鈥淪eize the opportunity to fall in love with it 鈥� the fulfillment it will give you and how it will enable you to serve the people around you,鈥� he said to the crowd of approximately 800 graduating seniors gathered in front of Healy Hall on a comfortably warm and sunny morning. 

Farley鈥檚 personal connections with the Hilltop run deep. 

He majored in economics and met his wife, Cornelia 鈥淟ia鈥� Connor-Farley (C鈥�87), at Georgetown. His father, James D. Farley (SFS鈥�50) earned a degree from the School of Foreign Service in 1950. And he still regularly keeps in touch with his cherished group of friends from Georgetown, which he affectionately calls 鈥渕y crew.鈥� Last year, they celebrated their 40th reunion together.

鈥淚鈥漨 about as Hoya as anyone you鈥檇 meet,鈥� Farley said.

During the ceremony, he received an honorary Doctorate of Human Letters degree. , a professor in the Department of English, read a citation for the honorary degree that highlighted Farley鈥檚 contributions to the auto industry and support for people experiencing homelessness.

鈥淭oday, Georgetown University honors a man whose life and work embody the hopes we hold for our graduates on this commencement morning,鈥� Linkon said. 鈥淗e lives with purpose, turning a love for cars into a vocation. He embraces lifelong learning to engage globally and adapt to a changing world.鈥�

Farley started his career at Toyota, serving in various executive roles and helping launch the company鈥檚 Lexus group and Scion brand. He joined Ford in 2007 and has led the iconic American company since 2020. Farley鈥檚 grandfather, Emmet E. Tracy, was a Ford factory worker who started in 1913.

鈥淚 have his badge and a picture of him on my desk,鈥� Farley said. 鈥淗e was employee No. 389.鈥�

Farley developed his love of problem solving at Georgetown by learning from scholars like Jan Karski, a Polish World War II hero who served in the against Nazi Germany and provided early reports of Nazi atrocities to the Western Allies. Karski, who died in 2000 and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012, taught international relations at Georgetown for more than 40 years.

鈥淧rofessor Karski embodied the long inheritance of courage and problem solving that is at the heart of Georgetown,鈥� Farley said. 鈥淚 would never claim to have faced down the problems that Jan Karski did. But I learned a great deal from him about how to approach life.鈥�

When faced with challenges, Farley turns to the St. Ignatius framework for solving problems that focuses on discernment and reflection. 

鈥淯nderstand the problem at the root cause,鈥� he said. 鈥淩efelect on the problem. Enjoy understanding the problem. And pray for guidance and consider the solutions. And then commit. Make a decision.鈥�

Farley recommends seeing problems as opportunities rather than obstacles. He encouraged the graduates to ask themselves: What problems are you going to solve? How are you going to face your most difficult times? What is the problem-solving framework that works for you?

“In the end, it’s the tough and the hairy problems of substance that present the greatest gift to all of you, and it’s a privilege to humbly serve other people,” Farley said.

Hannah O鈥橤rady (C鈥�26), who majored in biology and minored in theology and religious studies, said the commencement ceremony was a 鈥渧ery meaningful way to end my four years here.鈥� She called Farley鈥檚 speech, 鈥渁wesome and inspiring.鈥�

鈥淚 knew he was a Hoya alum, but I didn鈥檛 realize he was going to speak about so much of his experiences here in his speech,鈥� O鈥橤rady said. 鈥淚t felt very personalized to our class and to our experiences. 鈥he fact that he鈥檚 an alum and loves this school as much as we do was really special.鈥�

Cecelia Peacock (C鈥�26), a psychology major, was also in the audience and said she found Farley鈥檚 commencement address to be 鈥渞eally genuine.鈥� His message about problem solving resonated with her.

鈥淚 think that鈥檚 something I learned at Georgetown,鈥� Peacock said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really education for the whole person here. I learned a lot about problem solving and about how to grow as an individual and a student.鈥�

Like Farley, Peacock was, in many ways, born to be a Hoya. Her mother, father, brother, sister and sister-in-law are all Georgetown alumni and were all on campus to support her. Peacock was the last of her generation to become a Hoya alum. 

鈥淚 loved it here,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t lived up to the hype.鈥�

Matthew Gardiner (C鈥�26) delivered the Cohonguroton address, and (G鈥�15), the Walter I. Giles Associate Professor of the Practice in Constitutional Law in the Department of Government, received the Edward B. Bunn, S.J. Award for Faculty Excellence.

鈥淵our academic journeys at Georgetown have undoubtedly been filled with many high moments, but I suspect just about all of you now can recall a low moment 鈥� a grade that wasn鈥檛 as good as you expected, an experiment that produced disappointing results or a concert performance that didn鈥檛 go as well as the rehearsals had,鈥� , the dean of the 海角论坛 of Arts & Sciences, told the audience at Gaston Hall. 鈥淏ut you鈥檙e all better for how you managed those lower moments and made your way to today, clearly a higher moment. So, always remember: the process is as valuable, if not more valuable, than the outcome.鈥�

Get to know some of the students below and read the full list of award winners .

