In 2004, Sarah Marquis Ladislaw, ESIA BA ’01, MA ’03, hosted her first dinner though the GW Office of Alumni Relations. As a recent GW graduate, Ladislaw was eager to take advantage of the opportunity to interact with GW students and share her experiences as a young alumnus in the work force.

“The dinners are a great way to stay connected and learn how things have changed at GW,” Ladislaw said. “I love to hear about the enterprising young folk who really take advantage of D.C.”

Ladislaw continues to host Dinners with Alumni and plans to participate in the program for years to come. She said the dinners are a lot of fun and jokes that she thinks she gets more out of the experience than the students do.

This year, GW alumni have hosted 49 dinners and more than 250 undergraduate students have participated in the program! The cost of the dinner is a tax-deductible gift to GW. To learn more about our Dinner with Alumni program and how you can host a dinner, please visit our website or send an e-mail to dinner@gwu.edu.

The Dinner with Alumni program was created to provide networking opportunities for undergraduate students, with the hopes that these students will draw inspiration from the professional, educational, philanthropic, and personal accomplishments of our alumni. Through the dinners, students make great connections with our brightest alumni in a collegial and relaxed setting. These connections often lead to internships, jobs, good advice, and friendship.

—Emy Gelb, ESIA class of 2010