SMPA Ambassadors
SMPA Ambassadors
SMPA Student Ambassadors are a dedicated group of students who are proud to be part of the SMPA community and want to serve as ambassadors and mentors for their peers, the university, and prospective students.
Student ambassadors support the School of Media and Public Affairs by representing the school and its programs at key recruiting events, acting as peer mentors to incoming students adjusting to life at GW, and providing an important perspective on life as an SMPA student.
Read more about our current ambassadors below. Interested in becoming an SMPA ambassador? Reach out torocios
email [dot] gwu [dot] edu ( Rocio Santiago-Balsalobre) here for more information.
Nicole Akumatey
Majors: Journalism & Mass Communication
and International Affairs
Hobbies: Exploring DC, trying new matcha spots, shopping, and yapping about music.
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Diana Anos
Majors: Journalism & Mass Communication
and Political Science
Hobbies: Yoga, tennis, reading, finding new coffee shops and spending time with friends.
Jeremy Bach
Major: Political Communication
Minor: Statistics
Hobbies: Playing hockey, running around DC, listening to music, and watching sports.
Anna Beltran
Major: Political Communication
Hobbies: Gym, golf, cook, watch movies, hang out with friends and family.
Zach Brody
Major: Political Communication Minor: Public Policy
Hobbies: Captain of the Ultimate Frisbee Team; senior advisor/former exec producer on GW-TV's Unstoppable; plays cello in orchestra since freshman year; Knicks fan (2026 champs!); fantasy football addict.
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Kassidy Corey
Major: Journalism and Mass Communication
Minor: Sustainability
Hobbies: Dancer, musical theatre and Broadway shows, days in NYC/DC and the beach, huge Disney fan.
Maggie Crisp
Major: Journalism & Mass Communication
Minor: Criminal Justice and Art History
Hobbies: Reading, watching movies, making crafts, finding the best coffee spots in DC.
Zachary Crystal
Majors: Journalism & Mass Communication and Political Science
Hobbies: Soccer, glassblowing, reading, basketball, and cooking.
Claudia Elwell
Majors: Journalism & Mass Communication
Hobbies: Reading, runs around the monuments, picnics in U-Yard with friends.
Alexia Green
Major: Journalism & Mass Communication and Political Science
Hobbies: Walks, trying new restaurants/food spots, listening to music, watching Marvel movies.
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Reena Gupta
Majors: Journalism & Mass Communication and Political Science
Hobbies: Long walks, cooking, dance, trying new cafes.
Ava Harris
Majors: Journalism & Mass Communication; American Studies
Hobbies: Reading Substacks, thrifting, making extensive Spotify playlists, and exploring the city with friends!
Sydney Heise
Major: Political Communication
Hobbies: Writing a sports column for the GW Hatchet, crafting Spotify playlists, ranking new DC food spots on Beli.
Reagan Higgins
Major: Political Communication; Minor: Spanish
Hobbies: Yoga, running, going to concerts, finding amazing coffee shops.
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Ava Hidalgo
Majors: Political Communication and Dance
Hobbies: Exploring DC, family and friends, reading, dancing.
Gianna Jakubowski
Majors: Journalism & Mass Communication and Political Science
Hobbies: Exploring DC, listening to music, reading, watching the Yankees, and playing guitar.
Lallie Lima
Majors: Journalism and Mass Communications and Marketing
Hobbies: Reading, going for walks, discovering new music at live shows around the city, and spending time with friends and family!
Mackenzie Matthieu
Major: Political Communication; Minor: Creative Writing
Hobbies: Reading, listening to music, crocheting, exploring DC museums, spending time with friends.
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Sofia Mocsi
Major: Journalism and Mass Communication
Minor: Sociology
Hobbies: Spending time with friends and family, traveling, exploring DC.
Fiona Murphy
Major: Political Communication Minor: Journalism and Mass Communications
Hobbies: Painting, video editing, journaling, running, traveling, time with friends and family.
Aimee Okagawa
Major: Political Communication Minor: Music
Hobbies:Hiking, the beach, matcha, reading, playing piano, Pilates, and yoga with friends.
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Avanti Patwardhan
Major: Political Communication; Minor: Sociology
Hobbies: Theater, GW-TV, dance, reading, walks around the city.
Ashwin Rahalkar-Sasane
Majors: Political Communications and International Business
Hobbies: Working out, chess, basketball/football, traveling, trying new foods.
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Milo Rosenzweig
Major: Journalism and Mass Communication
Hobbies: Time with family & friends, the New York Yankees, and exploring new places with my camera!
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Violet Sheehan
Major: Political Communication; Minor: Linguistics
Hobbies: Reading non-fiction and mystery, watching reality TV with friends, thrifting for trinkets and vinyl.
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Ben Solasky
Major: Political Communication; Minor: History
Hobbies:Reading, photography, listening to music, time with friends and family, writing.
Lauren Varino
Major: Journalism and Mass Communication
Hobbies: Film photography, long walks, concerts, co-hosting a radio show, documentaries, time with friends.
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Charlie Walters
Major: Political Communication Minors: Public Policy and Public Health
Hobbies: GW Ultimate Frisbee; News Director and Host of "On The Ballot" on WRGW.
Brady Wilson
Major: Journalism and Mass Communication
Hobbies: Working out, DJing, listening to music, trying new foods.
McKenzie Young
Major: Journalism and Mass Communication
Hobbies: Dancing, spending time with friends, listening to music, baking, vlogging.