Georgetown Alumni

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood 🏘️

Students from across Georgetown McDonough School of Business gathered for the third annual Datathon at for a full-day, hands-on experience to apply their data skills to a meaningful, real-world challenge.

Organized by the accounting faculty and sponsored by Ernst & Young (EY) and McDonough’s AI, Analytics, and the Future of Work Initiative, the Datathon continues to grow in both scale and impact. This year, more than 150 students registered for the event, with 50 ultimately selected to participate in the final round, including 30 undergraduate and 20 graduate students. Students from across Georgetown joined the competition, bringing a wide range of perspectives and experiences.

“The Datathon was a great experience because it combined teamwork, problem-solving, and practical learning in a fast-paced environment,” said Nick Seydel (MBA’26). “I enjoyed the challenge of working under time pressure, learning how to use Alteryx for data cleansing and analysis, and hearing professionals discuss the role data plays in their day-to-day work. “I hope the Datathon continues to grow, and more students take advantage of this event in the future.”

Will you join the and invest in the next generation of Hoyas with a gift today? https://g.town/438KE2b

In Fall 2025, Sajan Blum (B’27) was one of 700 students to move into the new Hilltop residential community built on the site of the former Henle Village. The three dorms are Henle, Hayden, and Byrnes Hall, where Blum resides. “It’s definitely my favorite place I’ve lived in my three years here, convenient to everything,” he says, noting that it’s had a direct impact on his well-being.

Students enjoy the bustling first-floor common area, a warm and welcoming gathering space with natural elements like a plant wall and hanging fireplaces, plus lots of shared and private study spaces. It’s become a popular study destination, even for students who don’t live there.

The residents, all juniors and seniors, live in fully furnished four-bedroom, two-bedroom, or studio apartments. Each unit is equipped with a washer and dryer along with a full-size kitchen. Blum shares an apartment with three friends.

The building’s name recognizes a transformational bequest from Bill (B’72, L’81) and Lisa (SLL’80) Byrnes. “We’re very happy to help build a space that will take away some of the stress and burden that juniors and seniors feel when looking for housing on or near campus,” says Lisa Byrnes. “It’s an honor to leave a legacy that serves and accommodates more students.”

“It’s wild that one gift can benefit so many of us,” adds Blum. “I’m definitely thankful!”

College can be a time of transition for students as they come-of-age away from home and in an unfamiliar environment, surrounded by new experiences, friends, and academic and career challenges. Additional stressors—such as social media and artificial intelligence (AI), complex global issues, political polarization, and the lingering aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic—have further impacted today’s students.

Georgetown University’s Division of Student Affairs, led by Georgetown’s vice president for student affairs, Eleanor J.B. Daugherty, Ed.D., is evolving along with students’ needs—nurturing students’ growth as they navigate these new challenges, so they feel prepared to become who they are called to be.

“We often talk about higher education access in terms of students being able to attend college regardless of their background, socioeconomic status, or other barriers,” says Daugherty, an advocate with more than two decades of experience working in student life and well-being. “But access to college alone doesn’t capture everything students need to get through college and complete their degree. Student success means ensuring students aren’t just getting by, but are thriving.”

Read more about how Georgetown is working to ensure every student thrives: https://g.town/4ohX1CO

Toni Eldridge Wilkes, M.D. (C’78) and husband David Wilkes, M.D., are supporting first-generation students pursuing STEM fields. The couple recently decided to include a bequest for Georgetown in their estate plans.

For Wilkes, life has always revolved around science. Growing up in Philadelphia, her passion for the sciences motivated her to excel and led to the success she would achieve at Georgetown and beyond. These days, Wilkes is motivated by another passion—to support first-generation students and give back to the university that gave her the confidence and foundation for her achievements.

“I never thought in a million years I would be able to give back to the institution that gave me so much, but that is what I am doing—and what one should do,” she says.

