The Dean's Welcome
As a faculty member in the Department of Theology since 1988, I have long been a part of the unrivaled scholarship and unmatched tradition that thrives here at Georgetown College. I have given more tests and graded more exams than I care to count; but, more important, I have also come to know many talented students. As a scholar, I have benefited from the University’s presence as an internationally renowned institution for Catholic theological research and interreligious dialogue.
As a Hoya fan, I have immersed myself in the spirit of our teams, cheering with their highs and commiserating with their (very rare) lows.
And as a father, I felt pride as I watched my daughter walk across the stage and graduate with the Class of 2008 just a few months ago. For the past 20 years, my world has revolved around Georgetown. I “bleed Hoya blue” in every sense of the phrase.
Thus, it is with profound honor and excitement that I begin my new role in service to Georgetown College as Interim Dean for 2008-2009. I know that I have a hard act to follow. In her nine years as Dean of the College, Jane McAuliffe was an inimitable presence and left an indelible mark on this campus. All of us—students, faculty, and staff—owe her a debt of gratitude for her commitment to the University and all that she has done for it. I wish Jane the best of luck as she moves on to become President of Bryn Mawr College, and I ask that she not be a stranger back here on the Hilltop.
For my part, I will strive to continue Dean McAuliffe’s legacy at Georgetown College: one of intellectual rigor and vitality, global reach, and sustained dedication to service. The College’s undergraduate identity is certainly distinctive in the nation: academic excellence in the liberal arts combined with an inclusive Catholic and Jesuit mission, a decidedly international outlook and appeal, and an advantageous location in our nation’s capital.
The Jesuits opened Georgetown College in 1789 to be an institution free of the religious persecution then rampant in Europe, thus beginning their innovative educational tradition in America. Georgetown continues to welcome students from across the United States and around the world, offering them opportunities for intellectual growth in an atmosphere of informed respect for religious and cultural diversity and a devotion to justice and peace.
The Georgetown College curriculum covers the full range of humanistic, scientific, and social-scientific disciplines and is further enriched by its Faculty of Languages and Linguistics and a wide variety of interdisciplinary initiatives. To build an enduring liberal arts foundation, our students study philosophy, theology, science, social science, math, literature, and history, among many other curricular options. Just as students of all nationalities come to Georgetown for its academic programs, the College encourages students to study worldwide. College graduates are pursuing successful careers in every corner of the globe.
Our campus overlooking Washington, DC, is growing to meet our students’ needs. In support of our popular Department of Performing Arts, in 2005 we opened the Royden B. Davis, S.J. Performing Arts Center—a beautifully designed teaching and performance facility. Containing a state-of-the-art main stage theatre and a versatile, black box studio theatre, the Davis Center is also equipped with rehearsal spaces, classrooms and high tech, light-filled workshops for costume and scenery design.
Final planning is underway for the construction of a new Science Center, which will be a state-of-the art teaching and research facility for our Departments of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, providing interactive classrooms and flexible labs for intensive student-faculty collaboration. Completion of the Science Center is projected for 2011. Our Departments of Computer Science and Mathematics have also recently moved into newly designed space tailored for their needs.
In the fall of 2006, the College expanded its range of exciting seminar options for first-year students. Designed to enhance learning and to build academic community from the start of the Georgetown experience, these small classes explore fascinating subjects including the idea of the capital in traditional China, a “plant’s eye view” of civilization, the art of cooking, the role of science and technology in society, the artist’s creative process, and others. These seminars, along with many other courses in the College curriculum, give students the opportunity to engage our outstanding faculty and each other as they delve into the interconnections between disciplines, investigate ideas, and expand their horizons.
Georgetown is an integral part of the Washington, DC, landscape. World leaders, cabinet members, and ambassadors are regular speakers on campus. Our students have the full advantage of our urban environment where international interests and national priorities intersect. The College draws faculty from Washington’s many governmental and non-governmental agencies, cultural organizations, and research institutes. In turn, our students find internships, networks, and work opportunities in all these organizations. Washington also provides a rich artistic life and many opportunities for community service.
Enjoy your exploration of the College website. It is designed to inform and to answer questions about academic life at Georgetown College. I hope this introduction will encourage you to visit Georgetown for a closer look.
I look forward to serving this one-of-a-kind institution as Dean in the coming year.
Chester Gillis
Interim Dean of Georgetown College
Amaturo Chair in Catholic Studies
