A New Chapter for GU Politics
A Message from our Executive Director
Friends,
Since we wrapped up our 10th anniversary year, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on what GU Politics has meant — for this university, for our students, and honestly for me. What I keep coming back to isn’t the panels or the headlines. It’s the people. More than a hundred fellows who have spent time in our Living Room engaging with our community on the big issues of the day. Thousands of students who have come through our doors, and have gone on to run campaigns, staff committees, cover the news, and even put their own names on the ballot. That’s the whole ballgame. That’s what made this special.
We’ve seen a lot of change since we opened our doors — in our politics, in technology, even here at the university. And it’s in that spirit of change that I want you to hear directly from me: this fall will be my last semester leading GU Politics.
I’ve loved every minute of this job. But after eleven years, it’s time for me to take on my next challenge. That’s not a decision I came to quickly, and while it’s bittersweet, it’s not one I came to sadly. It’s simply time.
And with the shifting landscape of public service, and the opportunities afforded by the new Capitol Campus, fresh perspectives will help GU Politics keep evolving with the moment. The need for this work only grows. The questions our students are wrestling with — how to serve, how to work across difference, how to lead in a moment like this one — aren’t going away. Neither is this Institute’s role in helping them answer. I’m grateful that Georgetown and the McCourt School remain committed to that work, and to the students at the center of it. I love this place, and I’ll be cheering it on — and staying part of the conversation about what comes next — for a long time to come.
As for what’s next for me, I’m genuinely excited about my own next chapter. But there will be time to tell you about that, and time for goodbyes, later. I’m not going anywhere just yet. We have a real semester ahead — a terrific class of fellows, events I can’t wait for, and all the work that makes this place hum — and I intend to be all in on every bit of it.
We launched this Institute eleven years ago on three beliefs: that public service is a good thing, and politics can be too; that learning to talk across our differences is the first step; and that young people were going to lead the way in showing us how. Having had a front-row seat to all three in practice, I believe them more today than I did the day we opened.
More soon. For now — stay tuned. We’ve got some great stuff in store this semester, and, as always, we need you to get involved.
Hoya Saxa,
Mo Elleithee (SFS’94)
A Message from our Dean
Students, colleagues, alumni, and all community members of the Institute of Politics and Public Service,
I write to express my deep gratitude to Mo Elleithee for his extraordinary leadership of the Institute of Politics and Public Service over the last eleven years. Under his direction, the Institute has become a home for bipartisan dialogue, bringing students face to face with leading political figures and taking them everywhere from national conventions to elections abroad. Mo’s leadership has helped a generation of Hoyas cut through polarization, understand how the political system actually works, and prepare for meaningful careers in public service.
Mo’s impact on our community — and on the broader imperative of building an informed citizenry — has been remarkable. Please join me in thanking Mo for his vision, dedication and many contributions. We are fortunate to have him with us through the upcoming semester.
Over the next several months, we will be embarking on a visioning and planning effort to ensure the Institute is positioned to serve our students and society in the years to come. Joe Ferrara, Senior Vice President for Strategic Engagement and Senior Advisor to the President, will guide this collaborative process, working closely with GU Politics advisory board members, students, and other community members.
The Institute of Politics and Public Service is a vital part of the McCourt School of Public Policy and the broader Georgetown community. It has an essential role to play in shaping the future of public service, and I am excited for what lies ahead.
Sincerely,
Carole Roan Gresenz
Dean, McCourt School of Public Policy