Georgetown Scholars Program - GSP

Hey incoming GSPeeps! Join the summer GSP interns for an open Q&A session on everything academics and meet some of the fellow GSPers in your cohort! Sign up here: bit.ly/gspdropinhours. We will be answering your questions, sharing tips and tricks on how to succeed in your first semester in college – we'll give the rundown on how to navigate office hours with professors, stay organized, and manage your extracurriculars! If you attend you will be entered into our gift card raffle!

If you’re looking to take a course with an actual doctor, sign up for MHC! as one of our star faculty members is Rajiv Sonti, MD! Rajiv obtained his MD at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 2011. He is a practicing physician at Georgetown MedStar and an assistant professor at the Georgetown Medical School, teaching under the Division of Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonology. 

Co-teaching with Rajiv Sonti is the incredible Ben Cheng, JD! Ben has a BA in Biochemistry from Harvard University and a JD from University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. Passionate and accomplished, Ben has been teaching MHC for nearly five years and is currently a professor at Georgetown Law, teaching Legal English. 

Register for MHC to connect with Rajiv and Ben! The three sections’ information is below:
Section 1 - M/W 5:00PM-6:15PM (CRN 40933)
Section 2 - T/R 11:00AM-12:15PM (CRN 40932) 
Section 3 - T/R 2:00PM-3:15PM (CRN 40931) - Rajiv and Ben’s Section!

Our next star MHC faculty are Shree Taylor, PhD and Pamela Amusa, JD! Shree Taylor is a current adjunct lecturer at the Red House and has been teaching MHC since 2021. Dr. Taylor is a first-generation college graduate, earning her BS and MS in mathematics from Clark Atlanta University and her PhD in applied/computational mathematics from North Carolina State University. She has also made significant contributions as a Senior Data Scientist at Elder Research. With her extensive credentials and commitment to supporting first-generation and low-income students, Dr. Taylor is a vital part of the MHC faculty.

New to the MHC community is Pamela Amusa. While a new MHC faculty member, Pamela is very familiar with Georgetown, as she earned her BA in Government at GU, before pursuing a Masters of Science at Oxford University and J.D. from Harvard Law School. Pamela is an accomplished Georgetown community member, and is more than excited to share her wisdom with MHC students this fall. 

Sign up for MHC to make connections with amazing instructors like Shree and Pamela! The three sections’ information is below:
Section 1 - M/W 5:00PM-6:15PM (CRN 40933) - Shree and Pamela’s Section!
Section 2 - T/R 11:00AM-12:15PM (CRN 40932) 
Section 3 - T/R 2:00PM-3:15PM (CRN 40931)

Mastering the Hidden Curriculum (MHC) is a 2-credit, pass/fail course designed to help first-gen and/or low-income (FGLI) identifying students navigate the complexities of a higher education environment. MHC features a diverse and accomplished group of faculty members! GSP would like to highlight the star faculty who will be instructing the course this fall. 📚
Meet Kendra Billingslea! Kendra is currently the Associate Dean of the SFS and Curricular Dean for the Global Business (GBUS) major and Business and Global Affairs (BGA) program. She has been serving Georgetown for nearly 20 years and is truly dedicated to supporting students and their unique journeys. ..
Instructing alongside Kendra is Ray Shiu. Ray is currently the Deputy Director of the Center for Social Justice & Research (CSJ), where he is responsible for the overall management of CSJ’s staff-run and student-run social justice community-based engagement. Originally from Modesto, CA, Ray is a first-gen graduate of University of California, Davis, with a BS in genetics and Columbia University, with an MA in Higher Education.
To learn from amazing instructors like Kendra and Ray, sign up for MHC. The three sections’ information is below:
Section 1 - M/W 5:00PM-6:15PM (CRN 40933)
Section 2 - T/R 11:00AM-12:15PM (CRN 40932) - Kendra and Ray's Section!
Section 3 - T/R 2:00PM-3:15PM (CRN 40931)

Are you in need of a bedding set for the school year? Sign up for free bedding! The sign-up form can be found in your GU email under the subject line: “FREE BEDDING FROM GSP (LINK INCLUDED)!!!” Be sure to sign up by Monday, July 29th, to receive sheets, comforters, a mattress topper, towels, and more!

