Georgetown’s History and Jesuit Philosophy
Founded in 1789, Georgetown University is the nation’s oldest Catholic, Jesuit university.
What began as Georgetown College, a small gathering of 12 students and a handful of professors, has grown into a major global university which includes four undergraduate schools, respected graduate programs, a law school and a medical school.
The vision of Georgetown founder Archbishop John Carroll, S.J. still guides the university in its commitment to Catholic, Jesuit education in the liberal arts tradition, with respect for diversity and open dialogue in the pursuit of truth.
Examples of Jesuit values include:
- Cura Personalis – a Latin expression that means: care for the whole person—mind, body and spirit.
- Contemplation in Action – the role self-reflection must play in an individual’s daily life.
- Women and Men for Others – the commitment to educating individuals who will use their unique talents to advance social justice and the common good.
From its inception in 1903, NHS has placed a special emphasis on core institutional values. The school’s first graduation speaker in 1906 was physician Joseph Taber Johnson (M’1865). He addressed, among other topics, ethics and nursing.
This values-based approach to the profession of nursing—rooted in the university’s strong Catholic, Jesuit identity—guides the work of faculty and students today. To read more about our values-based approach, click here.
Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies is a dynamic academic organization dedicated to its mission, which reads in part – “to improve the health and well-being of all people.”
