McCourt School of Public Policy - Georgetown University

10/01/2026

As the first-generation son of two Oaxaqueño farmworkers, Eduardo Ramos (MPM'26) grew up watching his parents wake up every day before sunrise to give him opportunities they never had.

Inspired by their hard work and community, Ramos came to McCourt to pursue a Master of Public Management, equipping him with research and evaluation techniques to turn policy into effective programs and outcomes.

His goal, he shared, was “to improve access to information and services for people like my parents — hardworking people who deserved basic respect and decency from their government.”

That mission still guides him today, carrying his parents' legacy into every community he calls home:

McCourt alum Eduardo Ramos (MPM'26) shares how his family legacy shaped his path to the McCourt School and into public service.

09/15/2026

The latest issue of the Policy Perspectives magazine is officially here! 🗞️

Inside, we’re bringing you stories from McCourt's home on the Capitol Campus and beyond. Dive in to discover how our community is tackling the most complex policy challenges of our time—from closing the tech gap on Capitol Hill and to mastering conflict transformation:

Policy Perspectives is the annual magazine from Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy. Read today!

09/11/2026

25 years ago today, our community suffered the devastating loss of beloved faculty member Leslie Whittington, her husband, Charles Falkenberg, and their daughters, Zoe and Dana.

A dedicated professor and renowned scholar, Leslie brought immense warmth and humanity to everything she did. "Leslie brought intellectual rigor, humor and humanity to her research, her teaching and her relationships," said Professor Judy Feder, who was dean at the time.

Today, we invite our McCourt and Georgetown family to reflect on what made her such a fixture of this community—her impactful research, her passionate teaching, and the colleagues and students who continue to carry her legacy forward.

Learn more about Leslie’s life and the annual Whittington Lecture here:

Erin Schrimpf (MPP'16) hosts a daily news broadcast for Missouri's Jefferson City News Tribune, connecting communities to the public policy decisions that shape their lives.

09/10/2026

How can policy shape tech for the public good? Our newest cohort of Tech & Public Policy Scholars is pairing up with Georgetown and McCourt School faculty to tackle critical research—focusing on AI regulation, digital governance, and platform transparency:

Introducing the 2025 Tech & Public Policy Scholars, a scholarship program that provides partial-tuition scholarship, research assistantships and mentorship.

08/31/2026

Four leaders in global and national AI governance are joining McCourt this fall, from the UK House of Lords to Capitol Hill. Meet the 2026 Tech & Public Policy Center Visiting Fellows here:

McCourt’s Tech & Public Policy (TPP) spring 2026 visiting fellows includes experts in AI, data privacy and digital governance.

08/11/2026

From running randomized controlled trials in Zambia to studying fertility trends in Sichuan, McCourt students spent their summers applying development policy on the ground through the MIDP Summer Experience and gui2de programs. Read about their work across Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, China and Bangladesh:

Through MIDP’s Summer Experience and gui2de summer internships, McCourt students spent their summers applying analytical methods at leading international development institutions.

07/27/2026

After more than a decade at Georgetown, Nobel Prize-winning economist George Akerlof has been named Professor Emeritus at the McCourt School. As an economist for six decades, Akerlof has transformed the discipline of economics, playing a critical role in the development of behavioral economics.

"George Akerlof is one of the most original economists of our time, unafraid to ask unconventional questions and driven by a belief that economics must strengthen the public good," said Dean Carole Roan Gresenz.

Thank you, George, for your years of contributions to the McCourt community. Read more about his career and legacy: https://mccourt.georgetown.edu/news/nobel-prize-winning-economist-george-akerlof-named-as-professor-emeritus-at-mccourt-school/

07/01/2026

The McCourt School is excited to welcome Amy O'Hara as the new Executive Director of the Massive Data Institute.

Amy is a research professor at MDI and executive director of the Federal Statistical Research Data Center at McCourt. She brings deep expertise in federal statistical research to the role, most recently as a senior executive at the U.S. Census Bureau, where she founded its administrative data curation and research unit.

We're grateful to outgoing Executive Director Lisa Singh, whose leadership grew MDI into a vital hub for cutting-edge research and policy engagement.

Read more:

The Massive Data Institute (MDI) at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy welcomes Amy O'Hara as new Executive Director.

07/01/2026

Congratulations to Judge Steve Shannon (MPP'96) on being named Chief Judge of the Fairfax Circuit Court!

From serving three terms in the Virginia General Assembly, to co-founding the Metropolitan Washington AMBER Plan, to teaching law at George Mason University, Judge Shannon brings a distinguished record of public service as a McCourt alum. Hoya Saxa!

Fairfax County, Virginia - The Fairfax Circuit Court serves the residents of Fairfax County and Fairfax City. The Fairfax Circuit Court (19th Judicial Circuit) is the trial court of general jurisdiction and is the largest trial court in Virginia.

06/11/2026

54 countries. 11+ years at Georgetown. One very full passport.

Trish Makovsky, assistant director of admissions at McCourt, didn't take a direct flight to higher education — and that's exactly what makes her so good at it. From clinical psychology to international education to admissions, her winding path ultimately led her to helping students find theirs.

Find out where she's traveled, what gets her out of bed in the morning, and why she calls McCourt home in the latest Georgetown Faces profile:

Trish Makovsky, assistant director of admissions at the McCourt School of Public Policy, helps prospective students plan their next adventure.