For Summer Session II, the GSP Lounge will be open Monday through Friday from 12PM to 4PM. Come on down to Leavey 433 and hang out, study, or just grab some free snacks and drinks! These hours will be effective through the end of Session II (August 9th). We will also be available M-F, 10AM-5PM, to answer any questions via [email protected].

Calling all first-years! Sign up for a GSPeer Mentor! Our GSPeer mentors are more than eager to help you transition into Georgetown, whether it be through helping with registration or being your friend. Check your GU email for the subject: “A PEER MENTOR FOR YOU!!” to access the sign-up form and peer mentor lookbook!

Image Description: Illustration of four people sitting at a white table on light-blue background with text, “Attention First-Years! Sign up for a GSPeer Mentor! Perks: Build a support network! Get registration help! Make a new friend! Deadline: Monday, July 15th”

Hey Class of 2024! 🧑‍🎓 The GSP Grants committee is asking for recent GSP Graduates to complete a brief survey on your graduation expenses and how you spent your Senior Graduation Grant in order to better understand its impact and improve resources for future GSPeeps! 📋

🔗 Help out by answering the survey through: bit.ly/Srgrantsurvey

In celebration of Pride Month, GSP would like to highlight our LGBTQIA+/q***r identifying GSPers (current students and alumni included) as well as allies (e.g. faculty, staff, alumni mentors, etc.) who have played an integral role in supporting GSPers! Our final spotlight is Ollie Henry (C'24)!
Ollie Henry (they/them) is a graduate of Georgetown University, a poet, certified yoga instructor, and activist in the D.C. area, creating accessible spaces of healing and advocacy for q***r folx of the African Diaspora. At Georgetown, they double majored in Government and Women and Gender Studies, highlighting the intersection of Black Q***r Feminism and Buddhism. They also advocated for reparations through Hoyas Advocating for Slavery Accountability and co-organized the GU Protects Racists sit-ins demanding justice for a fellow GSPer who was hate-crimed. This past year, Ollie made their-story as the first non-binary speaker at the March on Washington, representing the National Black Justice Coalition alongside trans rights activist Hope Giselle. They are an alumnus of the Black Interfaith Fellowship and the Fannie Lou Hamer Fellowship with the American Association of People with Disabilities, engaging national conversations about blackness, spirituality, and disability. They continued their advocacy through an internship with the American Association of People with Disabilities and will be joining the ACLU this fall as one of their Pauli Murray Fellows!
Ollie says, “I am so proud of being a member of the q***r GSP community! By showing up unapologetically, we've been changing the game on how to ‘do’ Georgetown. From demanding the creation of the LGBTQ+ Resource Center to the recent win for gender inclusive housing, q***r GSPers have been at the forefront of making our Georgetown community a space of belonging for all of us. In every room, we toss out the word "normal" and reimagine new ways of being in community with each other. That work is not easy and leaves a lot of us burnt out. And still, we continue to show up. To all of the current q***r undergrads - there's a village cheering you on from the other side of the graduation stage!”

In celebration of Pride Month, GSP would like to highlight our LGBTQIA+/q***r identifying GSPers (current students and alumni included) as well as allies (e.g. faculty, staff, alumni mentors, etc.) who have played an integral role in supporting GSPers! Our next spotlight is Julian De La Paz (F’15), pictured here with his alumni mentor and good friend, Jenn Liguori!  

Originally from El Paso Texas, Julian bleeds Blue and Gray: he is an avid volunteer for GSP, a Senator on Georgetown’s Board of Governors, a chairman within the Alumni Admissions Program (encouraging future GSPers to attend Georgetown), and even serves on the Georgetown Entertainment and Media Alliance. (Students interested in media: check out the GEMA externship!). Professionally, Julian has nearly a decade of experience in tv, film, radio and podcasts, working with companies like NBC and Spotify, and is now an independent consultant offering top-tier creative and brand direction services. Leveraging his extensive media expertise, he helps clients craft compelling narratives for diverse audiences, develop impactful strategies and elevate their brand presence across traditional channels and social media. Learn more about how to use Julian’s services and expertise here: https://www.juliandelapaz.com/

In celebration of Pride Month, GSP would like to highlight our LGBTQIA+/q***r identifying GSPers (current students and alumni included) as well as allies (e.g. faculty, staff, alumni mentors, etc.) who have played an integral role in supporting GSPers! Our next spotlight is Anthony Anderson (C’19).

