Schools

Georgetown University Launches McCourt School of Public Policy

The McCourt School is Georgetown University's first new school in 56 years.

Georgetown University Tuesday officially unveiled its first new school in 56 years – the McCourt School of Public Policy.

In an academic ceremony Tuesday afternoon, Georgetown President Jack DeGioia and Frank McCourt (class of 1975) spoke on the steps of the Old North building, which has received 14 U.S. presidents including George Washington in 1797.

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"As we wrestle with the challenges of access to education and health care, of the importance of the dignity of work and the need to ensure our economies can provide for the needs of all of our people,” DeGioia said during the ceremony, “we need to engage the voices from other parts of the world – scholars and practitioners whose [research on] similar challenges are producing powerful new ideas that can provide creative, imaginative, innovative solutions for our societies.”

The school was realized through a $100 million gift from McCourt, the founder, chair and CEO of McCourt Global, an investment firm focused on real estate, private equity, sports and media. From 2004 through 2012, McCourt owned the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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“I’m sure that the irony is not lost on any of us that our government is shut down on the day that this school is being established,” McCourt said. “In a world where policies too often seem abstract, impersonal and ideologically driven, this school will strive to reconnect policy with the people it impacts..."

The McCourt School is Georgetown University’s 9th school and will focus on policy-based, data-driven research.


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