This story is part of Georgetown Faces, a storytelling series that celebrates the beloved figures, unsung heroes and dedicated Hoyas who make our campus special.
By Kinda Ahmed
Trish Makovsky, assistant director of admissions at Georgetown’s McCourt School of Public Policy, never planned to work in admissions.
“I like to say that I have a roundabout way of how I found my passion working in admissions,” she said.
Makovsky began her career in clinical psychology, earning a master’s in the field before realizing, about a year in, that it wasn’t the right fit. In 2012, she moved to Washington, DC, for a second graduate degree in international education at George Washington University (GWU), planning for a career in study abroad and international student exchange.
A job in GWU’s School of Engineering and Applied Science redirected her again — this time to the admissions office, where she worked as a graduate program recruiter and discovered a passion for higher education admissions.
In 2015, Makovsky joined Georgetown, starting at the Law Center as an admissions coordinator for JD applicants and students before becoming a manager for graduate admissions, where she oversaw the coordinator team. In 2019, she began working at McCourt, where she’s been ever since.
Today, Makovsky supports applicants through every stage of the McCourt School’s admissions cycle. From conversations with prospective students in the fall to admitted student events in the spring, Makovsky travels to graduate fairs and university campuses in major U.S. cities across the country and occasionally abroad, meeting interested students where they are. She also leads McCourt’s student ambassador program, giving applicants a look into what it’s like to be a student at McCourt.
Outside of work, Makovsky has visited 54 countries, runs a travel blog, trishwhotravels, focused on cultural storytelling, and reads a book a week. Get to know the assistant director. 
The part of my job I love most: Seeing the full circle moment. Often, someone I met for a coffee chat in a different city arrives on campus almost a year later as a student. I met a student named Emilia in a coffee shop in Mexico City, and we recently met again and caught up at a coffee shop. I like being a part of students’ journeys, even if it’s a small one.
My most memorable experience at Georgetown: I saw Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg speak three different times when I was at GULC, and we even made eye contact! Looking back on my over 11 years at the university, that was my most surprising and amazing experience. I also crossed paths with Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and have seen several sitting U.S. senators at McCourt.
What gets me out of bed in the morning: The community at Georgetown. I’m originally from Pennsylvania, and I moved back to my hometown during the COVID-19 pandemic. The only reason I came back to Washington, DC, was for this job. I really never get the “Sunday Scaries.” The community is supportive and collaborative, and I feel like I’m making an impact on someone’s journey toward graduate school. I feel lucky. 
My job is about making sure prospective students choose what’s right for them: I never think of this job as a sales job. It’s my job to get them thinking about what’s best for them. Is it our program or is it not? We just want them to make the best decision for themselves based on where they’re at in their life. I never feel like it’s my job to convince them to come. We just want to inform you — this is what we have; does it align?
What inspired my love for travel: I studied abroad as a junior in college. I spent a semester in Australia and got to travel a bit through the region. I think that gave me the travel bug. What I like to do now is more culture-focused travel — finding and getting to know the people and places more intentionally. Over the last few years, I’ve been more interested in going places that are off the beaten path.
Outside of work, you might find me planning my next trip: Travel and photography are my main passions. My brother’s girlfriend got me a candle this past Christmas that says something like “Ms. always planning the next trip,” and it’s so true. I’ve been to 54 countries. The places that stand out are the ones where I’ve made personal connections with strangers, even brief ones. Some of my favorite trips have been to Vietnam, Oman, Australia and Greece.
Makovsky created a calendar with photos from her travels. Here, she shows an image she took in Bali.
I love taking portraits: I started a blog within the last few months. My approach is more cultural storytelling and photography-centric. I pair the stories of the people I meet with their images. It’s been fun to revisit places and remember the people I met in this way and capture photos that tell stories. I remember a sunrise at a fishing village [in Vietnam]. I went with professional photographers who helped me establish those connections and take portraits of people. I got back from that day, and I was like, ‘That was the best day of my life.’ It was so meaningful.
What I wish everyone knew about my job: I want to shout out my admissions team — Lindsey Monson and Julie Ito, McCourt’s director of admissions. She’s the best boss. I wouldn’t be able to travel on these amazing trips if it weren’t for the flexibility. They’re the most supportive and best people. But also community-wide, other departments, the students, staff and faculty, everyone is really driven to tackle the same mission, supportive of each other and collaborative. I always tell prospective students that what I hear from current students is that the classroom environment is collaborative and supportive. Even as a staff member, that’s how I feel, too.