Anthony has dedicated himself to driving change for over five years through education, program development, and community empowerment. With a background in African American Studies from Georgetown University, he blends theory with practice to create impactful programs. Notably, he’s given a TED Talk on Black people and HIV and pioneered True Connect, an app aiding homeless individuals. From operations to policy refinement, his diverse expertise addresses societal challenges. Currently, he is a program manager at the Houston Housing Authority, where he leads an initiative to relocate families to high-opportunity areas to give families new opportunities, planning its launch on October 1st.

In celebration of Pride Month, GSP would like to highlight our LGBTQ+ identifying alumni! Our first spotlight is Ryan Zimmerman (C’12).

Ryan Zimmerman is the Director of Communications & Partnerships at Grove Collaborative, a sustainable retailer and consumer products company. Prior to Grove, Ryan spent over 11 years with global PR firm Edelman, where he was U.S. lead for the company’s LGBTQ+ employee resource group and managed client relationships and campaigns for Fortune 100 companies, nonprofits, NGOs, cultural institutions and mission-driven companies. Some proud moments include planning events that included four current and former presidents and receiving the PR News Rising Star 30 & Under Award. Ryan is from New Jersey, but calls Washington D.C. home after nearly 16 years where he lives with his partner, Patrick. He is a proud Hoya and first generation college student, currently serving as a student mentor, emeritus board member for the Georgetown Scholars Program, Class Ambassador, and member of Georgetown’s Capital Campaign Council.

“My Georgetown experience taught me that community, no matter how you define it, is the group of people that empower, support, guide, and love you. They come from all over but find common ground, and GSP is the community that found me and has supported me well beyond my years on the Hilltop. As a young gay man navigating the world, having my GSP family support me unconditionally made all the difference - and made me who I am today.”

About a month ago today we welcomed 140+ grads to our growing GSP Alumni Community! As we reflect on your amazing achievements and plan on welcoming our newest cohort we wanted to take another moment to pause and celebrate the amazing FGLI community on the Hilltop! You did it!

Want to download pics from the event? 🎓📸 Head over to bit.ly/gspgrad24

Emily (she/her) is from Silver Spring, MD and is a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences majoring in Psychology and double minoring in Disability Studies and Film and Media Studies! In her free time, Emily likes to draw, listen to music, and edit videos! Some of her favorite artists include but are not limited to: beabadoobee, PinkPantheress, and Yaeji!
🌟🌟🌟
Chris (he/him) is from Paterson NJ! He is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Political Economy. A fun fact about him is that he loves to cut off the sleeves of every shirt he owns (thanks to the gym lol)!

Regebe (she/her) is from Arlington, VA and is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences double majoring in American studies and Black studies with a minor in film and media! In her spare time she likes to watch video essays and listen to music, some of her favorite artists are Megan Thee Stallion and Janelle Monáe! 🎧

Betta (she/her) is from West Newbury, MA. She is a rising senior in the College majoring in physics and minoring in studio art. A fun fact about her is that she is illustrating a children's book! 🎨

Larissa (she/her) is from Omaha, NE! She is a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences and is double majoring in sociology and government! When she has free time Larissa loves to go thrifting and talk about all things fashion and pop culture. A fun fact about her is that she almost moved to Qatar when she was 5. 👗

We're back! If you are on campus and need a caffeine boost, a snack, have any questions, or just need a different space to relax or study in, make sure to pop by the GSP Student Lounge! The GSP Student Lounge reopens today, Thursday June 6th and will be available 12-5PM Monday-Friday excluding university holidays. These new summer lounge hours will be in effect through the end of Session I (July 5). You can also reach out to us at [email protected] any weekday during work hours 10-5.

In celebration of AANHPI Heritage Month, GSP in conjunction with would like to highlight Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and/or Pacific Islander-identifying GSP alumni! Our next alumna is Joan Nau Huai (F’21).

