GW Senior Named 2025 Truman Scholar
Emily-Anne Santiago, a rising senior at The George Washington University, has been named a 2025 Harry S. Truman Scholar, one of the nation’s most prestigious awards for students committed to public service. With a focus on domestic litigation and constitutional law, she joins a select group of Scholars preparing to lead in government, policy and civic engagement.
The Truman Scholarship Foundation “awards merit-based scholarships to college students who plan to pursue careers in government or elsewhere in public service. Truman Scholars receive up to $30,000 for graduate or professional school, participate in leadership development activities, and have special opportunities for internships and employment with the federal government.”
At GW, Emily-Anne is pursuing degrees in political science and accounting while building experience that spans both private and public sectors. She has interned three times with Deloitte’s Government and Public Services consulting practice and holds a post-graduate job offer from the firm.
“I had no idea what consulting was,” she says, but the role gave her opportunities to travel, network and develop problem-solving skills. Deloitte’s collaborative environment, she added, helped her see how teamwork and empathy can strengthen approaches to litigation and public service.
Mentors and peers who believed in me gave me the confidence to imagine a greater capacity of service.
Her path to the Truman Scholarship reflects an extensive record of leadership and civic engagement. Emily-Anne serves as president of both the GW College Democrats and the Eta Eta Chapter of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Incorporated. She has completed internships with the Atlanta Bar Association, Education Reform Now DC, and the Office of Legislative Affairs, as well as in the U.S. Senate offices of Senators Mark Warner of Virginia and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania. She has also dedicated more than 500 service hours through programs including AmeriCorps JumpStart.
On campus, Emily-Anne has held leadership roles in residential life, advancing from resident assistant to resident director. She said those experiences, where she guided underclass students toward resources and encouragement, remain among her proudest achievements.
The Truman Scholarship also recognizes her vision for public service after graduation. Emily-Anne plans to take the Certified Public Accountant exam while applying to law school. Her long-term goals include clerking in the federal courts and ultimately serving as a judge.
Reflecting on the recognition, she says, “I see both the Truman and Posse awards as transformative networks of support. I was lucky enough to have mentors and peers who believed in me. Those connections gave me the confidence to pursue opportunities like this and to imagine a greater capacity of service.”
