History
GPPI began as an idea in the Departments of Government and Economics in the late 1970s. The Government Department instituted a certificate program in 1980–1981 and in 1982 hired 2 junior faculty members to teach courses in public policy. For the next 5 years, the program remained small, granting an MA in government with a concentration in public policy to about 15 students. The Government Department in 1985 hired the first part-time director for the program. During the ensuing years, the framework for the Public Policy Program was formulated. By the late 1980s, enrollment in the program had grown to about 75 students.
In 1990, the new president of Georgetown University, Father Leo O'Donovan, mandated the expansion of the Public Policy Program under the direction of the program's first full-time director, Colin Campbell, a Georgetown professor of philosophy and politics. Dr. Campbell was charged with the task of significantly expanding the program's faculty, students, and facilities. In 1996, in recognition of the program's status as one of the premier professional programs at Georgetown University, the Public Policy Program was renamed the Georgetown Public Policy Institute (GPPI). Over the years, GPPI has grown significantly in size and stature. GPPI now accounts for over half of the total sponsored research funds awarded to the Georgetown University Main Campus.
Judy Feder became Dean in 2001 and GPPI saw rapid expansion during her tenure. Faculty, applications, enrollment, staff, and facilities all grew under Dr. Feder. Of special note was the addition of new degree programs beginning in 2001 with the addition of a Master of Policy Management (MPM) degree for mid-career students, and in 2004 with the addition of a MPM – Public Service (MPM – PS) degree for students from government agencies. In 2007 a part-time evening program was launched to supplement the traditional Masters of Public Policy (MPP) degree.
Today, under the leadership of Dean Edward Montgomery, GPPI includes ten affiliated research centers, 20 full-time faculty members, 11 visiting faculty members, more than 90 affiliated faculty members, and about 450 enrolled students across the various degree and executive education programs. Additionally, GPPI looks forward to enrolling the first students in the new Master of International Development Policy (MIDP) in the fall of 2012.
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