Title:How Ignatian values have guided Frank H. McCourt Jr. in public policy and life

Frank H. McCourt Jr. (C’75, Parent’05) is an accomplished civic entrepreneur and business leader whose vision and two generous gifts of $100 million helped to establish and enhance the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy. Georgetown Magazine sat down with McCourt to talk about his deep connection to Georgetown.

How do you feel connected to Georgetown’s history?

I had the great pleasure of helping to establish the McCourt School of Public Policy. I remember standing there on the porch of Old North on that beautiful October day in 2013 when we had the founding ceremony in the quad. I was able to look up to my left and see my dad’s freshman dorm room in Healy. My dad, Frank H. McCourt, graduated in 1939. In my remarks, I talked about hearing his footsteps when I visit. Georgetown history runs very deep in my family.

How do Georgetown’s values resonate with you?

Growing up, I had the privilege of being educated by Jesuits for eight years. Cura personalis and “people for others” are principles about basic equity, justice, dignity, and respect for human beings, even those we might disagree with. Schools like Georgetown plant the seeds, and Ignatian values grow to become a part of who you are, how you process the world, make decisions, and think about others. It would be impossible for me to separate myself from these values now because they’re part of who I am. I’m so grateful for those seeds having been planted by the Jesuits.

Why do you believe it’s so important to ensure increasing access for students seeking a policy education?

I think it’s important to increase access for everyone, but we have to start somewhere. The ambition for the McCourt School is to become tuition-free. I think creating access to a college education for more people at less cost is mandatory. Georgetown needs to lead the way.

I know you and President Emeritus DeGioia (C’79, G’95) are close. Do you have any reflections you’d like to share about him or his accomplishments leading the university for 23 years?

I treasure my 50-year relationship with Jack. We were talking about the new public policy school going back as far as 2008. The world went upside down for a while during that period with the Great Recession, and it was also a difficult time in my personal life. Jack would come visit me in L.A. once or twice a year, and we’d have a meal together. It was amazing to me that not a single time during any of those conversations did he bring up the gift that I was planning to make.

So inevitably, at the end of every conversation, I would bring it up. I’d say, “Jack, we’re going to do this.” And he’d say, “Frank, I know. I’m not here to talk about that, I just wanted to see how you’re doing. We’re here. We’ll be here whenever.”

That’s Jack—just an incredibly empathetic, compassionate, generous, supportive human being. I doubled the size of my gift because of him without him asking, because I wanted to acknowledge him when I was in a position to do so. The day the McCourt School became a reality was a great moment. And then to see it flourish as it is… I can’t tell you how proud I am of that.

What’s something you wish everyone knew about the McCourt School of Public Policy?

What makes the McCourt School tick is this beautiful blend of technical skill with care for the person. Being a person for others in the policymaking arena is vitally important because policies need to consider the impact on human beings.

What is your calling? Has it changed with time?

I think my Magis, as the Jesuits would say, is now Project Liberty [an organization focused on building world-class digital infrastructure centered on people, designing sustainable data governance models, shaping smarter policy, and mobilizing a movement for change]. I believe we need to reclaim human dignity in the digital age by reclaiming personal data.

When I was in L.A., I owned the Dodgers. Everything was going great, and then I hit this bump in the road with my first marriage. During that time, I got the taste of what it’s like when social media is weaponized. People can say what they want and you’re in a fairly helpless position. I don’t say that to engender sympathy. I have been blessed with eight beautiful children, a fabulous wife, success in business, and the gift of a Georgetown education.

The point is I had an early look at what was happening with this technology, and how harmful it was going to be if it wasn’t fixed. That experience informed my conversations with Jack about the McCourt School and the need for technological policymaking.

I realized my reason for being was to help address this problem, but if we’re going to be successful, it’s going to require the efforts of many working together, including technologists, companies, academics, and policymakers.