Addison Basile (C鈥�26), Coakley Medal

Basile, from Middletown, New Jersey, had not yet committed to attending Georgetown when she arrived at , but she left in a Georgetown sweatshirt excited to tell everyone about her decision.

鈥淲hat ultimately sold me on Georgetown was that it seemed like a place where I could do a bit of everything, never sacrificing one interest for another,鈥� she said. 鈥淎ll of the students here seemed so engaged in what they were doing, and I really wanted to be a part of that.鈥�

At Georgetown, Basile, who received the Coakley medal, double majored in psychology and linguistics and minored in Italian. On campus, she was involved in , a 27-hour overnight retreat; , a weekly gathering with a small group of new students and an assigned mentor; , and the .

But the cornerstone of Basile鈥檚 Georgetown experience has been her journey with the Italian language, she said. Seeking to reconnect with her father鈥檚 Sicilian heritage, Basile took a beginner Italian course to meet her language requirement during her freshman year. The summer following sophomore year, Basile traveled to Perugia, Italy for a six-week intensive Italian course with The Umbra Institute.

鈥淲hen I got back from Perugia, I knew I wanted Italian to be part of the rest of my life,鈥� Basile said.

She helped to translate her professor鈥檚 novel from Italian to English, completed internships and courses abroad, tutored in Italian at the and started an Instagram account, @ciaoitsaddy, which promotes Italian American heritage and the Italian language and has accumulated more than 17,000 followers. She capped off her Georgetown career with a linguistics thesis which studied Italian service employees and their attitudes towards Italian language learners. 

鈥淚n just three years, being Italian has gone from being a little known fact about me to being a defining part of my identity. It’s changed how I see myself and the world and how I relate to others,鈥� Basile said. 鈥淭his is all because of a core requirement and the incredible support I found in Georgetown’s Italian department.鈥�

After graduating this spring, Basile will be going to Italy with the National Italian American Foundation, to New York City to be a guest on the Italian American Podcast and then to Ohio to work with the USA Hockey Player Development Camps. 

In October, Basile will be serving as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant at a high school in Southern Italy as a recipient of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program award. 

鈥淚 see this opportunity as the culmination of everything I learned about myself and the world at Georgetown and the perfect way to combine my long-time ambition to work in education with my love for Italian language and culture,鈥� she said.

Since her freshman year, Basile has worked with Corp Catering at GAAP Weekends to try to share the love she found for Georgetown with other prospective students. These weekends would remind Basile of her own Georgetown journey.

鈥淢eeting parents over breakfast and being able to share even a fraction of the love I found here always left me feeling even more grateful for the opportunity to be here,鈥� she said. 鈥淕eorgetown has been everything to me.鈥�

The Coakley Medal was established by Elizabeth Coakley in memory of her husband, Henry 鈥淗ank鈥� Coakley, a class of 1941 Georgetown alumnus and U.S. Air Force pilot who died in World War II. The award is presented to a 海角论坛 of Arts & Sciences senior who has displayed qualities of loving service, honor and courage.

Anna Burgess (C鈥�26), Katherine Kraft Medal

The sense of community and the spirit of cura personalis drew Burgess, recipient of the Katherine Kraft Medal, to Georgetown. It was a place where she saw herself 鈥済rowing through service and critical thought鈥� in addition to academics, she said. Burgess chose Georgetown because she envisioned it as a place where she could challenge herself and join an engaged community. 

Originally from Fairfield, Connecticut, Burgess transferred to Georgetown after completing her freshman year at the University of Miami. At Georgetown, she studied neurobiology with minors in disability studies and economics. 

On campus, Burgess met some of her closest friends through Corp Catering. She enjoyed running races throughout DC with her friends and having 鈥渇amily dinners鈥� with her roommates. 

Burgess also pursued many different opportunities to get hands-on experience in neurobiology and disability research. She shadowed at the , where she assisted in the evaluation of post-NICU toddlers. She worked at the as a peer mentor and research assistant. There, Burgess developed a research project about a curriculum for entrepreneurs with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She also volunteered with Professor 鈥檚 , which taught her how to analyze neuroimaging data.

After graduation, Burgess will be working as a research assistant with Dr. Adriana Di Martino, an autism researcher, in the Autism Center at the Child Mind Institute in New York City. Eventually, she plans to attend a clinical psychology program.

