Meet GSPM’s New Executive Director Debbie Mucarsel-Powell

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The George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management(GSPM) has appointed former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powellas its new executive director. She began the position Sept. 1.

Mucarsel-Powell, a longtime public servant and higher education leader, has extensive experience tackling critical political and social issues throughout her career. Now, as the executive director of GSPM, she is excited to return to D.C. and help prepare the next generation of public servants and political professionals.

"There's something incredibly special about having the university set in Washington, D.C., the heart of where our democracy is happening," Mucarsel-Powell said. "There's a spirit of determination by the students that attend GW, and GW provides a unique setting where students can translate the skills they're learning in the classroom to hands-on experience in Washington."

Mucarsel-Powell said she has dedicated a significant portion of her career to working in higher education because her own journey has shown her the doors that receiving an education can open.

She was born in Ecuador and immigrated to the United States at age 14 with her family. Her parents worked tirelessly to ensure she and her sister had access to educational opportunities, believing strongly that it was the key to a better future.

"Education is the ultimate equalizer, right? It opens doors for young people in a way that nothing else does," Mucarsel-Powell said. "My father always used to say, they can take everything away from you, but they can never take away your education, what you've learned, what you have inside of you."

She began her academic career at Florida International University (FIU), where she served as director of development for the College of Health and Urban Affairs. She later became associate dean for advancement at FIU's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, the first public medical school in South Florida. There, she helped raise $100 million to support first-generation scholarships, research initiatives and endowed faculty chairs.

One of her most impactful efforts at FIU was a community program that brought professionals in public health, nursing and other disciplines together to address health disparities in Miami-Dade County.

Her growing involvement in public service led members of her community to encourage her to run for office.

"I thought it was a crazy idea," Mucarsel-Powell said. "I was married, I had kids, and I had my career at FIU. But I realized that I could make an even larger impact, not just here in Florida, but across the country, if I were able to serve in that way."

In 2018, she was elected to Congress as a Democrat, becoming the first South American-born member to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. During her tenure, she championed environmental protection, immigration reform and education policy. She served on the Judiciary Committee, was vice chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Women's Task Force.

After leaving Congress, she continued her advocacy as a senior official at Giffords, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing gun violence, a cause that has impacted her personally.

"I lost my father to gun violence, and I've met many, many families who have lost loved ones the same way," Mucarsel-Powell said. "And it was very rewarding work."

In 2024, she made history again as the first Latina nominated for the U.S. Senate in Florida. After the campaign, she returned to her roots in education, visiting campuses across the state and reconnecting with her passion for working with students. "I knew I wanted to get back into higher ed, and here I am," Mucarsel-Powell said. "I couldn't be more excited to be the new executive director for GSPM."

As she steps into her new role, Mucarsel-Powell said she's focused on listening and learning from students, faculty, alumni and partners to identify new opportunities and areas for growth.

One of her top priorities is strengthening connections between students and GSPM's active alumni network.

"I want to increase those relationships between students and alumni and grow mentorship and networking experiences for both," Mucarsel-Powell said. "I know alumni also want to continue to grow their network, and I think we need to lean on each other to do that."

She also plans to leverage GW's location in the heart of Washington to open doors for students and faculty, using her own experience in Congress and government service to build relationships with policymakers, agencies and national organizations.

By strengthening these ties, Mucarsel-Powell hopes to grow the program and expand GSPM's reach.

"The more relationships we can bring to the school, the more we build trust in the quality of our program, the more we'll grow GSPM into the preeminent school for political leadership that will not only lead with integrity and that will be a part of our political discourse, but that will shape institutions that will protect freedom and democracy in the United States," Mucarsel-Powell said.