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Kerry Washington CCAS BA '98 |
As a presidential performing arts scholar at GW, Washington created an interdisciplinary major called Performance Studies, which allowed her to examine the role that performance plays in different societies and cultures.
“As a performing arts scholar, it meant a lot to me that my love of acting was supporting my education intellectually and financially,” she said. “That was a huge learning experience for me.”
While attending GW, she also worked closely with the local theater community and helped create a support system for minorities in the arts called Shades of the Fine Arts. Washington also served on Colonial Cabinet and was a community facilitator in Thurston Hall her junior year.
“I have so many great memories of GW,” Washington said. “I loved being in school. I loved having my entire day be about learning, and just being in a constant state of growing and learning during my time there.”
“It was a really neat experience to be living in D.C. at that time as a student because I had friends who were interns at various government agencies. There was a very tangible scent of how close we were to national politics, how physically and logistically and culturally embedded we were within the politics of the entire nation, just because of where we went to school.”
Washington joked that “being in D.C. at a time when there were paparazzi and sex scandals,” during Bill Clinton’s second term in office, helped prepare her for the drama of Hollywood and L.A.
Her time at GW made Washington realize that acting was more than just a hobby for her — it was something she had to pursue professionally. GW granted her many opportunities to work toward that dream.
While a student at GW, Washington participated in the Summer Conservatory Program in New York City, which was recommended to her by Professor Leslie Jacobson. “Leslie Jacobson, Alan Wade, Nate Garner, Stacy Wolf, Maida Withers, and all of the faculty I studied with in the Theater and Dance department had a profound impact on me as an artist and a craftsperson” she said.
Washington said one of the challenges of her career is time management and not having the predictability of a routine. She is constantly searching for ways to build her flexibility and resilience and ground herself. However, she said she wouldn’t change what she’s doing at all.
“I’m doing what I love,” Washington said. “I don’t always love everything about the business side of what I do, but I love being able to make a living doing what I love to do. Even at 3 a.m., when we're only halfway through the night's work and it’s dark and cold and everybody's exhausted, I just feel so blessed — so grateful that I'm acting and so excited to be doing it."
Washington serves on the board of directors for The Creative Coalition, a group dedicated to raising awareness of First Amendment rights and supporting the arts in education. She also is a member of the V-Counsel, a group of advisors to V-Day, the global movement to end violence against women.
Washington is looking forward to attending her 10th reunion at Eyebar at the end of the month to reconnect with old friends and classmates. She will also be participating in “Conversation with Kerry Washington,” an event scheduled for Saturday, September 27, during Alumni Weekend 2008.