鈥淕eorgetown has helped me come into myself as a person, student and future clinician,鈥� Burgess said. 鈥淚鈥檝e not only gained extensive knowledge in my academic interests, but also gained a broader perspective through the core curriculum and my research, shadowing and mentorship. As I continue my education and experience in psychology, I know that I鈥檒l be more empathetic and have a holistic approach due to what I have learned while at Georgetown.鈥�

Cornelia Kraft McKee established the Kraft Medal in memory of her mother, Katherine Kraft, and the award is given to the student who best manifests a spirit of humility, cooperation and commitment as a person for others.

Cameron Daly (C鈥�26), Louis McCahill Award

At Georgetown, Daly, recipient of the Louis McCahill Award, found a place with no limits. 鈥淚 never once heard anyone at Georgetown say, 鈥業 can’t,鈥欌�� he said.

Daly did not take a traditional path to the Hilltop. After graduating from high school in Missoula, Montana, he struggled with drugs and alcohol, and fell into addiction. In 2017, he moved from Montana to Portland, Oregon, where he went through treatment and moved into sober living. 

In Portland, he got a job working at a grocery store and had no plans to attend college. 鈥淚 didn’t think it was meant for me,鈥� he said. When he decided to take classes at Portland Community 海角论坛, he enrolled in fifth-grade math because of the long gap since he had been in school.

Daly did well in his classes, taking a few at a time while working at Whole Foods, and he began to consider transferring. 鈥淚 really wanted to go somewhere that would let me do work that felt meaningful, but I did not ever think it was in the cards,鈥� he said. But when he got into Georgetown, he felt that this dream could become reality. 

In DC, Daly has been able to pursue his dream of building 鈥渢echnology that drives real innovation and has a lasting impact on my community.鈥� He double majored in computer science and economics. 

Daly conducted research with , the Callahan Family Professor of Computer Science, in the about censorship resistance, anonymity, privacy and security. He worked on three Hackathons with . He joined , a student-run software development club. Through that experience, he met (G鈥�25), an entrepreneur and graduate of Georgetown鈥檚 Executive MBA program, and has worked at Garcia鈥檚 startup company, GoodOnBaby.

Daly also joined , which shares overdose and harm reduction awareness to students. The club has been a defining piece of Daly鈥檚 time at Georgetown.

鈥淎s a student in long-term recovery, they helped me navigate staying sober while giving Georgetown my whole self,鈥� he said. A highlight of Daly鈥檚 Georgetown experience was representing Hoyas for Recovery in the Mr. Georgetown competition, an experience Daly said was 鈥渟o far outside of my comfort zone.鈥�

After graduating, Daly will be working as a software engineer in the defense and national security sector. He will also continue to work with GoodOnBaby and finish up research projects at Georgetown. Daly added that he is looking forward to settling down with his partner and starting a family.

At Georgetown, he had the opportunity to start again and believes he is a completely different person now compared to when he first arrived at the Hilltop. 鈥淲hen I first got sober, I used to dream about what it would look like to do something meaningful with my life,鈥� Daly said. Now that he鈥檚 graduating, he feels that this dream has become a reality. 

鈥淚 can say with complete confidence that coming to Georgetown has completely changed the trajectory of my life,鈥� Daly said. 鈥淚 cannot wait to see where that goes.鈥�

The Louis McCahill Award was established in 1960 by Eugene McCahill and Francis McCahill in memory of their brother, Louis, who died in service during the First World War. It is given to the student who has shown perseverance and determination of a high order in pursuing educational objectives at Georgetown.

Simone Guit茅 (C鈥�26), Lambert H. Spronck Medal

Guit茅鈥檚 education at Georgetown has changed the way she thinks about the world. Growing up in Portland, Oregon, Guit茅, winner of the Lambert H. Spronck Medal, was passionate about law and politics. Because of its access to politics in DC, Georgetown was her dream school.

Visiting the campus for the first time during GAAP Weekend felt like 鈥渁 warm embrace,鈥� said Guit茅. 鈥淚 chose Georgetown for the opportunities to be connected with politics and for the amazing community of students and professors that make the school so special.鈥�

Guit茅 is a double major in American studies and government with a minor in women and gender studies. Recently, she completed her thesis, 鈥淭hread of Memory: Midwestern Farm Women’s Narration of Sewing, Homemaking, and Hardship,鈥� in which Guit茅 explored a series of oral histories with homemakers who had raised families on Midwestern farms in the mid-20th century.

In American Studies classes, including the Global American Studies Exchange, Guit茅 had the opportunity to not only learn about American history, but to analyze how and why we tell history in certain ways. 

鈥淢y Georgetown education has changed how I think about the world around me,鈥� Guit茅 said. 鈥淲e challenge mainstream narratives by examining whose perspectives are included in those stories, and why other viewpoints are left out.鈥�

On the Hilltop, Guit茅 found opportunity and community. Early on in her college career, she served as GAAP Oregon State Chair and was involved in the (Guit茅 is a member of the Chinook Nation), which helped her find comfort while living far from home. Playing trumpet with , and eventually serving as president, she found a group of people that felt like a family. And joining the gave her the opportunity to advocate for issues she cared about and to meet her closest friends. 

