In honor of National Gratitude Month, AU Now asked members of our community what they’re thankful for. Here are just a few of their responses:

“I'm grateful for the way American University programs leverage over 70 square miles of the Washington, DC, area as a learning laboratory. In the Washington Semester Program students learn in high impact internships and seminars with 15-plus site visits that take them along the hallways, alleys, avenues, and rivers of capital city power. I am thankful to be a part of this community where AU transforms the careers and lives of students.”

—Amy Morrill Bijeau, director, Washington Semester Program 

“I am thankful for community at AU. It is rewarding to know that we are providing access to quality graduate education, while also building a virtual community impacting students all over the country and around the world. I am also thankful for the community AU has provided me through the Latino and Hispanic Affinity Group, which fosters a safe space for our community and creates Latinx connections among students, faculty, and staff.”

—Claudia Blount, assistant director, admissions and marketing, School of International Service, and chair, Latino and Hispanic Affinity Group

“I am grateful that American University allows for such innovation in education. I am thankful for a university community that is so deeply tied to our surrounding DC community. I am thankful for a community of care for each other and for humanity.”

—Corbin Campbell, acting co-dean, School of Education 

“As a staff member and alumnus, I'm grateful for our extremely beautiful campus and those that upkeep it. I'm grateful for our community's commitment to growth and improving ourselves every day. I'm also grateful for our staff's compassion, empathy, and humor, which makes AU a genuinely lovely place to be.”

—Saagar Ram Gupta, SPA/BA '18, assistant director, community-based learning and research, Center for Community Engagement and Service 

“I’m grateful to work at such a dynamic institution that values diversity, community, and collaboration. I’m particularly thankful for my University Advancement colleagues who work so hard each day to ensure our students have the resources they need to succeed.”

—Casey Jacobs, senior director of development, annual giving, University Advancement 

“I am thankful to be friends with and surround myself with hardworking and kind student-staff members in the Kennedy Political Union, Hindu Students Association, Inclusive Excellence Ambassadors, and in the Cassell-Leonard Housing and Residence Life community.”

—Shreya Joshi, Kogod/BSBA ’25, SPA/BA ’25

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to work with such wonderful colleagues across AU, whose shared goals are to do whatever is within their ability to improve the student, faculty, and staff experience every day. [AU] is a complex organization and the results of that work are not always immediately obvious—nor is the path for getting there always clear. But I’ve never worked with a person here who didn’t identify that work as our shared driving purpose.”

—Robert Kelshian, director of discovery, access, and assessment, AU Library 

“As a former international AU graduate student who transitioned to a staff and adjunct faculty role at AU, I am reminded on a daily basis how thankful I am to the countless AU community members who have become my family away from home over the last 20 years. Your kindness, support, and presence has made a lasting and very positive impact.”

—Anna Olsson, SPA/MA ’12, interim executive director, Center for Teaching, Research, and Learning, and cochair, AU Global, the international faculty and staff affinity group  

“I am grateful for all the faculty, staff, and campus leadership at AU who go above and beyond to ensure that our student experience is the best possible and that we are set up for future success. I also appreciate all the students on campus, their commitment to advancing social justice, and their passion for making a change in our world. I am thankful for the opportunity to attend such an amazing university with exceptional resources on campus and in the surrounding areas.”

—Edwin Santos, SPA/BA ’24, SPA/MPA ’25, president, AU Student Government 

“I’m grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to work at not one but two wonderful offices at AU, and I have had such wonderful colleagues at both. Both places have taught me so much and shaped my perceptions of the value of education, intellectual curiosity, and the importance of a great workplace. AU’s been my home for 25 years, and I hope many more to come.”

—Katherine Simpson, senior director of talent strategies, Office of Human Resources 

“I am grateful for our faculty and staff colleagues who show up with openness, empathy, and compassion for our students and for each other, each and every day. This is how we build belonging on our campus and beyond.”

—Amanda Taylor, assistant vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion 

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.