President Granberg Leadership Assessment & Community Feedback

It is with great anticipation and excitement that I welcome the university community to the new academic year. The fall semester is unfolding at a pivotal moment, not just for GW, but for the entire sector. Demographic change, affordability concerns, new technologies, evolving public expectations, and a complex policy environment are reshaping the higher education landscape. While the disruption presents real challenges, there are, at the same time, unique opportunities for institutions that lean into the moment with vision, discipline, and resolve. And GW is well-positioned to distinguish itself as such.

With the Strategic Framework as our North Star and major initiatives underway, this is an important moment to assess our progress and capacity to meet the goals we have agreed on as a community. A key part of that work is gathering feedback on our leadership. As President Ellen Granberg begins the fourth year of her tenure — one defined to this point by a number of significant achievements — the Board believes it is an important time to hear more directly from the community about her leadership and GW’s trajectory.

Over the course of the fall semester, we will hear from faculty, staff, students, alumni, trustees, and other stakeholders through a multi-channel engagement process. It is an opportunity for feedback and introspection that President Granberg welcomes.

The Board has engaged WittKieffer to advise on the design of the process and gather confidential feedback. Throughout the fall semester, they will conduct interviews and focus groups with selected stakeholders, including senior administrators, faculty, deans, student leaders, staff, alumni, and community leaders. Additionally, community members (faculty, students, and staff) are invited to complete a confidential survey that is intended to gather perspectives on President Granberg’s leadership, accomplishments, and opportunities as she helps lead the university into its next chapter.  The survey should take approximately 15 minutes to complete and will remain open through Friday, October 30. You must be logged into myGW to access the survey.

We encourage you to share your candid feedback. Your perspectives will help the Board understand President Granberg’s impact, identify strengths, and consider opportunities to support her continued success and GW’s future progress.

Thank you for taking the time to engage in this process and for your feedback.

Raise High!

Mark H. Chichester
Chair, GW Board of Trustees