While attending Georgetown, Guit茅 interned for the National Democratic Redistricting Committee and Representative Maxine Dexter, inspiring her to pursue a career in politics and giving her the opportunity to give back to her community. 

After graduating, she will be working as a field organizer for the Iowa Democratic Party ahead of the midterm elections. 

鈥淲hen I leave Georgetown, I will take with me the ability to think critically about the world around me, and how I can use my skills to make it a better place.鈥�

The Lambert H. Spronck Medal was founded in 1963 by the students of the 海角论坛 in memory of Lambert H. Spronck (C鈥�63). It is awarded to that student who has, throughout their college career, combined good scholarship with significant contributions to extracurricular activities, and who has manifested a spirit of giving completely to whatever Georgetown project or activity they are engaged in.

Matthew Gardiner (C鈥�26), Cohonguroton Address

Gardiner, a double major in history and biology, was selected to give the Cohonguroton address.

鈥淐ohonguroton鈥� is an Algonquin word for the Potomac River that roughly translates to 鈥渞iver of swans.鈥� The address is considered a symbolic 鈥渟wan song鈥� delivered by a member of the graduating class.

Joseph Hartman (G’15), Edward B. Bunn, S.J. Award for Faculty Excellence

Hartman, the Walter I. Giles Associate Professor of the Practice in Constitutional Law in the Department of Government, received the Edward B. Bunn, S.J. Award for Faculty Excellence, which is determined by a direct vote from the senior class. 

The award was established in 1967 to honor Rev. Edward B. Bunn, S.J., for his years of devotion and service to Georgetown University as president and chancellor.

(All photos by Dave Asche for Georgetown University)

鈥淚 always had a curiosity for how things work,鈥� Cazares Borbon said. 鈥淚鈥檝e felt a deep connection with science. It just makes sense to me and scratches that itch in my mind of learning how things work.鈥�

He will graduate this May from the 海角论坛 of Arts & Sciences with degrees in computer science and neurobiology and plans to work as a software developer in his hometown of Tucson, Arizona. Cazares Borbon鈥檚 work as a research assistant in the with , an assistant professor of rehabilitation medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center, has also influenced his career interests.

鈥淚 would love to do software development for researchers to help people do research,鈥� Cazares Borbon said.

His contributions to the DARN Lab were multifaceted and important, DeMarco said. 

鈥淓milio is an impressive trainee,鈥� he said. 鈥淗e quickly understands complicated concepts and systems, both technical and conceptual. He is quiet but also does not shy away from asking clarifying questions. His independence, dependability and willingness to work hard cannot be overstated.鈥�

鈥業ntellectual Courage鈥�

Cazares Borbon attended a Catholic, Lasallian college preparatory high school in Tucson that was part of the national Cristo Rey Network. His first introduction to Georgetown University was through the , a three-week college prep program for rising high school seniors from select schools, including those in the Cristo Rey Network.

It became a catalyst of Cazares Borbon鈥檚 interest in Georgetown. 

鈥淚 felt connected and welcomed even online,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 thought, if I feel this way online, imagine how it is in person.鈥�

When he arrived on the Hilltop, Cazares Borbon immediately remarked on how green the campus was. Seeing Healy Hall reminded him of Hogwarts from Harry Potter.

In high school, his main extracurricular activity was robotics. He discovered computer science by programming the team鈥檚 robots for .

Originally, Cazares Borbon figured he would major in computer science with a biology minor at Georgetown. But after attending a lecture about neurons, he decided he wanted to learn more about how the brain works. That led him to the neurobiology major.

鈥淚 would describe Emilio as optimistically bold,鈥� said , an assistant dean in the 海角论坛 of Arts & Sciences. 鈥淚 am always impressed by his genuine thoughtfulness and intellectual courage. I have known Emilio as someone always willing to venture into unfamiliar territory while consistently finding the constructive lesson in every outcome. 鈥ur most enthusiastic conversations occur when he shares the connections he observes in the world between all his interests.鈥�

, a professor of computer science, sees a 鈥渜uiet confidence鈥� in Cazares Borbon. 鈥淗e is quite mature and measured,鈥� Maloof said. 鈥淗e is pursuing two rigorous courses of study, computer science and neurobiology, and I do not remember ever seeing him panicked or stressed because of what must be an arduous workload.鈥�

Cazares Borbon is also a part of the (GSP), which supports first-generation and low-income students, and the (CSP), a decades-old program where first-generation students begin their Georgetown experience with a five-week summer program. Additionally, Cazares Borbon received support from the (RSSP), which is designed to expand opportunities for students from traditionally underserved communities pursuing studies in the sciences.

