The McCourt School of Public Policy will launch a new visiting fellowship inviting past and present members of the Congressional Tri-Caucus, comprised of legislative leaders of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), to engage with McCourt students through lectures, discussions and mentorship starting January 2025.
Leslie Evertz, director of strategic initiatives at the McCourt School, said the program aligns with the school’s mission to educate diverse leaders from varied backgrounds and help students hear different perspectives.
“The McCourt School is dedicated to educating hundreds of rigorously trained and ethically grounded leaders from various backgrounds to become public service leaders,” Evertz said in a press release. “We aspire to build a student body that more accurately reflects our country and the world, especially by including students from backgrounds currently underrepresented in leadership positions across sectors.”
Maria Cancian, dean of the McCourt School, said the program will provide students opportunities to engage with a variety of important leaders and to develop essential skills.
“Leveraging our new Capitol Campus location, we have launched a number of fellowship programs to provide students with the opportunity to engage important political and policy leaders and develop the skills to work across differences and effect change,” Cancian told The Hoya. “The new Tri-Caucus Fellows program will give students a chance to be in conversation with dynamic leaders with a wealth of experience.”
The program will launch in January 2025 with its inaugural fellow, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), who has served as the U.S. Representative from Ohio’s 3rd congressional district since 2013.
Beatty said she is excited to be invited as the first fellow, commenting on her commitment to embracing a diversity of voices in policy development.
“As Chair Emerita of the Congressional Black Caucus, I am truly honored to be the first McCourt Tri-Caucus Visiting Congressional Fellow,” Beatty said in a press release. “From my early career at The Ohio State University to my most recent advocacy for diversity, equity and inclusion in medical education, I’ve understood academia’s power to shape how we think, work and live. The McCourt School’s commitment to embracing the voices of those traditionally excluded from policy development exemplifies the inclusive leadership we need in higher education and government.”
Clint Odom, a founding member of the McCourt School Advisory Board, an organization that supports the school’s mission and offers expertise on strategic priorities, said he is excited for the program to work with Beatty.
“This new initiative will create a pathway for McCourt students who aspire to be a changemaker,” Odom said in a press release. “I am honored that Congresswoman Beatty, who has been a vocal leader and advocate for the issues affecting her constituents for more than a decade, is leading the way for other policy community members to be a part of this important work.”
Tina Yang (MSB, SFS ’27) said her commitment to Georgetown was largely influenced by the opportunities given through the McCourt School and that the new fellowship program sparked an interest in exploring opportunities in public policy.
“This new program is a great example of what Georgetown has to offer in terms of public policy, and it seems like a truly incredible opportunity to engage with a lot of important and knowledgeable people,” Yang told The Hoya. “Hearing about this really sparked my interest in these programs, so I will definitely be exploring similar opportunities –– especially with the new Capitol Campus.”
Beatty reflected on the future of the program and the impact of education and mentorship on the future leaders of public policy.
“I look forward to inspiring and guiding these emerging leaders as they take on the urgent and transformative work ahead for our nation,” Beatty said.