Skip to main content

GW Center for Public Excellence in Leadership Partnership.

Be The Leader You Seek

The mission of the GW Center for Excellence in Public Leadership (GW CEPL) is to develop public leaders who make a positive difference in their organizations, communities, and the lives of the people they serve. The Center further fulfills its mission by weaving together a combination of academic and practitioner resources to provide rigorous, graduate-level executive education, grounded in the realities of public sector leadership and management.

For more information about working with CEPL and to see their full list of executive education and leadership coaching offerings, click below.

Learn More

About CEPL

The George Washington University Center for Excellence in Public Leadership (GW CEPL), anchored within the College of Professional Studies, empowers public sector leaders to effect meaningful change through rigorous, graduate-level executive education. With more than 25 years of experience delivering leadership and management training to government agencies at all levels—including local, national, and international clients—GW CEPL leverages a blend of academic insight and practitioner expertise to ensure practical and impactful outcomes.

Established in 1997 during the District of Columbia’s fiscal crisis, GW CEPL began as a forward-thinking public-private collaborative led by key stakeholders like the Fannie Mae Foundation and the DC Government. Since then, it has evolved into a national leader in executive education, rebranded as the Center for Excellence in Public Leadership in 2005 to reflect its expanded regional and federal scope. Today, GW CEPL’s portfolio includes innovative programming such as Lean Six Sigma, Enterprise Risk Management, Women’s Leadership initiatives, executive coaching, and custom solutions—all delivered by a network of experienced practitioners and thought leaders.

CEPL Logo

A Shared Mission

The shared vision between The George Washington University and CEPL unites academic excellence with a deep commitment to public service, fostering leaders who drive meaningful change in their organizations and communities. GW’s pursuit of inclusive excellence—building a diverse, dynamic environment for teaching, research, and service—aligns seamlessly with CEPL’s mission to cultivate ethical, innovative, and resilient public-sector leaders. Together, they leverage the university’s academic rigor and CEPL’s practitioner-based expertise to empower individuals who advance the public good, strengthen institutions, and create lasting societal impact.

Transformative Leadership Development

CEPL seeks out opportunities to engage in strategic partnerships with other organizations that have complementary capabilities in the following:

  • Providing transformational leadership development experiences that go beyond academic learning to practical application in the real world;
  • Creating collaborative networks among public leaders and organizations to share resources, knowledge, and experience;
  • Accelerating innovation by adapting and scaling models and frameworks that are already working to new situations and settings.

Their current list of organizational partners includes the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government (MWCOG), Association for Enterprise Risk Management (AFERM), LBL Strategies, Training Officers Consortium (TOC), E-Squared Solutions, Balanced Scorecard Institute/Strategy Management Group, and others.

GW Revu: Innovation in Action

The RevU platform, powered by GW’s College of Professional Studies, partners with the Center for Excellence in Public Leadership (CEPL) to deliver learning that combines flexibility, relevance, and the prestige of the GW brand. Through a modular approach, professionals can earn digital badges, microcredentials, and certifications on their own terms—without the barriers of traditional degree programs. Whether sharpening leadership skills, advancing in a current role, or preparing for a new one, learners gain practical insights and recognition that drive real-world impact.

Advancing Leadership, Innovation, and Impact

This collaboration showcases how higher education and public sector expertise can unite to cultivate leaders who are ready to navigate complex challenges and drive meaningful change. Together, GW RevU and CEPL are equipping professionals across sectors with the knowledge, networks, and credentials to elevate performance and build lasting capacity—one learner at a time.