Moving Forward
GW’s new strategic framework will guide decision-making for the next seven to 10 years. Designed as a living document, it ensures the university can grow with intention while adapting to new opportunities and challenges.
Phased Implementation:
We will implement the framework in a phased approach to ensure clear progress and adaptability over time.
The framework will inform our fundraising activities to support these projects and initiatives while also guiding strategic investments made during annual budget planning.
Each phase will be designed to stay responsive to our evolving environment, ensuring we make intentional progress while adapting to new opportunities and challenges that arise.
Phase One:
Priority One:
- Reimagining the Research Support Teams
- Working Group on Building an Interdisciplinary Research Ecosystem
Priority Two:
- Refreshing the Common Spaces on Campus
- Working Group on Expanding and Embedding D.C. Experiences
- Working Group on Enhancing Career and Academic Advising
Priority Three:
Priority One, Two, Three:
More initiatives and activities will be added as they are announced.
Phase Two:
To be announced within 18 to 24 months, this second phase will expand on this foundation by introducing projects and initiatives with identified funding potential.
The framework will inform our fundraising activities to support these projects and initiatives while also guiding strategic investments made during annual budget planning.
Each phase will be designed to stay responsive to our evolving environment, ensuring we make intentional progress while adapting to new opportunities and challenges that arise.

Navigating an Uncertain Environment
As we embark on this ambitious journey, we recognize that we are launching this strategic framework amid significant uncertainty and instability. Like all higher education institutions, GW faces evolving challenges and headwinds, including the increasing impact of federal government actions.
In times such as these, it is especially important that we have a clearly defined, mission-grounded direction toward which to travel. Thus, this framework will guide how we prioritize, invest, and focus.
We also acknowledge that the current climate may affect the timing of our plans and the speed with which we pursue them. We commit to continuously evaluating these external pressures, adjusting our approach as needed, and maintaining transparent communication with our community about progress and any necessary changes.

Building on a Resilient Legacy
For over 200 years, GW has weathered challenges while serving our students and advancing knowledge, and we will continue to do so in our third century. This framework stands as a testament to our university's resilient legacy, its enduring strengths, and the bright future we are building together.
The Steering Committee
- President Granberg's Charge to the Steering Committee
October 2, 2025
The committee is charged with receiving and reviewing interim updates on the initiatives and implementation efforts launched as part of Phase One, and ensuring these efforts remain aligned with institutional priorities and responsive to an evolving environment. The committee will also monitor progress toward the framework’s primary outcomes of expanding the research enterprise and improving student success.
In addition, the committee is charged with designing a process to source and evaluate proposals for Phase Two implementation. This process will ensure that the next round of framework activity is again shaped by broad community engagement, responsive to external conditions and budget developments, and positioned to advance GW’s key priorities and goals.
Steering Committee Members
- Alyssa Ayres, Dean, Elliott School of International Affairs
- Kelley Bishop, Associate Vice Provost for Career Services
- Dayna Bowen Matthew, Dean, GW Law
- Jeffrey Brand, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Affairs and Special Programs
- Colette Coleman, Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
- Bruno Fernandes, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
- Jay Goff, Vice Provost for Enrollment and Student Success
- John Lach, Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Robert H. Miller, Interim Vice Provost for Research
- Ellen Moran, Vice President, Communications and Marketing
- Scott M. Mory, Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff
- Terry Murphy, Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs
- David Unruh, Vice President, University Advancement
- Amita Vyas, Professor, Milken Institute School of Public Health; Director of the GW Maternal and Child Health Center of Excellence; Member of Faculty Senate Executive Committee
- Paul Wahlbeck, Dean, Columbian College of Arts and Sciences