The gift will create the Toni Eldridge Wilkes, M.D. (C’78), and David S. Wilkes, M.D., Endowed Scholarship Fund to support undergraduates studying the sciences, with a focus on students enrolled in the Regents STEM Scholars Program, an initiative that addresses the shortage of first-generation college students who successfully complete degrees in STEM fields.

Read more about how Wilkes is paying it forward to support future scientists: https://g.town/3PUxTWa

This spring, undergraduate, Master’s in Management, and Full-time MBA students traveled to countries including Argentina, Brazil, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Spain, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam. In each location, they engaged directly with senior executives, presented their recommendations in real-world settings, and gained firsthand exposure to regional business environments.

“At its core, the GBE is about developing leaders who can operate with confidence in complex, global environments,” said Sezer Ulku, professor of operations and academic director of the GBE. “When students are working with global clients and navigating unfamiliar markets, they learn that business problems are rarely clear-cut. The experience builds the judgment, adaptability, and cultural fluency required to lead effectively across borders.”

Join the and invest in Georgetown students bringing solutions to the world: https://g.town/438KE2b

Mrudula Chodavarapu (B’26) enjoyed how her professor, Quentin Dupont, S.J., engages students in discussions about business and ethics. Dupont joined the faculty in 2021, becoming the first full-time Jesuit at the McDonough School of Business in decades.

The aim of the endowed professorship is for students, faculty, and staff to work with someone who has dedicated their life to contemplation in action, caring for the whole person, and expanding the common good.

“We want to model a credible path towards a person being both academically excellent and a true witness to the power and the worth of Jesuit values,” says Dupont.

Chodavarapu appreciated not only Dupont’s warmth, humor, and mentorship, but also how he incorporates ethics in his finance courses.

“He helps us understand the ethics of finance, which some people view as inherently evil,” she added with a smile. “Father Dupont takes that view and turns it on its head, asking us how we can use finance to promote good.”

Read more about Georgetown's commitment to Jesuit values in business: https://g.town/4usrwaJ

Georgetown early-career alumni are among the highest-paid college graduates in the nation, according to data from the U.S. Department of Education, which measured the earnings of students who received federal aid like Pell Grants, federal loans and work study.

Hoyas who received federal aid earn a median salary of $120,000 four years after graduating — a number double the average salary of graduates of other four-year colleges.

Georgetown tied for 14th place among all universities with graduates who make the most out of college.

The data is compiled by the Department of Education’s College Scoreboard, which lists factors like college costs, student debt and post-college earnings to help prospective students evaluate colleges and universities.

The median earnings, which were updated this spring, were measured in 2022 and 2023 from students who received federal financial aid, were employed and not enrolled in school.

The highest-paid graduates studied international business; finance and financial management services; computer science; health and medical administrative services; and accounting at Georgetown.

Georgetown also ranked #1 in return on investment for students from low-income backgrounds, according to the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW), which analyzes the College Scoreboard’s data.

Read more: https://g.town/4azvkzA

We can’t stop looking at all the photos from and 🩵🐾

About 4,500 alumni, family and friends gathered on the Hilltop to celebrate GU Reunion. Thank you to everyone who attended, we can’t wait to see you back in DC for your next reunion!

Undergraduate students from Georgetown University’s Berkley School of Nursing traveled to Capitol Hill February 10 and 11 to participate in the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) Hispanic Health Policy Summit, engaging in conversations about federal health policy and gaining firsthand experience in how to make their voices heard in shaping legislation around nursing education and patient care.

Kiara Barillas (N’27), Daniela Grados Rojas (N’27) and Julio Cruz Garcia (N’27), were sponsored by individual donors to attend the NAHN Metro Chapter’s fundraising event at the conclusion of the Summit in Washington, giving them additional opportunities to understand their role in advocacy and professional organizations.

Will you join the and invest in the next generation of Hoyas with a gift today? https://g.town/438KE2b