Autumn Anthony
Washington
Summary
Strategic higher education administrator with more than eight years of experience partnering with university leadership to advance institutional priorities through exceptional operations, relationship management, communications, and cross-functional coordination. Proven success translating complex strategic initiatives into well-executed programs by bringing together faculty, administrators, students, government agencies, international organizations, and external partners around shared goals. Extensive experience managing global partnerships, institutional agreements, executive communications, and university-wide initiatives within complex research university environments. Recognized for building trusted relationships across academic and administrative units while balancing competing priorities with diplomacy, discretion, and meticulous attention to detail. Multilingual University of Colorado Boulder alumna with international academic and professional experience spanning six countries and a longstanding commitment to advancing global engagement in higher education.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
International Programs Manager, Office of International Programs
The George Washington University
01.2019 - 01.2022
- Served as a strategic operations and partnerships lead within the Office of International Programs, directly supporting the Vice Provost for International Programs by coordinating executive priorities, managing institutional partnerships, and advancing the university's internationalization strategy.
- Managed institutional relationships with approximately XX international partner universities across XX countries, strengthening academic partnerships supporting student mobility, faculty collaboration, and institutional engagement.
- Served as the university's primary liaison to Fulbright, the Institute of International Education (IIE), World Learning, Boren Awards, EducationUSA, foreign embassies, scholarship agencies, and international partner institutions.
- Coordinated the development, negotiation, implementation, renewal, and documentation of XX+ international partnership agreements (MOUs) in collaboration with faculty, deans, legal counsel, university leadership, and external partners.
- Monitored agreement timelines, maintained partnership documentation and institutional records, and supported long-term stewardship of the university's international partnership portfolio.
- Planned and coordinated executive meetings, international delegation visits, partnership discussions, recruitment events, and campus engagements involving senior university leadership and external stakeholders.
- Worked closely with Admissions, Enrollment Management, International Student & Scholar Services, faculty leadership, and academic departments to coordinate international initiatives across the university.
- Developed strategic communications promoting international scholarships, exchange programs, study abroad opportunities, and global engagement initiatives.
- Supported services and programming for approximately XX international students representing XX countries, providing guidance while coordinating across multiple university offices.
- Improved administrative processes and partnership coordination through organized record management, proactive communication, and relationship stewardship.
Assistant Director, Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Affairs
The George Washington University
01.2024 - Current
- Serve as the principal operational partner to the Vice Provost for Graduate & Postdoctoral Affairs, translating strategic priorities into coordinated university-wide initiatives through executive project management, communications, stakeholder engagement, and cross-functional collaboration across ten academic schools.
- Lead more than 15 university-wide strategic initiatives annually serving over 19,000 graduate students across ten academic schools through comprehensive project management, communications, and operational coordination.
- Serve as a trusted partner to senior university leadership by coordinating initiatives requiring collaboration among Graduate Affairs, Faculty Affairs, Enrollment Management, International Services, Communications, Human Resources, Finance, and academic leadership.
- Direct communications strategies reaching graduate students, faculty, and administrators while ensuring consistency across multiple audiences and institutional priorities.
- Coordinate executive meetings, workshops, faculty initiatives, and institutional events requiring careful planning, stakeholder engagement, logistics management, and follow-through.
- Develop operational systems and workflows that improve collaboration across decentralized university offices while increasing organizational effectiveness.
- Advise university leadership on policy implementation, graduate student engagement, communications strategy, and operational improvements.
- Manage sensitive institutional information with professionalism, discretion, and exceptional attention to detail.
Supervisor, Graduate Student Assistantships & Fellowships
The George Washington University
01.2022 - 01.2024
- Managed operational administration of one of the university's largest graduate funding portfolios while coordinating policy implementation across multiple academic units.
- Managed graduate funding portfolios exceeding $6 million annually, supporting approximately 80 master's and doctoral students across seven academic schools.
- Coordinated complex administrative processes involving Human Resources, Payroll, International Services, academic departments, faculty, and students to ensure accurate appointment and funding administration.
- Served as the central point of contact for graduate funding processes, advising hundreds of students and faculty members annually.
- Developed process improvements that streamlined operations, strengthened collaboration among university offices, and improved the student experience.
- Maintained confidential employment, financial, and student information while ensuring compliance with institutional policies and federal regulations.
- Coordinated communications among faculty, administrators, students, and university leadership regarding funding, appointments, and institutional policy.
Education
Master of Arts - Middle East Studies
The George Washington University
Washington, DC2025
Bachelor of Arts - International Relations
University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO2018
Skills
- International Education
- Global Partnerships
- International Fellowships
- Strategic Project Management
- Program Administration
- Event coordination
- Data Management
- Stakeholder Engagement
- MOU management
- Relationship Management
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- Executive Operations
- Executive Communications
- Policy Implementation
- Public Speaking
- Cross-Cultural Communication
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Student & Faculty Engagement
Accomplishments
Orchestrated a complete overhaul of the international agreements review process to improve efficiency, record-keeping strategies and timeline monitoring. Presented the proposal to university leadership and implemented
LANGUAGES
English (Native)
Spanish (Fluent)
Arabic (Professional Proficiency)
French (Working Proficiency)
Timeline
Assistant Director, Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Affairs
The George Washington University
01.2024 - Current
Supervisor, Graduate Student Assistantships & Fellowships
The George Washington University
01.2022 - 01.2024
International Programs Manager, Office of International Programs
The George Washington University
01.2019 - 01.2022
Master of Arts - Middle East Studies
The George Washington University
Bachelor of Arts - International Relations
University of Colorado Boulder