Our History
The McCourt School of Public Policy began in the late 1970s as an ambitious vision by Georgetown’s Department of Government and Economics to train the next generation of policy changemakers.
In October 2013, the Georgetown Public Policy Institute (GPPI) transformed into the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy as a result of a transformative gift of $100 million from alumnus Frank H. McCourt, Jr. (C’75).
From Idea to Institution (1970s-1990s)
What began as an ambitious vision in Georgetown University’s Department of Government and Economics in the late 1970s has evolved into one of the nation’s premier public policy schools. The journey started modestly in 1980 with a certificate program, followed by the hiring of two junior faculty members in 1982 to teach public policy courses.
Over the next five years, the Public Policy Program expanded, granting a master’s degree program in government with a concentration in public policy to approximately 15 students. In 1985, the Government Department hired the first part-time director to help establish the framework for the Public Policy Program, and by the late 1980s, enrollment in the program had grown to about 75 students.
Foundation and Growth (1990s-2000s)
In 1990, Georgetown President Father Leo O’Donovan, S.J., prioritized program expansion under Colin Campbell S.J., the first full-time director, who was tasked with significantly expanding the program’s faculty, students and facilities. This commitment to excellence led to the program’s 1996 redesignation as the Georgetown Public Policy Institute (GPPI), recognizing its status as one of Georgetown’s premier professional programs.
Under Dean Judy Feder’s leadership beginning in 1999, GPPI experienced transformative growth across all dimensions — faculty, applications, enrollment, staff and facilities. This period saw the launch of the Master of Policy Management (MPM) program for mid-career professionals in 2001 and the development of part-time cohort programs.
The McCourt Era Begins (2010s-Present)
Dean Edward Montgomery oversaw the introduction of the Master of International Development Policy (MIDP) program in the fall 2012, expanding the school’s global reach. This growth culminated in October 2013 when alumnus Frank H. McCourt, Jr.’s (C’75) transformative $100 million gift established the McCourt School of Public Policy Georgetown’s ninth school and first new school since 1957.
Unprecedented Investment and Growth
In March 2021, Frank H. McCourt, Jr. reaffirmed his commitment to the school with a second $100 million investment. Made under the leadership of Dean Maria Cancian, the gift advanced McCourt’s mission of building diverse leadership pipelines and becoming the world’s most inclusive public policy school. Half of the gift, $50 million, funded financial aid and scholarships to expand access, while the other half supported faculty and research.
A New Home in the Heart of Policy
Summer 2024 marked another milestone as the McCourt School relocated to 125 E Street on Georgetown’s Capitol Campus, steps from the U.S. Capitol. For the first time in our history, McCourt students, faculty and staff united under one roof, fostering unprecedented connection, collaboration and community engagement in the heart of American policymaking.
Today’s McCourt School
The McCourt School now offers five master’s degree programs, one undergraduate program and nine dual-degree programs, supported by 18 affiliated research centers, 52 full-time faculty, 54 research faculty and fellows, over 100 affiliated faculty and approximately 500 enrolled students across degree and executive education programs — all positioned at the epicenter of global policy influence.