“I belong to the Zomi ethnic group and am also a Burmese American. I currently work in the Education Abroad office at University of Maryland, College Park. I am proud to be a GSPer because of the intentional, positive, and lasting impacts GSP has made on so many first gens and folx from low income background and underserved communities like myself. I am deeply thankful to everyone in GSP who supported me and other folx in many ways. GSP provided and nurtured a supportive and welcoming space for me to thrive during my time at Georgetown and because of that, I was able to extend and pass on the spirit of supporting others through the GSP peer mentorship program. Beyond Georgetown, I continue to practice the spirit of supporting and serving the needs of others in my parish in Baltimore, particularly the Burmese Catholic refugee community. I volunteer my time to interpret for community members, coordinate with folx to participate in the annual Asian & Pacific Island Catholics Marian Pilgrimage in DC, and recently organized the letter and email writing campaign and spoke at a public hearing session to keep open our home parish of Our Lady of Victory when the Archdiocese of Baltimore proposed it to close. Through faith, prayer, and concerted community effort, we were successful in our campaign to keep open the parish. In this AANHPI Heritage Month, I am deeply moved to witness how our community’s faith in action came to fruition and am inspired to do more for the greater glory of God in the Baltimore area through social services.”

Photo Description: Joan is wearing her traditional Zomi attire for the Annual Asian & Pacific Island Catholics Marian Pilgrimage inside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in DC.

The Lena Landegger Community Service Awards provide a remarkable occasion for Georgetown to celebrate and honor its deep commitment to community service. Each year, twenty students will be selected to receive the award. This year, 70% of the Lena Landegger recipients were GSPers! Congratulations to Urooj Ahmed, Renee Clark, Melody Emenyonu, Biviana Flores, Jaida Forbes, Mariana Guzman, Ariel Le, Andrea Nucete Alvarado, Sabrina Perez, Anndy Serrano-Marcillo, Janeeta Shaukat, Aminata Touray, Diana Tran, and Daniel Vizcarra on being selected for this prestigious award!

We had a great spring semester with you! See those of you remaining on campus over the summer when we open later in June. We will share our summer student lounge hours soon! Hope everyone has an amazing break! If you need the staff please feel free to contact us at [email protected] during business hours!

In celebration of AANHPI Heritage Month, GSP in conjunction with would like to highlight Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and/or Pacific Islander-identifying GSP alumni! Our next alumna is Marah Kiana Rosales (C ’22)!

“My name is Marah Kiana Rosales, and I am a First-Generation, Low-Income alumna. I graduated from Georgetown University in 2022, majoring in Neurobiology and minoring in Sociology. I was a Regent STEMS Scholar, CSP Scholar, and was part of the RISE Program at Georgetown. I was born in the Philippines but migrated to Guam as a kid. I currently live in Boston and work as a research assistant at Boston Children’s Hospital.

I am proud to be a part of GSP because, as cheesy as it sounds, I would not be where I am today, if not for the community, support, and guidance I received from GSP. GSP provided me with a community, which I am thankful that I still have today. Being a Filipina from Guam, I grew up in a family-oriented, pacific islander lifestyle, and experienced multiple culture shocks in DC. I also felt homesickness quite often. However, the community in GSP showed me how to appreciate my uniqueness and allowed me to have a safe space to be comfortable and explore my Asian identity/heritage with a kinder approach as I internally struggled with it in the beginning. There are a lot of mentors and other GSPers that I am forever grateful to have met, which made my experience in Georgetown memorable. They became found family and made my homesickness more bearable.”

In celebration of AANHPI Heritage Month, GSP in conjunction with would like to highlight Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and/or Pacific Islander-identifying GSP alumni!

Our first spotlight is Tithi Patel (F’18)! Tithi spent a few years working as a market researcher and strategist, helping companies create their brand narratives with all consumers in mind (including underrepresented groups that are often less visible among data). In 2022, she made the move to Philadelphia to start law school and embark on a new career path in corporate law. In addition to her on-campus involvements, she continues to contribute to the Georgetown community as an alumni interviewer and mentor.

She is always and being Indian American is a defining part of her identity. Indians, and members across the AANHPI community, are often painted with broad strokes of a brush, creating a monolithic portrait of a few billion people around the world. She is proud to be part of a community like GSP where so many students and alumni are readily breaking free of negative stereotypes but embracing important parts of their individual cultures. Among other things, Tithi is unapologetic about her big, loud group of family and friends; her music tastes that span genres and languages; and her commitment to building bridges and paying it forward.

