Many Voices. OneGW.

Invitation for Educational Session Community Proposals

"Beloved community is formed not by the eradication of difference but by its affirmation, by each of us claiming the identities and cultural legacies that shape who we are and how we live in the world." - bell hooks

The strength of our GW community lies not in our uniformity, but in the breadth of perspective we hold together. This year’s OneGW Summit invites faculty, staff, students, alum, and community partners across the George Washington University to contribute the scholarship, practice, and lived experiences that give our institution its depth. We invite Educational Session Community Proposals of rigor and candor that celebrate the diversity of our community, challenge us to think differently, aim to foster connection and belonging, and imagine ways we create a stronger GW together. We seek work that advances our collective understanding and strengthens the university's commitment to a community defined by its plurality. Many Voices. OneGW. is both the theme of the 2026 OneGW Summit and an unwavering invitation: to be seen, to be respected, to be heard, to be challenged, and to listen in turn.

The 2026 OneGW Summit invites you to share your voice as we work towards becoming OneGW.

Educational Session Community Proposals will take place in person on the Foggy Bottom campus and virtually for all members of the GW community.  Please refer to the Schedule-at-a-Glance for an overview of the OneGW Summit schedule.

We welcome proposals in the following areas, and encourage submissions that engage across categories:

These examples are not intended to limit your ideas.

Session Formats

We invite submissions to be research based, career oriented, personal and connected to lived experiences, creative and artistic, interactive, and/or community-focused. Proposals will be prioritized that draw connections for attendees to understand, strengthen, question, and/or celebrate our shared GW community.

All proposals should include:

1. Presenter name(s), title(s), and affiliation(s)
2. Proposed session format
3. Session title
4. Abstract (250–300 words) describing the session's content, relevance to the 2026 OneGW Summit theme, and intended takeaways for attendees
5. A brief statement (100 words) on how the session engages with diversity, equity, inclusion, social issues, and/or plurality

Please submit your proposal for one of the following formats:

A. 60-Minute Panel

The goal of panel sessions is to create a dialogue on a topic that benefits from multiple perspectives and experiences. Panels should bring together at least three people representing different roles or perspectives within the GW community. Panel must demonstrate meaningful role or perspective diversity.

Examples might include:

• Student + faculty + staff
• Undergraduate student + graduate student + faculty
• Staff + administrator + student
• Faculty + alum + student
• Faculty + community member + student

Panel proposals should identify:

• Presenter name(s), title(s), biography(ies), photo(s), and affiliation(s)
• Identify panelists and moderators
• Proposed session format
• Session title
• 3-5 Attendee Learning Goals
• Abstract (250–300 words) describing the session's content and relevance to the 2026 OneGW Summit theme
• A brief statement (100 words) on how the different perspectives represented will contribute to a diverse conversation
• A brief statement (100 words) on how the session engages with diversity, equity, inclusion, social issues, and/or plurality
• Technology needs
• Ideal space setup

B. 10-Minute Pecha Kucha Sessions

This format is designed for a short, compelling, visually driven presentation connected to the 2026 OneGW Summit theme, Many Voices. OneGW.

Presenters will have 10 minutes to share and should present their ideas orally or through American Sign Language, without relying on a traditional text-heavy presentation. Each presentation must include a slideshow containing 10 high-resolution photographs or other visual images, with one image per slide. Images must include appropriate attribution/credit. The visuals should help tell the story rather than function as a set of slides filled with text.

Examples of Pecha Kucha Sessions may include any of the following items in connection with the OneGW Summit:

• A personal experience or perspective
• A community story
• A creative idea
• A moment that changed how you see GW
• A powerful example of belonging or connection
• A call to action

Pecha Kucha proposals should identify:

• Presenter name, university title or role, biography, photo, and additional affiliation
• Pecha Kucha title
• Abstract (250–300 words) describing the Pecha Kucha’s content, relevance to the 2026 OneGW Summit theme, and intended takeaways for attendees
• Full draft and slides of Pecha Kucha via PDF

All Pecha Kucha presenters selected will be required to sign and submit a University Speaker Agreement form, indicating their commitment to sharing in accordance with their submitted script.

C. Poster Sessions

Poster Sessions provide an opportunity to share research, projects, experiences, initiatives, or ideas in a concise visual format. Poster Sessions will take place in person and virtually during the OneGW Summit. Submissions should indicate if the Poster Session will be hosted in person or only virtually. All accepted Poster Session submissions will be included as e-poster sessions virtually.

Poster proposals may include:

• Research or scholarship
• Community projects
• Student or employee initiatives
• Educational practices
• Creative work
• Institutional or organizational efforts
• Reflections on the GW experience

Presenters should ensure their posters are accessible for in person and virtual presentation.

Poster Session proposals should identify:

• Presenter name(s), title(s), biography(ies), photo(s), and affiliation(s)
• Poster title
• Abstract (250–300 words) describing the poster’s content, relevance to the 2026 OneGW Summit theme, and intended takeaways for attendees
• Draft image of the poster via PDF

D. 60-Minute Interactive Workshop

Workshops should provide participants with an opportunity to actively engage with a topic, engage in a process of exchange and learning from one another, and leave with ideas, skills, resources, or connections to use.

Workshops may include learning experiences such as:

• Small-group discussion
• Guided reflection
• Case studies
• Problem-solving
• Scenario-based activities
• Facilitated dialogue
• Collaborative exercises
• Skill-building

To preserve the interactive nature of this format, no more than 20 minutes of the 60-minute session should consist of lecture or presentation. At least 40 minutes of the workshop should involve meaningful participant engagement.

Workshop proposals should identify:

• Facilitator name(s), title(s), biography(ies), photo(s), and affiliation(s)
• Proposed session format
• Session title
• 3-5 Attendee Learning Goals
• Abstract (250–300 words) describing the workshop’s content and relevance to the 2026 OneGW Summit theme
• A brief statement (100 words) on how the different perspectives represented will contribute to a diverse conversation
• A brief statement (50 - 100 words) on the interactive learning experiences participants will experience
• A brief statement (50 - 100 words) on the how the facilitator(s) will encourage participation
• A brief statement (100 words) on how the session engages with diversity, equity, inclusion, social issues, and/or plurality
• Technology needs
• Ideal space setup

Possible Topic Areas

We encourage proposals from all members of the GW community across disciplines, schools, teams, and experiences. 

Potential topic areas include, and are not limited to:

These are starting points, not boundaries. We especially encourage proposals that bring together perspectives that are not always in the same conversation.

Submit Your Proposal

There is no single voice that defines OneGW.

We are seeking contributions from the many people who make up our community—and we want your voices to be heard together.

Submit your abstract by September 28, 2026, and help us bring Many Voices. OneGW. to life at the 2026 OneGW Summit from October 28–30.