鈥淗aving a smaller experience of college before college fully started helped me grow as a person,鈥� he said.

Trying New Things

Cazares Borbon enjoys trying new things.

Besides his classwork, he was involved in several organizations on campus. 

He danced and handled operations for (BFMG), a student-run dance ensemble dedicated to sharing traditional Mexican dance and culture. For the , he sang in the choir, was an altar server and helped with Spanish Masses.  This year, Cazares Borbon was the president of the Mexican advocacy club at Georgetown.

His friend even convinced him to become a volunteer tax preparer for , where Cazares Borbon has served on the board as president and treasurer, helping the organization grow to more than 200 volunteers.

When asked what he would share with his younger self, Cazares Borbon said, 鈥渢rying new things really doesn鈥檛 hurt me.鈥� That鈥檚 one of the main lessons he鈥檚 learned from his Georgetown education.

鈥淭ry new things out without worrying if you’re going to fail or not, because you’re probably going to succeed,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd then find friends that push you to do new things, because, sure, you can do new things on your own, but doing them with friends is so much better.鈥�

Making Memories

Coming to DC from the Southwest meant new experiences for Cazares Borbon. Here are some of his favorites during his time on the Hilltop: 

Favorite spot on campus: The table next to the chemistry labs on the second floor of Regents Hall. Because that floor is the coldest floor in Regents and also the table has a good view of the Regents patio. That鈥檚 where I study before an exam.

Favorite class that you didn鈥檛 expect to love: The Dynamic Brain in Biology with Professor and Professor . They really taught me how to actually read research papers. In previous classes, we鈥檝e read a lot of papers. We sometimes analyze the figures, but in the Dynamic Brain, we had to actually know what the researchers were talking about and what methods they used. This really opened my eyes that not everything researchers produce is good. You have to identify how you can make things better.

Favorite local restaurant and order: Recently my friends and I discovered actual good Mexican food at Tortas Y Tacos La Chiquita. It鈥檚 a 24-hour Mexican restaurant, and we go there at all kinds of hours of the day. It鈥檚 located in Arlington. We get the chicken nachos. 

Favorite event that you鈥檝e attended: One of my favorite events at Georgetown would be the D铆a de los Muertos celebration this past fall, because it landed on a Sunday and we had a bilingual mass followed by the reception, which had the biggest attendance I’ve ever seen of any event in Georgetown. More than 300 people attended.

Favorite memory or moment on campus: My favorite memory on campus was my first snow storm or snow day, because I had never seen snow fall and stick. In Tucson, we do get snow, however, it literally melts as soon as it touches the ground. So that first day when it snowed, it was all fluffy and we could still walk on it. That was pretty special, because I had never experienced that before. 

(Top photo by Amy Cazares, C鈥�24)

After spending her first year at Occidental 海角论坛 in Los Angeles, Brandes transferred to Georgetown University, a place she believed she was meant to be. Born and raised in DC, Brandes felt like she belonged in the city and at Georgetown.

鈥淚 felt like I was a part of the community, and so that鈥檚 what really locked it in,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 really feel people look out for each other in this city in a way that is different than any other place I鈥檝e been, and you feel that just walking down the streets here. I missed that a lot.鈥�

Brandes will graduate this May from the 海角论坛 of Arts & Sciences with an interdisciplinary studies major focused on urban sustainability. In her three years on the Hilltop, Brandes has been studying the theoretical frameworks of place and the process of urban places. 

After graduation, she plans to backpack along the Appalachian Trail in Maine before moving to New York City in the fall to work in urban planning or urban design. One day, she hopes to own her own design firm.

鈥淐ities are really complex, and there are a lot of things that are planned in cities, and there are a lot of things that happen spontaneously,鈥� Brandes said. 鈥淎nd I think both things can be so beautiful.鈥�

An Interdisciplinary Approach

Brandes arrived at Georgetown as a government major, but she knew even then that she wanted to study cities and the environment. 

She noticed that many classes explored those areas of study, just not within a single major. That鈥檚 when she discovered the 海角论坛鈥檚 interdisciplinary studies major, where students can design their own academic programs around research questions. The major has existed in the 海角论坛 for almost 50 years.

鈥淚t was an opportunity where I really took a chance to go out on my own and do something bold,鈥� Brandes said. 鈥淎nd it was such a good decision.鈥�

She made a list of potential classes she would want to take, and each one, she said, was 鈥渟uper intentional.鈥�

鈥淢y first impression of Justine was that she was a remarkably curious and composed student,鈥� said , an associate dean in the 海角论坛 and the . 鈥淛ustine is unhurried in her consideration of questions, directions and opportunities.鈥�

Brandes said one of the most important courses she took was Urban Inequality with , an associate professor in the Department of Sociology. In that seminar, Brandes read works from writers like W.E.B. Du Bois and about theoretical approaches in urban cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, New York City and Washington, DC.

