Back to School edition

September 2025

Heya Hoyas!

Welcome to the Back to School edition of the Hoya Social Impact Alliance (HSIA) monthly newsletter! With classes starting recently at Georgetown and at primary, secondary, and other higher education settings, the HSIA is excited to support our fellow Hoyas in education this school year. Plus, in this issue, we are pleased to share lots of additional information and resources for ALL social impact Hoyas.

As always, thanks for being part of this community and helping us grow! As part of our incubation phase with the GUAA, we recently shared our progress over the previous 12 months, including the following:

Leadership: 300% growth (from 4 to 16 members of the Leadership Team)
Membership: 100% growth (from 356 to 720 members)
Programming: 200% growth (from 2 to 6 events), with 600+ registrants, 300+ attendees
Communications: 270% growth on LinkedIn (from 92 to 341)

Moving into the 2025-26 year, the HSIA is planning lots of different offerings in DC, other cities, and online to support networking and professional development for all social impact Hoyas. To help us better understand and support your work and career journeys, please take 2-3 minutes to fill out our membership form.

If you are interested in taking a more active role in the HSIA by serving on our amazing team, please complete this leadership form. We are currently looking for co-leads for Communications, Social Media, Membership, and our City and Sector Networks, and for speakers on a variety of social impact topics.

BACK TO SCHOOL NEWS

from the HSIA Education Network

Hoya Highlight: Michelle Mallahi (MS, ‘21), Los Angeles, CA

What inspired you to become an educator, and what keeps you motivated each school year?

“My path to education evolved naturally, even though I never imagined I’d become a teacher. Growing up, I loved hosting neighborhood events where I’d share different science or math topics with friends. In high school, I volunteered as a tutor, and in college, I continued tutoring—eventually building my own tutoring business, which I still run today. I advise incoming and current college students and help with standardized test preparation.

Over the years, I explored many different jobs, but none felt truly fulfilling, so I would eventually move on. The one constant was my teaching. That consistency made it clear where my passion truly was, and I eventually decided to apply for a university position. Today, I’m a professor of Pathophysiology at Cal State Dominguez Hills, and I’m excited to continue growing in this role, including contributing to curriculum development at other schools.

What keeps me motivated each year is my students. I learn so much from them, and I deeply value the relationships we build. Seeing their growth, curiosity, and confidence holds my passion for teaching.”

About the HSIA Education Network

Whether you're walking nervous kindergarteners to their first classroom or mentoring graduate students through thesis defense prep, this season reminds us why we chose education: a fresh start, full of potential.

We created the HSIA Education Network because we Hoyas know that quality education isn't a luxury, it's a foundation. Launched at our Summer Social in June honoring Hoya teachers, the Education Network is here to connect Georgetown alumni, students, and University staff who understand that great education, supportive policies, and innovative resources create ripple effects that last generations.

Led by Cynthia Mompoint (C ‘02) and Claire Riesenberg (C ‘08), the Education Network is planning a number of events, resources, and other opportunities in the coming year, based on the results of our recent membership survey, including:

Here’s what's keeping us educators up at night:

Supporting student mental health & well-being (65% of you selected this)
Defining quality education for future opportunities (47%)
Policy changes under current administration (47%)
AI in Education (41%)

And here’s what you said you want and need most:

Networking and community building (94% want this)
Policy & advocacy resources (82%)
Mentorship opportunities (65%)
Professional development calendars (47%).

In response, the HSIA Education Network will begin to highlight Hoyas like Michelle (above), share policy resources, and offer events and other programming, including our first VIRTUAL MEETUP coming this Fall (stay tuned).

EDUCATION POLICY RESOURCES

Here are some resources to support those working in Education. As a non-partisan group, please know that inclusion of these resources does not indicate any endorsement.

UPCOMING EDUCATION EVENTS

September 6 | National Read a Book Day
Perfect excuse to share your latest education read with the network

September 8 | International Literacy Day
Literacy isn't just reading, it's understanding, questioning, and creating

September 15-17 | ACSI Public Policy Summit, Washington D.C.
For those shaping education policy at the intersection of faith and learning

September 18-20 | NACAC Washington D.C.
For college admission counseling professionals

September 29-October 1 | Convergence, Washington D.C.
UPCEA's deep dive into how higher education credentials are evolving beyond traditional degree

UPCOMING SOCIAL IMPACT EVENTS + PROGRAMMING

September 5 | Pivot with Purpose: Philanthropy and Foundations (virtual)

September 8-9 | Raise: Event Fundraising Conference, San Antonio, TX

September 10 | Philanthropy's Role in Navigating Today's Uncertainties, Washington, D.C.

September 16 | National Voter Registration Day

September 25 | Hoya Gateway Live!, Washington, D.C.

September 26 | GU Annual Fall Career Fair, Washington, D.C.

September 30 - October 2 | The Nonprofit Innovation and Optimization (NIO) Summit, Kansas City, MO