Looking forward to your plans after graduation? As you may know, many GSPers go on to achieve and receive prestigious honors. Read on to learn more about GSP Grad Celine (C'19) who was just named a Paul & Daisy Soros Fellow! This merit-based fellowship is a great opportunity for first-generation low-income graduates and could be a great fit for our grads! Since 1998, this award has opened up pathways to graduate education for more than 800 students for immigrants and children of immigrants. Read on via the link in our Linktree.

Congrats to Celine on this honor!

April was a stacked month for GSP! The GSP Team showed out for our very own Michelle Mauboussin (former chairwoman of the GSP Advisory Board!) who was honored at the John Carroll Awards in Dublin, Ireland. Congratulations to you Michelle!

Need a break during study days? Join the Student Board for a relaxing time at GSPicnic and lay out in comfort on the Leavey Esplanade! We will bring board games and supplies to build your own study break snack kits! There will also be brunch-style food available! We encourage you to bring a picnic blanket and/or something to use as seating! Be sure to RSVP on Campus Groups to ensure we have enough catering!

Details: Wednesday, May 1st | 12:00 - 2:00 PM | Leavey Esplanade

We’ve been honored to host many dbcr interns and see them flourish! Thank you to Kevin for all of the wonderful work he has accomplished this year and mainly for being an joy to see every Thursday!

Come build your own Ben & Jerry’s ice cream sundae on Thursday, April 25th from 2:00 to 3:30PM at the Leavey Esplanade! Whether you’re reminiscing about the highlights of the semester or looking forward to the adventures ahead, this is the perfect opportunity for mentors and mentees to come together and celebrate that you’ve made it to the end of the semester!

Be sure to RSVP here: bit.ly/gspicecream

Join us in welcoming our newest Student Board for the 24-25 AY! Our members in order:

Co-Presidents: Lisa Kennedy, Michelle Ramos
Marketing Coordinator: Felix Rice
Director of Programming: Danny Ha
Programming Finance Coordinator: Jorge Mendoza
Programming Operations Coordinator: Ali Chaudhry
Community Development Coordinator: Rory Dixon
Community Engagement Coordinator: Sharona Nagamuthu
Underclassmen Representatives: Sabrina Gomez, Larissa Johnson

They are super excited to serve the GSP community and make the next year memorable!

Hey GSPers! We know you've been curious about summer storage, so we are happy to announce that GSP will be collaborating with the Corp to offer a 30% discount on summer storage for all GSPers! If you are a first-year (including first-year transfers!), GSP will subsidize up to 3 large boxes with insurance! If you sign up by the priority deadline, you can expect to find the code in your Inbox by Monday, April 22nd!

In collaboration with UndocuHoyas, CMEA, GSP, & CSJ, we are hosting a session on immigrant finance with Adina Appelbaum, Esq. J.D & her husband, Mauricio Castillo Ferri, M.A., SHRM-CP Immigration Attorney, Accredited Financial Counselor® & Proud Immigrant.

Join us for a virtual entrepreneur workshop at the intersections of student, immigration law, business and finance. Topics include:

I) How to earn a living without a work permit/SSN
II) Immigration-related aspects of starting a business
III) How to set up an LLC/sole proprietorship
IV) How to figure out what to start your business on & get started

Georgetown students who identify as fully undocumented, in a mixed status family, DACA & TPS recipients, Asylum seekers, SIJS, UVisa and in between statuses are especially encouraged to attend. Attendees are welcome to be off camera and change their name as it appears on Zoom. Questions can be asked through the chat for confidentiality or direct chat with me, Jenn Crewalk.

Faculty & Staff interested in supporting student entrepreneurial pathways are welcomed. Contact Dr. Jennifer Crewalk [email protected] if you have any questions.

Ever belly-laughed with these two? Have you enjoyed the recaps of our fun programming in our amazing reels? Our final student team spotlights are our hilarious, outbound and one of our incoming student board presidents: Sabrina and Michelle! Ever wondered how we are able to host so many large events? These two girlies pour over the details - from the email communications to our multimedia marketing to boring logistics like schedules - to ensure a good time at our events! Our two underclassmen reps Regebe and Madison were integral in helping us get the ball rolling on our fun events like our spotlight dinners and collaborations with like our upcoming summer storage discount. Join us in thanking these amazing leaders for their incredible work this semester! Our program is blessed to have so many passionate and engaged students across our leadership positions! We cannot wait to see what the new team of leaders comes up with next year! Let's give it up for our entire team of students!!! 💯