Rachel Mahmud

Rachel Mahmud is the Administrative Director at the George Washington University’s Center for Excellence in Public Leadership (GW CEPL), where she leads strategic planning, program development, and operations to advance the center’s mission. She brings over 15 years of experience in program management, strategic planning, and partnerships across the federal government, nonprofit, and private sectors. Throughout her career, she has fostered leadership and expanded opportunities for underrepresented groups. She is passionate about developing programs that build capacity and create lasting impact in local communities. She has led the design of leadership initiatives focused on women and youth, with a particular emphasis on agency-based empowerment, enterprise development, and building sustainable networks.

She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Management from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor’s Degree in International Affairs from The George Washington University. She speaks French, having studied abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France and has worked extensively in countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Rachel brings a global perspective and a passion for CEPL’s mission of transforming individuals and institutions to make a positive difference.