鈥淚 was most impressed by her enthusiasm for the course content, engagement with the readings, active participation in class and her generosity with her colleagues,鈥� Shedd said. 鈥淚t was truly gratifying to be a part of Justine鈥檚 academic journey.鈥�

Other courses Brandes took included Water with , a professor of geography and the vice dean for undergraduate affairs in the School of Foreign Service, and Urban Ecology with , the associate vice president for strategic initiatives in the Office of the Provost and an adjunct professor in the Department of Biology. 

鈥淢aking your own way in an interdisciplinary studies major takes vision and passion, and Justine has both,鈥� Whitmer said.

Brandes was also part of the , which introduced her to a community centered around urban studies. Another experience Brandes cherished on the Hilltop was serving as a board member for the student-run Georgetown University Farmers鈥� Market that features more than 15 vendors.

鈥淏eing able to see everyone gather in one space on Wednesdays and see the entire community come together gave me so much purpose as a Georgetown student,鈥� she said.

A Connection to Place

Brandes had been thinking about her senior thesis ever since her sophomore year.

It started with a curiosity about what makes a sense of place. She asked herself: What makes DC so different from L.A.? What makes L.A. so different from Berlin? It goes back, Brandes explained, to the Latin term, genius loci, which means 鈥渟pirit of a place.鈥�

鈥淭his has really been a labor of love,鈥� she said.

She eventually focused her thesis, 鈥淪earching for a Lost River: Remaking the River That Made L.A.,鈥� on the Los Angeles River, a 51-mile river in L.A. that is nearly completely encased in concrete, and a plan by the late architect Frank Gehry and his team to design a public space near the Rio Hondo confluence in South Gate, California.

鈥淭he Los Angeles River is mostly seen as a movie backdrop, rather than a really important ecological asset to the city,鈥� Brandes said. 鈥淭hat topic really fired me up.鈥�

Brandes visited the site in January and returned with an understanding that the proposed design plan for a cultural center and platform parks by Gehry鈥檚 team has been polarizing. 

鈥淲hat my thesis gets down to is belonging and connection to place and how that is 100% tied to the natural environment,鈥� Brandes said. 鈥淎nd you cannot ignore the natural environment.鈥�

Ultimately, her thesis argues that the platform parks that would be built on the top of the river would create a sense of placelessness for residents along the river, Brandes said, because it conceals the river, rather than re-naturalizing it. Brandes also argues that because Gehry is an architect and not an urbanist or community planner, he approached the river as a design opportunity rather than an ecological system, prioritizing bold structures over restoration.

鈥淵ou have to engage with local communities in which you intend to design for,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen local communities feel ignored, it ends up not being good for anyone.鈥�

Everything Is Nature

Brandes鈥� sense of place is rooted in the outdoors. 

Around the age of 10, her parents took her to the Grand Canyon National Park. In addition to the awe of seeing the natural wonder, they hiked and backpacked the . 

鈥淚 think that was my first experience of seeing nature in a way that really humbled me and made me feel small,鈥� Brandes said. 鈥淎nd since then, it just took off.鈥�

She went on an Outward Bound rafting trip, which eventually led to a 30-day backpacking trip during high school in the Teton Range in Wyoming with NOLS, a nonprofit outdoor education school. Navigating with only a compass and map on that trip solidified Brandes鈥� commitment to the environment. 

鈥淚 decided for the rest of my life, this is going to be something I fight for,鈥� she said.

And while she has a deep commitment to the environment, Brandes has always loved cities and the human connections found in them. Her academic interests were bolstered by study abroad experiences in Bilbao, Spain and Copenhagen, Denmark. 

鈥淚 think Bilbao helped me start thinking about urban processes and urban change,鈥� Brandes said. 鈥淐openhagen really opened my eyes to sophisticated design and architecture.鈥�

In DC, she often visits Rock Creek Park. Part of her academic growth, Brandes said, is the realization that nature is all around us. 

鈥淚 think a lot of times we think when we’re in a city that we aren鈥檛 in nature, and nature is something that you can distinctly step into, but in reality, there’s no difference,鈥� she said. 鈥淓verything is nature all the time.鈥�

As she prepares to leave Georgetown, Brandes said that her liberal arts education has inspired a commitment to service and helping others. It鈥檚 also taught her to always push the status quo.

