Alum K’sean Henderson (C’12, L’18) Has Always Been Inspired to Lead
Henderson wants to mentor and support younger generations of students as they navigate life after Georgetown.
When K’sean Henderson (C’12, L’18) steps back onto campus at Georgetown University, he notices how things have changed in the past decade since he was a student, but also, just how much has remained the same. The students today are asking themselves the same questions that Henderson once did.
“There is still just a group of young people trying to figure out what’s next for them as they face a lot of questions about what tomorrow looks like,” he said.
Henderson was heavily involved in various student leadership roles on campus, and now, as an alumnus, he wants to mentor and support younger generations of students as they navigate life after Georgetown. He is inspired to give back to the community he calls home.
K’sean Henderson (C’12, L’18), left, is congratulated by Georgetown University Interim President Robert M. Groves, for receiving the Marcia G. Cooke Award at the 2026 Patrick Healy Dinner. (Lisa Helfert/Georgetown University)
For his efforts and contributions, Henderson, who works as an associate at the law firm Ropes & Gray LLP in DC, received both the Marcia G. Cooke Award and the William Gaston Alumni Award this year. The former is given to a graduate who has made a significant positive impact in their community, profession or field, including meaningful contributions to the Black community, and the latter recognizes outstanding service by undergraduate alumni who have exhibited leadership across many activities.
“It’s helpful to stay involved because I think Georgetown over time has just given me so much and has poured into me in ways that I probably can’t even explain,” Henderson said. “I look for opportunities to give back to make sure that other alumni are also having a great experience with the university.”
A Deeper Learning
Born and raised in Hempstead, New York on Long Island, Henderson was drawn to politics at an early age. His mother has always been an active voter, he said, and because of that, Henderson paid close attention to local politics in his town.
“I wanted to know how things are done and why they’re done that way,” he said. “How do we prioritize issues? How do we pay for things? Who’s in the room when these decisions are made? I wanted to get a better sense of what happens behind the curtain.”
When it came time to choose a college, Henderson said he wanted to study in Washington, DC — the epicenter of politics — and so picking Georgetown was an easy choice.
As a member of the Community Scholars Program, Henderson quickly immersed himself into Georgetown through the five-week academic summer program and said he “already had 40 friends” by first-year fall semester.
“It was such a cool experience,” he said. “I credit it with helping shape me, certainly in the early stages and then certainly throughout the rest of my time on the Hilltop.”
Georgetown graduates at the wedding of Henderson, center, and Cortney Robinson at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center on Aug. 10, 2024. (Courtesy of K’sean Henderson)
Henderson majored in government and minored in history in the College of Arts & Sciences and found the smaller, seminar courses enriching.
Some of his favorite classes included The Church and the Poor and Struggle and Transcendence by Rev. Raymond B. Kemp. Henderson also enjoyed the African Atlantic course taught by history professors Adam Rothman and Shobana Shankar and Prisons and Punishment by Marc Howard.
“I felt like there was deeper learning happening, because you really do get to engage with your classmates,” he said of the seminars. “You get to have some back and forth. You get to have some disagreements. You get to really wrestle with some of the materials that you’re working through.”
Beyond the classroom, Henderson was involved on campus as a senator for Georgetown University Student Association (GUSA). He was also a member of the Black Student Alliance and the Student Commission for Unity and helped coordinate Hoya Saxa Weekend. Henderson had many touchpoints with university leaders through his roles, including as a student intern in the Office of the President.
Members of the Patrick Healy Fellowship, from left to right: Ryan Wilson (C’12, L’15); Britt’ne McCrimmon (C’13); Stephanie Frenel (SFS’12); Dennis Williams, former associate dean and director of the Center for Multicultural Equity & Access (CMEA); Donna Hernandez (SFS’13); Dr. Ayesha Yakubu (N’13); and Henderson. (Courtesy of K’sean Henderson)
Charlene Brown-McKenzie (C’95, G’23), the senior associate dean of students and the executive director of access and success, said she marveled at Henderson’s “ease of creating relationships and his infectious spirit that allows him to fully engage across the university.”
