"[1] The first President of what was then known as Columbian College was clergyman and Chaplain of the United States Senate, William Staughton.

Although Columbian College was founded by prominent Baptists, its Congressional Charter forbade any religious restrictions for the University.

University officials announced Granberg would succeed incumbent Mark S. Wrighton.

[3] In January 2023, the university announced that Ellen Granberg had been selected to succeed Wrighton.

Granberg, who will become the first woman to serve as president of George Washington University, will take office on July 1, 2023.