Alumni Achievement Award

The Honorable Erin Houchin’s career clearly exemplifies the values and mission statement of GSPM. Her unrivaled passion for political management has been showcased over the course of her professional career. Congresswoman Houchin served as Southeast Indiana Regional Director for U.S. Senator Dan Coats and was a Governor’s appointee to the Indiana Commission for Women.

Congresswoman Houchin has also held numerous leadership positions in the Republican Party, including: Vice Chairman of the Washington County Republican Party, 9th District Chairman for the Indiana Republican Party, and 9th District Chairman of the Indiana Federation of Republican Women.

In 2012, she graduated from The Graduate School of Political Management and is a proud alum of the political management program. Along with her passion for politics, Congresswoman Houchin is a successful small business owner and is the founder and President of Contend Communications. In 2014, just two years after graduating from GSPM, Congresswoman Houchin pulled off a stunning political upset when she unseated longtime incumbent Richard D. Young in the Indiana Senate’s 47th district. Congresswoman Houchin applied the skills she acquired from GSPM to pull off this astonishing political upset.

In 2022, Congresswoman Houchin withstood a tough Republican primary field which included former U.S. Congressman Mike Sodrel and rising political star Stu Barnes-Israel, who received significant endorsements from Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas. Despite the crowded and talented primary field, Congresswoman Houchin cruised to a convincing victory. She ultimately defeated Democrat Matthew Fyfe by a whopping 30 points to be elected to the United States House of Representatives.

Scott Suozzi’s experiences in the Navy, as an attorney, in advanced education, and in the nonprofit community show how he’s contributed to service, advocacy, and government leadership at many levels.

Scott has dedicated his life to public service beginning at age 18 when he joined the U.S. Naval Academy. He finished his master’s degree in Legislative Affairs at GW concurrently during his 2nd and 3rd year of law school and served the remainder of his distinguished navy career as an attorney in leadership roles afloat and ashore.

Scott served as White House Military Social Aide to Presidents Clinton and GW Bush. He’s deployed to Iraq as an attorney for a Green Beret combat general. He served as a legislative fellow and advisor to U.S. Senator John Warner (VA) where he authored policy and legislation. He served as the senior legal advisor to the top commander of U.S. forces in the Western Hemisphere.

Scott could have completed his public service there and cashed in, but he didn’t. Scott is the role model who asks, how can I give back and add value? He continued down the path of academic advancement and nonprofit advocacy instead of in traditional legal roles with heftier compensation. He managed operations of the Carey Business School at Johns Hopkins. He served as a philanthropic advisor to the Gary Sinise Foundation helping vets, first responders and their families. Today, he’s Director of Military Outreach for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, a bipartisan nonprofit focused on the local impacts of robust diplomacy, international development and a strong national security and defense.