and why it matters to you?
JCE: I am currently completing a book for the University of Texas Press that blends biography and memoir. It tells the story of Barbette, an Austin-area native who became Texas’ first internationally celebrated drag performer, while also tracing my own four-year journey to recover his remarkable life. The book is scheduled for release in 2027. My first documentary, Barbette + Fontaine, which is based on the story that inspired the book, is available online.
Barbette’s career took him from Central Texas to some of the world’s most celebrated stages, circuses, and film sets during the early twentieth century. Following his path has taken me across Texas, to New York City, and to Paris. I have traveled to Paris three times, most recently in May 2026, to search through archives, meet with historians, and piece together parts of his story that had nearly disappeared.
This project matters deeply to me because it restores an extraordinary queer Texan to the historical record while reflecting on what it means for me, as a gay Mexican American journalist from Texas, to search for him. Barbette’s life reminds us that LGBTQ+ history is not new; it has long been woven into the cultural history of Texas, the United States, and the world. My education at GW’s Elliott School gave me the international perspective and curiosity to pursue a story across borders, languages, archives, and generations, and to understand how one person’s life can illuminate a much larger history.
GW: What drew you to GW and the Elliott School for your undergraduate studies?
JCE: As the first person in my family to attend and graduate from college, choosing where to study felt especially meaningful. Growing up in Dallas, I was always drawn to Washington, D.C. I first visited on an eighth-grade school trip and fell in love with the city’s history, culture, and sense of possibility.
When I applied to GW, I initially planned to become an immigration lawyer, inspired by my own family’s experiences. The Elliott School offered the international perspective I knew I would need to understand immigration not only as a legal issue, but also as part of a much larger global story.
My time at GW ultimately guided me toward journalism, but I still treasure my Elliott School education. It taught me to approach stories with curiosity, cultural awareness, and a broader understanding of the world. I still draw on that foundation whenever my reporting or research leads across borders, cultures, and histories.
GW: How did the Elliott School influence your professional choices and successes?
JCE: The Elliott School helped me realize I could explore the issues I cared about through journalism. My studies taught me to look beyond a single law or headline and understand the political, historical, and cultural forces behind it. That perspective drew me toward storytelling.
It has shaped every stage of my career, from producing national news in Washington and New York to anchoring in Texas and Florida, directing award-winning documentaries, and writing my book about Barbette. The Elliott School taught me that even a local story can have national and international significance. I still rely on that foundation when reporting across communities, cultures, and borders, and it continues to influence both the stories I choose and the way I tell them.
GW: Are there particular classes and professors who stand out in your mind? Who helped you on your career path?
JCE: I am grateful for all of my professors at GW and the Elliott School, but Dr. Cynthia McClintock has had the greatest influence on my life. Although I focused on Latin America, I never actually took one of her classes. I met her outside the classroom through my classmate & friend, her daughter, Alicia.
Dr. McClintock’s mentorship has extended far beyond my years at GW. She has been present for many of the major milestones in my life and career, always offering encouragement and support. Most recently, she served as an executive producer of our Telly Award-winning short documentary, This Is Texas, which follows transgender members of the Austin Gay Men’s Chorus. Her lasting presence in my life reminds me that some of the most meaningful relationships formed at GW extend well beyond the classroom. [For more information on his documentaries, visit the Instagram account of John-Carlos’ production company.]
GW: What would you say to current Elliott School students who want to make a positive difference in the world?
JCE: Let the Elliott School be the foundation where you learn about the world, challenge your assumptions, and become curious about people and places beyond your own experience. You do not need to have your entire career mapped out while you are there. I arrived at GW thinking I would become an immigration lawyer, but my curiosity eventually led me to journalism, documentary filmmaking, and writing.
Stay open to where your education, relationships, and experiences take you. The path may not be the one you originally imagined, but the international perspective you gain at Elliott will prepare you to recognize meaningful stories, understand their broader context, and find your own way to make a positive difference. Let your curiosity lead you not only toward a career, but also toward your purpose.