鈥淎s a community, we push each other,鈥� Brandes said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not afraid to disagree with each other in the classroom, and I think that鈥檚 really beautiful. I鈥檒l always take that with me for the rest of my life. No matter what situation I鈥檓 in, I will take a step back and really think: How can I push this situation? How can I grow while supporting others? How can we grow together as a community?鈥�

Reflecting on the Hilltop

For the past three years, Brandes has made the most of her time at Georgetown. Here are some of her favorites around campus and the city she calls home:

Favorite spot on campus: Healy Lawn. Way back on that one bench between the John Carroll statue and Lauinger Library. You can look up at the tower. I think I鈥檝e spent the most time reflecting there. I have the most memories there. 

Favorite class that you didn鈥檛 expect you鈥檇 enjoy: I took Acting I this semester with Professor . It was totally out of my comfort zone, but super impactful. Amazing class. I would have never taken that if it hadn鈥檛 come on my radar.

Favorite local restaurant and order: Teaism in Dupont Circle. I would get the spicy glass noodles with a green tea lassi and one of the cookies for dessert.

Favorite Georgetown tradition: Not walking on the seal outside of Healy is really funny. They always say once you get here, don’t step on it, or you’re not going to graduate. I don’t know if I believe in it, but I’m not gonna test it. 

Favorite thing to do off campus: Just walk to Dupont Circle and sit in the circle. I love doing that. I think it really connects me to DC beyond Georgetown. I really just enjoy sitting there on a nice day.

(Top photo by Maria Sophia Dyer)

As a middle schooler, instead of playing video games or sports after school, Feng would be at home, eagerly awaiting the 5 p.m. broadcast of CBC News. His dad also had a cable subscription to all of the American national news channels. Feng, born and raised in a suburb of Toronto, would watch news on politics 鈥� particularly from the United States 鈥� any chance he could. In high school, he wrote papers on the Cuban Missile Crisis and other historic U.S. political events.

鈥淚 had the bug of loving American politics and American news,鈥� Feng said. 鈥淚 thought about politics in a very analytical way very early on about why people believe the things they believe.鈥�

That passion eventually led him to the U.S. and Georgetown University, and Feng will graduate this May with a degree in government from the 海角论坛 of Arts & Sciences. During his four years on campus, Feng has gained experience in immigration policy and organized labor. He plans to attend law school in the fall to become an immigration or labor lawyer. A Rhodes Scholarship finalist, Feng hopes to advise on the future of immigration law from the legal perspective. 

鈥淚 want to do appellate litigation for a plaintiff鈥檚 law firm,鈥� Feng said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I can have a long career in law without addressing working-class issues.鈥�

Immigration Policy Reform

Feng鈥檚 interests in immigration policy and labor are rooted in his personal history. 

In 1999, Feng鈥檚 parents left China with his older brother to immigrate to Canada. The move provided new opportunities for the family, but Feng鈥檚 parents left a part of themselves behind in China, he said. 

His mom was a kindergarten teacher, and his dad was an aerospace engineer. The extra education and re-certification required in Canada made it difficult for them to continue their old careers, Feng said. Instead, they took clerical jobs at a local bank.

鈥淚 can never give my parents their old careers back,鈥� Feng wrote in his Rhodes Scholarship application. 鈥淗owever, I can still give back to Canada by making it easier for the next generation of skilled immigrants to economically integrate. My parents鈥� career sacrifices have pushed me to imagine a Canadian immigration system in which Persian doctors, Ukrainian scientists and Burmese care workers can easily continue these careers as Canadians 鈥� contributing to our nation in the ways they know best.鈥�

鈥淓conomic immigration is much more than just a way to supply Canada鈥檚 labor market,鈥� he added. 鈥淎 moral immigration structure must first grant newcomers their innate humanity and basic social rights.鈥�

Feng wrote his senior thesis on what he calls the critical juncture for economic immigration reform in Canada, the U.S. and the United Kingdom from 2008 to 2014. His key takeaway is that while the three countries originally revolved around different immigration systems, all of them converged toward an American two-step model for immigration. In that system, immigrants may be selected for temporary work by U.S. employers and then potentially transition to a non-guaranteed permanent residence. 

鈥淥nly a small percentage of all those who apply can get it,鈥� Feng said. 鈥淚f you don’t get it, you should, as logic, leave and end your stay in the countries. But the implication of my thesis is that many people don鈥檛. That is driving some of the immigration issues we see as hot-button topics today.鈥�

One of the goals for his thesis was to set the groundwork of how countries got to their current immigration systems before exploring possible solutions. Among the questions that Feng asks are: 

• Can there be an economic immigration system that minimizes precarity for those living life within it? 
• How can we make a system that protects the ability of immigrant workers to be safe and have a voice at their workplace, without fear of immigration action initiated by their employer? 
• How can we see these goals as top priorities alongside national growth and economic success? Is it possible?

鈥淚t鈥檚 an extremely privileged thing that I get to say the system worked for me,鈥� Feng said. 鈥淚 wish that were the case for more people.鈥�

Standing Up for Workers

Feng鈥檚 commitment to workers’ rights has been shaped by his liberal arts education.

