Title: A Passion for Policy and Birdwatching

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.

In his day job, Andy McGeoch keeps his head in the books. As the assistant director of curriculum and academic planning at the McCourt School of Public Policy, he ensures the school’s courses are cutting-edge. 

In his off hours, McGeoch trains his eyes on the sky, helping fellow birders spot bald eagles and wood thrushes in Washington, DC. As the founder of a birdwatching tour company, McGeoch guides birding tour clients through the city’s parks. 

It’s a passion he discovered while finding his career path in higher education.

McGeoch began his career at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC. After a few years trying to find his place in politics, McGeoch began to think about his long-term career. He realized that studying abroad in Spain and Argentina as an undergraduate had been some of his most fulfilling life experiences. 

“I know that studying abroad is a huge privilege, and I thought that I could expand those opportunities for others if I dedicated myself to that field,” he said.  

McGeoch enrolled in a master’s degree program in international higher education and intercultural relations at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and began working in the study abroad office at Brandeis University. His job at Brandeis is also where he spotted his “spark bird” — or the bird that got him hooked on birding.

While walking through campus one day, McGeoch saw a blue jay sitting in a tree screeching. He was transfixed and began noticing birds everywhere: a bald eagle swooping by an office window, snow geese flying over his apartment building. 

“What I love about birding is that it is a way to connect to nature even in an urban environment,” he said. 

Years later, McGeoch returned to Washington, DC, this time focusing on students’ academic experience more broadly. When he’s not overseeing curriculum and academic planning at McCourt, McGeoch helps connect DC residents and visitors with nature and teaches them about local wildlife.

Learn more about McGeoch, why he was drawn to birdwatching, what he wishes everyone knew about course scheduling, and the tools he’d recommend to any aspiring birder.

Studying abroad sparked my career in higher education: My time in Spain and Argentina forced me out of my comfort zone in terms of the work and study culture, the food and everyday life. I loved it — I had never realized there was a different way of going through life than what I was used to in the U.S., and seeing these two areas of the world and living with local families in each location opened my eyes to new ways of thinking and living.

I know that studying abroad is a huge privilege, and I thought that I could expand those opportunities for others if I dedicated myself to that field. Since leaving Brandeis, international education hasn’t been the core of my professional roles, but it has always been a piece of it.   

Something I wish people knew about my job: Academic planning and course scheduling is a complex puzzle. Many people don’t understand the intricacies behind the scenes; they see the finished product. We carefully consider how the policy field is changing, how to meet students’ growing interests and the right professors to teach each course. We don’t want to maintain the status quo; we want to evolve our offerings to stay on the cutting edge of policy education and provide students with the best academic experience possible.

One interesting course we added: Civil-Military Relations and Star Wars, developed a few years ago, will be offered in fall 2025. It’s taught by an adjunct professor, a retired military officer, who wanted to combine an important topic with a lifelong passion. The course focuses on analyzing civil-military relations through the lens of Star Wars.

What brings me joy in my job: I love working with the students and being surrounded by their energy and inspired by their passion. It’s a joy to help them achieve their goals and witness how happy they are with their accomplishments and hopes for the future.

How I fell in love with birdwatching: I was always attracted to natural environments, but living day-to-day life in the city, I wasn’t always thinking about nature being with me. Birds and nature are all around us. At first, I began noticing birds, and then I became curious about identifying those I didn’t recognize. I got a field guide and started tracking new birds, learning to distinguish their songs, appearances and habitats.

My side hustle: I started DCbird to connect people to nature and the birds who make the city their home. I have clients from all over the world, from Venezuela to India, and even locals are enthusiastic about the city’s birdlife. I love that we automatically have a shared passion for birds.

Pro tip for aspiring birders: Merlin Bird ID, a fantastic app developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, was built for anyone interested in learning about the birds around them. The eBird database aggregates data on birds observed in the wild, informing worldwide research. It’s an incredibly powerful resource with more than 1 billion observations submitted. I love that anyone can contribute.

The best place to see rare birds in DC: The rarity of certain birds is ever-changing. Some birds, like bald eagles, have increased in number and are no longer rare in many places, including DC — if you look in the right places. I observe the most diverse species at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens. There is a great diversity of habitats at Kenilworth, and it contains one of the few remaining meadow habitats in DC.

You never know what you might see if you keep your eyes open and observe what’s around you.

By Mariel Jackson