Dear Members of the Georgetown University Community:
I write to share the University’s plans to honor the leadership of John J. DeGioia (C’79 G’95), his 23-year tenure as President, and his lifetime of service to Georgetown University.
In the months since Jack stepped down as President, and as he continues his recovery, I have heard from many members within and beyond the Georgetown community who wish to honor him and ensure that his contributions are recognized at Georgetown for generations to come.
In consultation with Jack and the DeGioia family and with University leadership, the Board of Directors has identified three areas through which we will celebrate Jack’s legacy and honor his impact:
- The John J. DeGioia Scholarship Initiative—this initiative will be a platform to bring new energy to undergraduate and graduate financial aid fundraising. This effort will include a renaming of the 1789 Scholarship Initiative, launched by Jack in 2009.
- The John J. DeGioia Symposium—an annual event focused on intellectual, ethical, and spiritual leadership, in the context of higher education.
- John J. DeGioia Hall—a renaming of Old North and New North as John J. DeGioia Hall, and a renovation of Old North, as part of a Humanities Quad, a consolidated home of the Humanities at Georgetown.
Together, these initiatives reflect defining aspects of his presidency: his commitment to expanding access and affordability, his belief in the power of a liberal arts education, and his vision for higher education in society.
A philanthropic fund, the John J. DeGioia Fund, has been established to support these efforts in perpetuity.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I wish to again thank Jack for his tireless dedication to Georgetown as President and now, as President Emeritus. It is with deep gratitude that we celebrate Jack’s service and the standard of excellence he fostered for all of us.
Sincerely,
Thomas A. Reynolds III (B’74)
Chair, Georgetown University Board of Directors