At Georgetown, Feng took The First Amendment class as a first-year student with (G’15), the Walter I. Giles Associate Professor of the Practice in Constitutional Law in the Department of Government. The course, he said, changed his life.

鈥淚t was a seminar,鈥� Feng said. 鈥淚t had no grades, no tests, and the only thing you would do is write a 25, 30-page paper at the end of class. 鈥hat really solidified me in the government space, because I thought if I could do stuff like this every semester, that鈥檇 be super cool.鈥�

Feng made an immediate impression on his professor.

鈥淔rom the outset Andy had an amazing talent for thoughtful consideration of 鈥� and understanding of 鈥� complex concepts, an innate intellectual curiosity and a very good sense of what he wanted to do after college, even as an incoming first year,鈥� Hartman said. 鈥淎ndy has always kept his focus on his long-term goals 鈥� specifically to work in support of organized labor, and both his academic work and his professional experience has been geared toward that goal.鈥�

Feng also enjoyed Elements of Political Theory with , an assistant professor of government, and U.S. Working Lives with , a professor in the Department of History and co-director of the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor. Feng鈥檚 interest in reading and writing led him to the , where he鈥檚 written scripts, fiction stories and poems. 

鈥淚 have intersected a lot with just the government degree,鈥� Feng said. 鈥淚 love the idea that there is such a broad network of folks. 鈥t鈥檚 really nice to have the 海角论坛 just because of the diversity and breadth of all this.鈥�

Fisher sees in Feng a 鈥渃lear sense of seriousness to his boundless curiosity.鈥�

鈥淎ndy exemplifies that purpose-driven pragmatism that makes our students so much fun to teach,鈥� he said.

McCartin agrees, calling Feng, “one of the most curious students I’ve ever taught.”

“Andy embodies the idea that learning should sharpen one’s understanding of the world and preparing one to help make it more just and inclusive,” McCartin said.

On campus, Feng has served on the 海角论坛 Academic Council, which he called one of his top experiences at Georgetown. Feng was also the philanthropy chair and board member at large for , commonly known as The Corp, a student-run nonprofit and charitable organization at Georgetown. 

Off campus, Feng worked for the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) as a political and field mobilization fellow. There, he advised national political directors on the messaging strategy for the 2024 elections and constructed national worker support programs. 

鈥淲e鈥檙e in a time of great skepticism surrounding the purpose and value of higher education, and Georgetown is so well positioned to offer answers to those skeptics,鈥� Hartman said. 鈥淚n some sense, our students are our answer 鈥� and Andy is a perfect example of this. He works hard, tempers healthy ambition with grace, humility and altruism. I have no doubt he鈥檒l have a significant impact when he leaves the Hilltop.鈥�

People for Others

The word discernment comes to mind when Feng reflects on his Georgetown education. That means having the ability to think about things in an analytical manner, he said.

鈥淚 think that’s my pitch for Georgetown, the sense that you’re just going to have to interact with things in a humanistic perspective that deals with a lot and that can’t be just boiled down into one thing,鈥� Feng said.

Being in DC, with its proximity to the federal government and all of its moving parts, has taught him to look at how decisions and policy directly impact people. It also reminds him that there will be challenges in any path, but that at the end of the day, whatever career path Feng takes, it will be about service to others.

鈥淭here is no way in which you come to Georgetown and you leave and think you鈥檙e not going to do anything for a community of people,鈥� he said.

Four Years of Memories

Feng has accumulated a lot of memories and favorites during his four years at Georgetown 鈥� from taking classes on script writing to attending a cappella concerts on campus. Here he shares some of his favorites from the Hilltop:

Favorite spot on campus: In the summer, Copley Lawn, and in the winter, Midnight Mug or Uncommon Grounds or one of the coffee shops.

Favorite class that you didn鈥檛 expect you鈥檇 enjoy: Medicine and the Muse: Writing Through Change with , the director of the Lannan Center. It totally opened a whole new third eye for different things that are fictional but can be applied to real life. A second one is Script Writing with . I loved it especially from the perspective of talking about cultural issues through scripts.

Favorite local restaurant and order: Pho 75. No. 1. Large. All the fixings.

Favorite event you鈥檝e attended at Georgetown: A capella singing festivals. Spring Sing. Cherry Tree Massacre. DCAF. Those three. I haven鈥檛 missed one. I don鈥檛 sing either. They鈥檙e amazing.

Favorite Georgetown tradition: The comfiest hoodie in your closet has to be a Georgetown one because you鈥檙e going to have to wear it to the airport and the airplane. That鈥檚 just how it goes. It feels strange wearing a non-branded thing nowadays.

(Top photo by Josh Rodriguez)