2026 GSEHD Commencement Ceremony Recap
The Graduate School of Education and Human Development
2026 Commencement Celebration
Thank you to everyone that joined us in celebrating the Class of 2026. Review event recording and program below.
Schedule of Events
GSEHD School Celebration
& Doctoral Hooding
Saturday, May 16, 2026
8:30 a.m. EDT
Charles E. Smith Center
GW Commencement
Sunday, May 17, 2026
10:30 a.m. EDT
National Mall
Watch the recording of the GSEHD School Celebration
GSEHD celebration Speakers
Keynote Address
S. Kambar Khoshaba (EdD '04)
Principal, South County High School, Fairfax County Public Schools
Student Speaker
Nanako Tojo
Master's in Higher Education Administration
- Read More About Dr. Samuel Kambar Khoshaba II
Dr. Samuel Kambar Khoshaba II is the principal of South County High School in Fairfax County Public Schools, where he is known for championing student voice, strengthening school culture, and driving academic excellence. Under his leadership, the school has earned numerous distinctions, including a Distinguished accreditation rating from the Virginia Department of Education and recognition as a Top 25 high school in Northern Virginia.
With nearly three decades in public education, Dr. Khoshaba has served as a principal, assistant principal, school psychologist, and special education teacher. Prior to his current role, he led Western Branch Middle School in Chesapeake, Virginia, where he transformed student achievement and expanded access to advanced coursework, resulting in more equitable opportunities for students of color.
A nationally recognized voice in school leadership, Dr. Khoshaba serves on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and contributes regularly to Education Week and Principal Leadership. He is also the author of Pulling Back the Curtain on School Leadership, a book focused on making learning more personal and meaningful for students.
Dr. Khoshaba maintains a strong connection to The George Washington University, where he has taught graduate-level courses and served on the university’s advisory board, helping to shape and support the next generation of educational leaders.His work has earned him multiple honors, including the 2025 Virginia Principal of Distinction and the 2021 Virginia Outstanding Middle School Principal of the Year. A proud graduate of the George Washington University, he remains deeply committed to developing schools where every student feels seen, heard, and inspired to thrive.
- Read More About Nanako Tojo
Nanako is a proud graduate of the Higher Education Administration Program, where she focuses on international higher education through a socially just lens. As an international student, she brought unique perspectives to the classes and her extracurricular commitments. She presented her research on the challenges faced by international female students in U.S. higher education institutions at the National Association of Student Personnel and Administrators (NASPA) Region II Conference, where she was awarded the Conference Scholarship. She was also selected as a NASPA Graduate Associate Program (GAP) cohort member. She is a passionate storyteller and advocates for international students in the US by sharing her lived experiences at the GWOne Summit, GAP, and the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Annual Convention. She also worked for a nonprofit organization as Project Manager and led a global leadership program for college students, creating inclusive and transformative leadership and career development experiences.
2026 Dean's Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award
Dr. Maranda Ward (EdD '17)
Dr. Maranda C. Ward is an Associate Professor and Director of Equity in the Department of Clinical Research and Leadership in the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences (with a secondary appointment in the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health Department of Prevention and Community Health). In this role, she designs, evaluates, and teaches health equity curriculum for student and faculty learners. Her teaching excellence was recognized in 2021 with the highest teaching honor at GW- the Morton A. Bender Teaching award. She is a member of the Academy of Distinguished Teaching as wellas an affiliate faculty for the GW Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service.
- Read More about Dr. Ward
Dr. Ward is an expert in advancing anti-racism efforts within health professions education and in designing curricula to enable students and faculty to competently promote health and racial equity in practice. Her research focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion, justice and antiracism educational interventions as well as community-focused studies on HIV, Black women's health, and youth identity.
When she is not teaching or serving on-campus, she is engaged in DC in a range of capacities. For instance, she is on the board of trustees for the Douglass Community Land Trust, completed six years as an appointed advisory board member on the DC Mayor’s Commission on Health Equity and is the Associate Editor of the Journal of Health Equity.
When asked, she describes herself as a community educator, curriculum developer, and youth builder. She has strong commitments to service-learning, equity, community legacy, youth development, and honoring youth voice. Maranda earned a 2025 Early Career Award by the Association of Health Professions Education, the 2025 Ernest A. Lynton Award for Scholarship of Engagement by Campus Compact, 2024 American Public Health Association Sarah Mazelis Health Promotion Award, the 2024 Boston Congress of Public Health Global Health Innovators to Watch Award, 2024 GW School of Medicine Clara Bliss ‘Rising Star’ Mentoring Award, 2024 Dorothy Nyswander Health Equity award by the Society for Public Health Education, and the 2023 GW Black Alumni Impact award (the highest honor given to a Black alumni). She has been consulted by Ebony.com, Rolling Out Magazine, DCist, the Washington Post for her research on HIV disparities and featured on a live segment of Good Morning Washington, NPR’s Morning Edition and the KevinMD podcast for her health equity expertise.
Maranda earned her Doctorate in Education with a concentration in Curriculum and Pedagogy from the GW Graduate School of Education and Human Development, her Master's in Public Health from Tulane University, and her Bachelor's degrees in Sociology and Anthropology from Spelman College. She enjoys cuddling with her Shichon pup, traveling, and brunch.
For more information, visit marandaward.com.
Questions?
If you have questions about GW's commencement ceremonies, refer to the Frequently Asked Questions or contact commencement
gwu [dot] edu (commencement[at]gwu[dot]edu). For GSEHD events, contact gsehdoslgwu [dot] edu (subject: Graduation%202023) (gsehdosl[at]gwu[dot]edu).
GIFs: Search gwcommencement in the GIF feature of Instagram and Snapchat to add GW Commencement stickers to your stories.
Regalia
All students participating in school celebrations and Commencement on the National Mall must wear regalia. Active service members may wear their dress uniform in lieu of regalia.
Keepsakes
Information about additional purchases such as announcements, diploma frames, yearbooks and class rings will be shared in the future. The GW Campus Store offers alumni clothing and gifts.