George Washington University Notable Alumni

Jackie Kennedy was a literature editor, photographer, and socialite who was once married to the former American President John F. Kennedy. She became the First Lady of the United States when her husband became the president. She was known for her iconic fashion style. She is considered one of the most popular and recognizable First Ladies in American history.

Actor and director, Casey Affleck has been active in the entertainment industry for over three decades. He developed a love for acting while in school and appeared in many school plays. Encouraged by his drama teacher, he decided to become an actor. After struggling for a few years, he established himself successfully in Hollywood.

American actress, Kerry Washington, attained fame when she starred in the television series, Scandal, which ran from 2012 to 2018. She was also commended for her role in the television film, Confirmation, and for the miniseries, Little Fires Everywhere. She has also acted in films like The Last King of Scotland, Django Unchained, Our Song, The Dead Girl and American Son.

A veteran politician who served as the 65th United States Secretary of State, Colin Powell was the first African-American Secretary of State. A member of the Republican Party, he was an army man prior to entering politics. He was a  four-star general at the time of his retirement. After leaving politics, he pursued a career as a public speaker.

Rooney Mara is a well-known actress who won the Cannes Film Festival Award for her performance in the movie Carol. Apart from being an actress, Rooney is also an animal rights activist. Also known for her charity work, Rooney supervises the Uweza Foundation, which supports programs for children in Nairobi. She is also the founder of Hiraeth Collective, a vegan clothing line.

Eliza Dushku is an American actress and model. She inspired a lot of people to stay sober by sharing her story of struggle with alcohol and drug addiction. Also a well-known activist, Dushku has raised funds for several charitable causes. She also works closely with the THRIVE-Gulu organization, which works towards helping the survivors of war.

A war veteran who lost both her legs during the Iraq War, Tammy Duckworth is a symbol of courage and resilience. Her never-say-die spirit enabled her to become the first woman with a disability and the first Thai-American woman to earn a seat in Congress. She is the first member of Senate to give birth while in office.

Patch Adams is an American physician, clown, comedian, author, and social activist. Credited with founding the Gesundheit! Institute, Adams advocates an alternative health care model. He also organizes volunteers who travel to various countries every year in order to bring a smile to the faces of patients, orphans, and other people.

Daniel Inouye was a US Senator from Hawaii. He was the highest-ranking Asian-American politician until 2021 when Kamala Harris of Indian origin became vice president. Inouye is also known for his participation in World War II where he lost his right arm. For his bravery in World War II, he was honored with the United States’ highest military award, the Medal of Honor.

Mark Felt served as the FBI associate director from 1972 to 1973. He was widely suspected of being Deep Throat, the anonymous source who provided The Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein vital information regarding the Watergate scandal, and eventually owned up a few years before his death.

Ina Garten is an American author and TV host best known for hosting Food Network's cooking show, Barefoot Contessa. Over the years, Garten has released several best-selling cookbooks, including The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook and Barefoot in Paris: Easy French Food You Can Make at Home.

A member of the prominent Baldwin family, Alec Baldwin is an actor, comedian, and producer. Beginning his career in the 1980s, he has appeared in many TV shows, theater productions, and films. He also started hosting podcasts in the 2000s. A generous philanthropist, he has donated millions of dollars to various causes.

Dana Bash is an American journalist. Currently working as a chief political correspondent for CNN, Dana Bash has played a major role in the success of the TV channel. She became one of the few women to be honored in a 2014 event called Women in Washington Power List, which was organized by Elle magazine.

J. Edgar Hoover was a law enforcement administrator who played a key role in founding the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He remained FBI's director until his death in 1972 and has been credited with instituting many modernizations to police technology, thereby helping FBI become an efficient crime-fighting agency. Hoover was one of the most influential personalities in the USA.

Political staffer, Huma Abedin, is known for being one of Hillary Clinton’s closest aides. She was the vice-chair of Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign for president of the United States. An alumnus of the George Washington University, she first started working with Clinton in 1996 and has since been a trusted advisor to her. She considers Clinton her mentor. 

Author, academic, and public policy fellow David Eisenhower teaches at the University of Pennsylvania. Best known for his Pulitzer Prize-shortlisted book Eisenhower at War: 1943-1945, he is the grandson of former U.S. president Dwight D. Eisenhower and the son of John Eisenhower. He is also the son-in-law of Richard Nixon.

Aldrich Ames is a former CIA officer who later became a KGB double agent. He was convicted of spying and is currently serving a life sentence. He allegedly worked as a Soviet spy and revealed classified CIA data. He inspired the 1998 film Aldrich Ames: Traitor Within.