Dr. John J. DeGioia—the longest serving President of Georgetown University—announced on Thursday that he was stepping down due to ongoing health concerns.
DeGioia personified Georgetown, having earned his undergraduate degree and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the Jesuit institution—worked his way up the ranks to become college president, a position that he held for 23 years. He was the first lay person to lead the Catholic institution that was founded in 1789.
Last June, he went on a temporary leave after suffering a stroke but said that he needed to now devote his energies to recovering fully. He will hold the title of President Emeritus and will rejoin the faculty. 
Dr. Jack DeGioia
“Each of us is called to a vocation of service,” said DeGioia, who became a national leader on higher education issues and previously chaired the board of the American Council on Education. “I have had the privilege of holding many roles here at Georgetown and serving in a way that is authentic to my vocation. I have been shaped by the tradition of this community and the values of the Academy and we, as a University community, continue to be guided by these ideals in rich and enduring ways.”
Thomas A. Reynolds III, Chair of the Georgetown Board of Directors, praised DeGioia’s tenure.
