McCourt School of Public Policy

McCourt School of Public Policy is a public policy school within Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.. Established through a transformative gift from alumnus Frank McCourt Jr., it builds upon the legacy of the university's former Georgetown Public Policy Institute. The school is dedicated to educating leaders and generating research to design, analyze, and implement smart policy solutions to the world's most pressing challenges.

History

The school was formally founded in 2013 following a historic $100 million commitment from real estate executive and philanthropist Frank McCourt Jr., a graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center. This endowment allowed the existing Georgetown Public Policy Institute, founded in 1996, to expand its mission and scale. The institute itself had evolved from the Public Policy Program launched in the 1980s within the Georgetown College. Located in the heart of the nation's capital, the school leverages its proximity to institutions like the United States Congress, the World Bank, and the Brookings Institution. Under the leadership of its inaugural dean, Edward Montgomery, and later deans including Maria Cancian, it has solidified its position as a top-tier institution for policy education.

Academics

The school offers a Master of Public Policy as its flagship degree, alongside specialized master's programs in areas like Data Science for Public Policy, International Development Policy, and Policy Management. It also administers a Ph.D. in Public Policy and several executive education programs for mid-career professionals. The curriculum emphasizes rigorous quantitative analysis, econometrics, and program evaluation, taught by faculty such as Harry Holzer and Norbert Wilson. Students frequently engage in practicum projects with clients like the District of Columbia government, the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and the Inter-American Development Bank. The school maintains strong ties with other parts of Georgetown University, including the Walsh School of Foreign Service and the McDonough School of Business.

Research centers and initiatives

Research is organized through several interdisciplinary centers. The McCourt Policy Innovation Lab serves as an incubator for data-driven policy projects. The Center on Education and the Workforce, co-directed by Anthony P. Carnevale, conducts influential research on jobs, skills, and equity. The Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation, named for alumnus Albert H. Small, focuses on leveraging data and technology for the public good. Other key initiatives include the Massive Data Institute, which applies big data analytics to policy questions, and the Global Human Development Program, which partners with organizations like the United States Agency for International Development and the United Nations.

Student life

The student body, comprising individuals from over 40 countries, is actively involved in more than twenty student-led organizations. These include the Public Policy Student Association, the McCourt African Policy Group, and the Georgetown University Graduate Student Government. The school's location in the Georgetown neighborhood provides easy access to networking events, guest lectures, and professional opportunities across Washington, D.C.. Students regularly attend briefings on Capitol Hill, conferences at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, and seminars at the Urban Institute. The annual McCourt Gala is a major community event, often featuring prominent speakers from the policy world.

Notable people

Notable faculty include former United States Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, health policy expert Judith Feder, and economist Maya Rossin-Slater. Distinguished alumni hold influential positions worldwide, such as Michele J. Sison (United States Ambassador to Haiti), Leocadia I. Zak (former Director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency), and Katherine Maher (former CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation). The school's advisory board includes leaders like former World Bank Group President Robert Zoellick and former United States Senator Kelly Ayotte.