Title:Called to be…a unifier

Richard Hluchan (SFS’71, Parent’08, ’09, ’17)

Richard Hluchan (SFS’71) is a retired lawyer who spent 45 years practicing land use and environmental law. He served as president of the Georgetown University Alumni Association and serves on the Board of Governors. He has also served on the Board of Directors. 

Learn more about how Hluchan keeps the Hoya community connected.

How did your time at Georgetown shape you?

I got a great education, enjoyed the professors, and made lifelong friends. I married my classmate Debbie (SFS’71), and we’ve been married 52 years. Our two daughters, Sarah (G’09) and Christine (C’08, M’17), are also alumnae, so we’re a whole family of Hoyas. Georgetown is a very special place to us.

I’ve wanted to be a lawyer since the sixth grade. The courses that I took here—constitutional law, government courses from professors Walter I. Giles, Carroll Quigley, and Dorothy Brown—I think this education adequately prepared me to go to law school.

I spent 45 years practicing law, so I think I had a good foundation here at Georgetown.

How has the Georgetown community shaped you and your life? 

I met people from all over the country and from all over the world. One of my roommates my first year was a Panamanian guy. I learned to talk about differences in culture, perspective, and religion. Not only being on campus, but being in DC, broadens your horizons. We used to study at the Library of Congress, we went to Capitol Hill pretty often for various events—it was all part of the experience.

Among my alumni friends, we all have this common bond: Georgetown. Everybody looks out for one another. We’re all Hoyas, and that’s something that can’t be replaced.

As president of GUAA, I traveled with President Emeritus Jack DeGioia and [former GUAA Executive Director] Bill Reynolds [C’79, Parent’10, ’13] to Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Mexico City, meeting and engaging with other alums and talking about the university and how we can advance its mission.

I’ve witnessed Georgetown become a global institution. The Alumni Association tries to foster international connections because global engagement is part of our mission. We bring Georgetown to you no matter where you live. The Alumni Association continues to expand its footprint with additional clubs and virtual events.

How do you feel about Georgetown today? 

I still see the emphasis on the common good and the Jesuit mantra of people for others. I’ve been a volunteer for Georgetown basically since graduation, and I think that’s an important aspect of service.

Alumni keep coming back because we believe in the institution and want to do everything we can to foster institutional growth and make it better. When you look at Georgetown in 1967 when I arrived versus today, it’s a totally different global institution. We’re proud of that. I feel like I’ve contributed in some small way to the evolution of the institution.

In recognition of his achievements and service, Hluchan received the John Carroll Award in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 5, 2025. The John Carroll Award is named for Archbishop John Carroll, the first Catholic bishop in North America and founder of Georgetown University. Established in 1951, this award is conferred upon alumni whose achievements and record of service exemplify the ideals and traditions of Georgetown and its founder.