Toast the Network
GSPM Toast the Network & Alumni Achievement Awards
Thursday, May 14, 2026 | 6 PM-8 PM
The GW Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM)‚ Executive Director‚ Debbie Mucarsel-Powell‚ the GSPM Board of Advisors‚ faculty‚ staff and students invite guests to toast the GSPM Class of 2026 and welcome them into the alumni community.
- The event program will also host and honor the 2026 GSPM Alumni Achievement Award recipients.
- This annual signature event is a fantastic opportunity for graduates to network and mingle with fellow alumni.
- All members of the GSPM alumni community and graduating students are invited to attend.
Toast the Network
The annual Toast the Network event brings together members of the Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM) community to celebrate the graduating students and recognize the accomplishments of the Alumni Achievement Award winners. Students, alumni, faculty and staff toast the graduates as they join the alumni network and forge new connections. The annual tradition is a testament to the strength of the GSPM community and the power of collaboration.
2026 Alumni Achievement Award Winners
Every year, the Graduate School of Political Management gathers to celebrate the success of our alumni. We honor those who exemplify GSPM’s values through their career accomplishments, contributions back to their communities, GSPM, or GW.
Nathan Gonzales, GSPM '05
Editor & Publisher of Inside Elections; Co-host, Inside Elections Podcast; Election Analyst, CQ Roll Call
- More information about him
Nathan Gonzales is Editor & Publisher of Inside Elections, which provides nonpartisan analysis of campaigns for Senate, House, governor and president. He's also co-host of the Inside Elections Podcast and an Elections Analyst for CQ Roll Call.
On election nights, Nathan has been an on-air analyst for the Newshour on PBS, C-SPAN, and CBN News and was an off-air consultant for ABC News on their Election Night Decision Desk for 14 years. Previously, he was an editor, analyst and writer for The Rothenberg Political Report, and worked for CNN as a Political Analyst and as an associate producer for Capital Gang.
Nathan has appeared on NBC's Meet the Press and Nightly News, NPR's All Things Considered, Fox News Channel, the BBC and MSNBC and he has been quoted in The New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today.
Nathan grew up in Oregon, earned his M.A. from the George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management (Washington, DC) and his B.A. from Vanguard University (Costa Mesa, California). He first came to Washington, D.C. as an intern in the White House Press Office and now lives in the city with his wife and four children.
COL Marisa Pace, GSPM '13
Director, Legislative Affairs Division (LAD) for the Office, Chief Army Reserve (OCAR)
- More information about her
Colonel Marisa Pace is currently serving as the Director, Legislative Affairs Division (LAD) for the Office, Chief Army Reserve (OCAR).
Before moving to LAD, she served as the OCAR Chief, Readiness, Mobilization and Operations. She served as the Professor of Military Science at University of Maryland from 2019-2022. She attended War College at National Defense University in Washington, DC and spent 2 years at Fort Hamilton, NY as the Deputy Commander for the 1179th Transportation Brigade.
Prior to that, she served on the staff of the Chief of the Army Reserve as a Congressional Liaison handling the appropriations portfolio. From 2012-2013 she served as an Army Congressional Fellow assigned to Senator Mary Landrieu’s Office.
Marisa deployed in 2003 as a Platoon Leader with 68th Transportation Company, 28th Transportation Battalion, Mannheim, Germany and again in 2005 as the Plans and Training Officer for 37th Transportation Brigade out of Kaiserslautern, Germany.
Colonel Pace’s other assignments include Osan Airbase, Korea where she] served as the Officer In Charge of the Movement Control Team from 2001-2002 and Germany where she served as a Platoon Leader in 28th Transportation Battalion and the Headquarters and Headquarters Company Executive Officer and Training Officer for 37th Transportation Brigade. She also served in the Headquarters Department of the Army G-4 in the Transportation Division.
Her awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, and the Korea Defense Service Medal. LTC Marisa Pace is a graduate of the Transportation Officer Basic Course and the Logistics Officer Advanced Course.
Marisa holds a Masters Degree in Legislative Affairs from George Washington University and a Masters Degree in National Security Strategy from National War College. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in General Management from the United States Military Academy.
She is married to Mr. Bryce Freeman and has two bonus children, Bennett (22) and Clara (19). They live in Columbia, Maryland.
2025 Alumni Achievement Award Winners
Every year, the Graduate School of Political Management gathers to celebrate the success of our alumni. We honor those who exemplify GSPM’s values through their career accomplishments, contributions back to their communities, GSPM, or GW.
Colby C. Jenkins, GSPM '07
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, DOD
- More info about him
Colby’s experience in combat and leading his team opened new opportunities to serve beyond the fields of battle. The four-star commanding general of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) hand-selected Colby to initiate a new congressional fellowship program that included graduate school at The Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and working in a U.S. Senator’s office. Colby would be the first special operations officer to do so for USSOCOM, creating a path for many others to follow. After Colby’s work in the U.S. Senate and completing graduate school, Colby continued his work on Capitol Hill as a Green Beret liaison to Congress. This experience took him from the halls of Congress around the world with members of Congress and staff. Colby later worked in the Pentagon as a counter terrorism policy advisor to the Secretary of Defense, coordinating critical efforts between the White House, Pentagon, Capitol Hill, and other interagency partners to advance American interests.
Johnny Olszewski, Jr., GSPM '06
U.S. Representative for Maryland's 2nd Congressional District
- More info about him
Congressman Johnny “Johnny O” Olszewski, Jr. represents Maryland’s 2nd District, covering parts of Baltimore County, Carroll County, and Baltimore City. A lifelong Marylander and former public school teacher, he previously served in the Maryland House of Delegates and was twice elected Baltimore County Executive, leading a $5 billion government. In the legislature, he championed workers’ rights and marriage equality. In his role, he prioritized education, transparency, and community investment—creating the county’s first public campaign finance system, Office of the Inspector General, and free community college program. He also advanced police reform, gun safety, and public transportation while steering the county through COVID-19 and the Key Bridge collapse. Olszewski holds degrees from Goucher College, George Washington University, and a Ph.D. from UMBC.
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