Op-eds By Charles Garris May 24, 2021 1:13 AM
Charles Garris is a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, a member of the Faculty Senate and a former Chair of the Faculty Senate executive committee.
It is with great sadness that I learned of University President Thomas LeBlanc’s decision to retire from his position at the end of the 2021–22 academic year. At the beginning of his presidency, there was a palpable excitement that he would build on the upward trajectory of excellence left to him by the administrations of predecessors Stephen Joel Trachtenberg and Steven Knapp. LeBlanc was provided by the presidential search committee with a detailed analysis which defined a series of major historical challenges that had prevented GW from joining the top tier academic institutions of the nation and limited the future trajectory of the institution.
Media Credit: Photo Illustration by Grace Hromin | Assistant Photo Editor
GW s bicentennial celebration will kick off Tuesday with a virtual event featuring alumnae, like Kerry Washington, Dana Bash and Reena Ninan.
Officials are kicking off celebrations this week to mark the official bicentennial of GW’s founding on Feb. 9, 1821.
The University will begin its bicentennial celebration Tuesday, exactly 200 years after Congress passed the school’s charter, with a virtual opening ceremony followed by a monthslong event series designed to celebrate the achievements of students, faculty, staff and alumni. The celebrations will begin virtually, but officials have said they hope to conclude in person at Colonials Weekend in early October.