This story is part of Georgetown Faces, a storytelling series that celebrates the beloved figures, unsung heroes and dedicated Hoyas who make our campus special.
In 1988, Getu Woldemariam worked in a little parking booth on Georgetown’s campus.
He had immigrated to the U.S. six months earlier and knew little English.
He was nervous, but found that talking to the drivers entering the university — including basketball players Patrick Ewing and Allen Iverson, Jesuits and faculty members — helped him improve his English.
Thirty-six years later, Woldemariam oversees transportation at Georgetown. He was recently promoted to assistant director in the Office of Transportation Management after working as a senior operations manager and at the front desk of the parking office.
In his role, Woldemariam tracks and troubleshoots schedules and unexpected delays to ensure buses arrive and transport community members on time. In operating buses across DC, he has to anticipate and navigate traffic, protests and other events in the capital.
“It’s very important for students and faculty members,” he said. “It is complicated, but at the same time, I love challenges. That’s the way you grow and learn.”
During commencement, Woldemariam’s responsibilities inflate even more. His team is responsible for keeping the walkways clear for students and faculty members to process through during graduation ceremonies. He also works closely with security details and helps clear traffic on campus — no small feat when more than 10,000 people descend on campus for graduation.
It’s busy, but after 36 years, Woldemariam still likes the challenges. And he continues finding new things to learn.
“My responsibility is still expanding, but I’m looking forward to seeing where this journey is going to take me,” he said. “This is home for me.”
Learn more about Woldemariam’s journey from Ethiopia to the U.S. and why his second job at the front desk of the parking office holds special meaning.
I fled Ethiopia when I was 16: I didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye to my family. They immediately sent me through the airport and looked at me from a distance and said, ‘Go. Just go. Don’t even look back.’ I remember my mom was crying; my dad was crying. I ran to the airplane and flew out to Greece. I never looked back.
My dad gave me good advice for the U.S.: My dad used to work with a lot of Americans in the airline business. He told me, ‘Getu, when you go to the United States, don’t be shy. Just be outspoken. You need to have confidence.’ It helped me. I had to have no fear when communicating with people and just let things out. If I made a mistake, I made a mistake. Communicating and learning a lot of vocabulary helped me catch up quickly. So when I got to the United States, it was not easy, but it was a smooth transition.
On learning English from Patrick Ewing and Jesuits: I was quick at listening [to] and copying what people said. I started learning by watching different TV shows. My favorite was The Young and the Restless. I caught what they were saying and repeated it over and over again. As the parking attendant in the booth, I had to communicate with all the basketball players and the Jesuits and faculty members. I had to quickly learn how to talk to people. That’s how I developed my English communication.