“K’sean is thoughtful and competent and remains focused on the success of student experiences while showing full investment in the ambitions of future Hoyas,” Brown-McKenzie said. “K’sean has had multiple interactions with the Division of Student Affairs-affiliated programs and his outputs produce an immediate impact, especially on service delivery and student engagement.”
‘A True Hoya’
After graduating from the College of Arts & Sciences in 2012, Henderson moved to Greenville, Mississippi to teach eighth grade English with Teach for America.
At that time, Henderson thought he would pursue a career in education policy, and one of his mentors, Rhondale-Marie Barras (C’97), a founding member of the Patrick Healy Fellowship Program, encouraged him to get into teaching.
“She said, ‘Can’t you imagine how much better it would be if people who went into policy had been in a classroom?’” Henderson said.
He stayed in Mississippi for three years and the experience gave him a close-up view of the systemic issues impacting the students. “It does matter if you have a teacher who’s committed and dedicated in the classroom, but some of the issues need to be addressed on a much larger scale,” Henderson said.
Henderson majored in government and minored in history in the College of Arts & Sciences. (Courtesy of K’sean Henderson)
When he returned to DC to attend Georgetown Law School, Henderson thought back to his earlier interests in politics and leaned into more leadership roles. He served as vice president and then president of the Black Law Students Association, senior editor of the Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law & Policy and as a member of Barristers’ Council, Georgetown Law Center’s intramural and interscholastic advocacy competition organization.
“K’sean is one of the gutsiest Hoyas I ever taught,” said Kemp, one of Henderson’s mentors and undergraduate professors. “K’sean deepens the virtue definition of a true Hoya, and his commitment to all to share the gifts of creation keeps me inspired.”
Henderson graduated from law school and joined Ropes & Gray LLP in a full-time role in 2018. He said he regularly draws on his liberal arts education as an associate who primarily handles internal investigations related to allegations of fraud, bribery and corruption.
“The liberal arts background, I think of it as a complete well-roundedness of an education,” Henderson said. “When I approach issues, I try to bring in things I’ve learned — not only from things I’ve learned from a political science class, but also something I might have learned from philosophy or theology. …The way you bring information, the way you synthesize it and then the way you communicate it with other people — that’s pretty much what I do as an attorney.”
Advocating for the Next Generation
Henderson’s involvement in the Georgetown community has strengthened as an alumnus.
Since graduating, he has served on the programming committee for three Black Alumni Summits, as a class ambassador for the Class of 2012 and with Georgetown Law’s Recent Alumni Advisory Council (RAAC). He joined Georgetown University Alumni Association’s Board of Governors in 2020 and serves as chair for the nominations committee. Henderson also chairs the Board of Directors for the Patrick Healy Fellowship.
He and his college roommates — Ryan Wilson (C’12, L’15), TK Petersen (B’12) and Dr. Jamil Kendall (C’12) — established the 1440 Center for Multicultural Equity & Access Endowed Fund in support of the Center for Multicultural Equity and Access (CMEA) and the Patrick Healy Fellowship.
Henderson, fourth from right, and fellow members of the Black Law Students Association at the 2018 Georgetown University Law Center Commencement on May 20, 2018. (Courtesy of K’sean Henderson)
“His temperament, dedication and experience are exemplified in his over a decade long service to Jesuit education,” said Brown-McKenzie. “K’sean lives out the values of people for others consistently in his national engagement with the Hoya networks and especially in his contributions to Georgetown University. His personal and professional experiences are deeply influenced by Georgetown University’s values.”
As an alum, Henderson advises current Georgetown students to “slow down” and enjoy the journey. He recommends “depth over breadth” when it comes to activities. Find the things that you can commit yourself to, and don’t spread yourself too thin, Henderson said.
It will go by quickly. And when it comes to life after Georgetown, trust that things will work out.
“I want to say, hey, I was there. It looked different then, but I’m fine. You’ll be fine, too” he said.
(Top photo taken by Lisa Helfert at the 2026 Patrick Healy Dinner)