School of Foreign Service - Georgetown University

09/09/2026

As we approach the 25th anniversary of 9/11 on Friday, SFS Professors Bruce Hoffman and Daniel Byman reflect on its impact and the state of terrorism and counterterrorism efforts today. They warn that the U.S. counterterrorism structure is fraying.

“Counterterrorism today is not the priority it once was—–and is more highly politicized than ever. And, unlike the case 25 years ago, the United States now faces serious domestic terrorism threats alongside expanded foreign ones,” Hoffman writes.

Byman flagged the growing overuse of the word “terrorism,” often also used against peaceful organizations that oppose it. “I worry that the powerful counterterrorism instruments will be used in ways that infringe on civil liberties even as major threats go unaddressed,” he warns.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4A5L6xu

Twenty-five years later, SFS Professors Bruce Hoffman and Daniel Byman reflect on the impact of 9/11 and the state of terrorism and counterterrorism efforts today.

09/08/2026

The global order is shifting as centers of power change, technology disrupts established norms and rivalry among nations grows. We spoke with SFS Professor Charles Kupchan about what comes next, the future of U.S. foreign policy and how AI and domestic economic change are reshaping the world.

“These dual transitions are stoking geopolitical rivalries and eroding international rules and institutions, bringing down the old order and producing global disarray,” Kupchan says.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4d9ty9N

SFS Professor Charles Kupchan explores the global order, U.S. foreign policy and how AI and economic change are reshaping the world.

09/07/2026

Happy ! Today, we honor and recognize the dedicated workers who keep our campus community moving forward. Thank you for your hard work and everything you contribute each day!

09/05/2026

During new student convocation, Georgetown President Eduardo M. Peñalver welcomed the Class of 2030 and encouraged a pursuit of wisdom through curiosity, discovery and reflection to kindle a lifelong intellectual fire.

“In your time at Georgetown, I hope you’ll experience the pleasure of unexpected discovery and the friction of deep disagreement. And I hope that experience will spark the fire of your search for the truth over and over again,” he said.

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At New Student Convocation, Georgetown President Eduardo M. Peñalver urged the Class of 2030 to enkindle their curiosity at Georgetown. Read an excerpt from his address.

09/03/2026

Meet Georgetown’s “Chief Encouragement Officer.” 👋

Robert Lyons (G’26) has spent 15 years helping students, faculty and colleagues thrive through his work as director of academic programs and operations for Georgetown University Asian Studies.

Along the way, he’s supported 400+ graduate students, traveled the globe, earned his Doctor of Liberal Studies from Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies—and recently took up breakdancing.

“I’m just really grateful for all the folks I’ve gotten to know. Everyone is gifted in different ways, and I enjoy getting to learn about the expertise and gifts of others in my role,” Lyons says.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4igOPSx

When Robert Lyons (G’26) isn’t directing academic programs and operations for the Asian Studies program, he’s seeking out new achievements and hobbies.

08/31/2026

Join us in welcoming the 2026-2027 fellows of SFS’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy (ISD)!

Drawing on decades of experience across diplomacy, national security and public service, this year’s cohort brings real-world expertise into the classroom—helping students connect global events, policy and practice.

Stop by ISD’s Open House to meet the new fellows in person on Thursday, September 17, from 3:00–4:00 p.m. in ICC 700.

Read more about the fellows and the perspectives they’ll bring to Georgetown this academic year:

ISD fellows bring decades of diplomacy and military experience to the classroom, helping students connect theory to practice and prepare for public service.

08/28/2026

This summer, TJ Barczak (SFS’29) and Sabrina Gomez (SFS’27) gained hands-on experience in diplomacy through internships at U.S. and Mexican embassies. Barczak interned with the U.S. Commercial Service at the U.S. Embassy in Santiago, Chile, where he explored the intersection of international trade and diplomacy. Gomez worked in the Embassy of Mexico’s consular office in Washington, DC, connecting detained and incarcerated Mexican nationals with legal services while developing a deeper understanding of empathy and advocacy in diplomatic work.

“Every day I immersed myself into the nuances of the Chilean market and the world of trade, gaining a better understanding of how diplomacy is not only done in the negotiation room,” Barczak says.

Read more:

Learn about a senior who fielded urgent calls for the Mexican embassy and a first-year who tracked down trade leads for the U.S. in Santiago.

08/26/2026

Welcome back to the Hilltop, Hoyas! Wishing everyone a fantastic start to the new academic year—we are thrilled to have you here! 📚☀️

08/24/2026

Last week, over 150 SFS Georgetown Alumni joined Dean Joel Hellman over Zoom for a Fast Break with Professor Victor Cha on President Trump’s decision to scale back joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises.

Cha discussed the exercises’ importance for military readiness and deterrence on the Korean Peninsula, the administration’s rationale for the move and what it could mean for regional security and prospects for renewed U.S.-North Korea diplomacy.

Designed for SFS alumni, Fast Break is 30 minutes of instant analysis from SFS professors on the most important topics of the day.

Watch now on our YouTube channel:

In this Fast Break, SFS Dean Joel Hellman and Professor Victor Cha ...

08/24/2026

Happy Monday, Hoyas! Today, our incoming SFS undergraduate class gathered in Gaston Hall for the Dean’s Information Session. The event kicked off with welcoming remarks from SFS Dean Joel Hellman and Professor Joanna Lewis, vice dean of undergraduate affairs. Dean Hellman then moderated a dynamic student panel featuring Ophelia Bentley (SFS’27), Kate Halabi (SFS’27), Beverly Holton (SFS’29) and Rai Hasen Masoud Kharal (SFS’27), who explored what sets an SFS education apart.

During the panel, Bentley reflected on lessons learned from student-faculty research, Halabi discussed cultural immersion during study abroad, Kharal offered insights as an international student and Holton shared how she secured an internship on Capitol Hill in her first year.

What are you most looking forward to at SFS? Let us know in the comments ⬇️