McCourt School of Public Policy - Georgetown University

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:

Around the World, McCourt Students Bring Development Policy to Life | McCourt School of Public Policy | Georgetown University Through MIDP’s Summer Experience and gui2de summer internships, McCourt students spent their summers applying analytical methods at leading international development institutions.

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/

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:

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

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!

Circuit Court | Circuit Court 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.

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:

This Admissions Director Visited 54 Countries — and Still Calls Georgetown Home - Georgetown University Trish Makovsky, assistant director of admissions at the McCourt School of Public Policy, helps prospective students plan their next adventure.

This week, the McCourt School's Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service hosted the 2026 DC Democratic Mayoral Primary Debate. Candidates Gary Goodweather, Janeese Lewis George, and Kenyan McDuffie discussed the top issues facing DC voters in a live televised debate on Fox 5 DC.

Read the full recap and watch the debate here:

McCourt School's Institute of Politics and Public Service Hosts 2026 DC Democratic Mayoral Primary Debate - McCourt School of Public Policy The McCourt School's Institute of Politics and Public Service at Georgetown University hosted the 2026 DC democratic mayoral debate.

What a day to celebrate! Congratulations to the Class of 2026 🎓

Take a look at some of our favorite moments from commencement!

Today's the day! 🎓 To view the 6 PM ceremony livestream, find parking information and see campus maps, visit:

Class of 2026 Commencement - Commencement Note: Academic Processions for all Commencement ceremonies begin approximately 30 minutes before the posted ceremony time. Guests should be seated before the procession begins.

A year ago, the Class of 2025 walked across the stage and into the next chapter of their journeys. Since then, they've built careers across federal agencies, state legislatures, international organizations, and DC's leading think tanks — and they're just getting started.

We checked in with seven alumni to hear about their current roles, what McCourt prepared them for, and the advice they'd pass along to the Class of 2026. Their words of wisdom? Stay persistent, lean on your network and trust your timing.

Read their reflections here:

Class of 2025 Alumni Share Career Updates and Advice for Upcoming Graduates - McCourt School of Public Policy McCourt School alumni reflect on their current roles a year after graduating and what they learned along the way.

As a mother of five, Khai Booker knows a thing or two about balancing a busy schedule. While serving as program coordinator at the Massive Data Institute, she dedicated her weekends to earning an Online Certificate in Data Science from Georgetown’s School of Continuing Studies.

From mastering predictive modeling to developing a Capstone project on global migration patterns, Khai has spent the last year turning raw data into a tool for advocacy. By bridging the gap between activism and analytics, she is ensuring that high-level insights reach the people who need them most.

Read more about Khai’s journey and her vision for data-driven change: https://mccourt.georgetown.edu/news/from-service-to-science/

From Service to Science - McCourt School of Public Policy How Khai Booker, program coordinator at McCourt's Massive Data Institute (MDI), explores the real-world impacts of analytic insights.