There was no need for Darrell E. Thornton Jr. to even have his phone in speaker mode. The voice on the other end was that loud, and for good reason.
A D.C. high school student who was part of the Upward Bound program at George Washington University that Thornton leads called to let him know that she had been accepted to college—on a full ride scholarship to boot. Thornton’s grin stretched ear to ear.
“I am so proud of you, girl; you are going to shine,” he told the student, who hadn’t yet even told her mother the good news.
It’s moments like that that make it all worth it for Thornton Jr., who has been director of the federally funded Upward Bound program at GW since June 2023. The program’s mission is to help students grades nine through 12 from low socioeconomic backgrounds, primarily first-generation college students, gain access to higher education. It offers a wide range of services such as free tutoring on Tuesdays and Thursdays near their offices in Ross Hall, SAT and ACT prep, and Saturday academies and summer institute focused on academics and personal development.
In addition, the program emphasizes cultural enrichment as Thornton Jr. and his staff take students on college tours and expose them to different experiences such as attending operas, fine dining events and even trips that are many students’ first-time traveling outside the DMV such as Broadway shows in New York and STEM conferences at Universal Studios Orlando.
Seeing a student achieve their dream of going to college is the job’s ultimate reward.
“We’re doing our job when our students succeed, and nothing excites me more than watching them take those next steps toward higher education,” Thornton Jr. said.
The Lakeland, Fla., native is an alumnus of a pre-college program, College Reach Out Program (C.R.O.P.) and a first-generation college student himself, making it extra meaningful to now be director of GW’s Upward Bound chapter.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the program, and that’s why I pour my heart into this work,” Thornton Jr. said. “I’m humbled by the position I’m in because I know firsthand what it’s like to be on the other side of the table.”
Thornton Jr. is grateful to his team at GW, which includes Associate Director Gabrielle Mitchell and Program Coordinator Eric Burks, and the university for supporting the program, housed in the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, since 1999. He is excited to continue growing Upward Bound at GW to further help the D.C. community he has come to know and love in his short time in the nation’s capital.
Without further ado, meet Darrell E. Thornton Jr.:
This series will tell the stories, experiences and accomplishments of staff and recognize their daily impact on GW. Please enjoy the opportunity to get to know staff from across the university.
