Jesuit College and University Alumni/ae in the Obama Administration and 113th U.S. Congress

Friday, January 04, 2013

U.S. Congress in session

WASHINGTON, DC – The Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) has announced that nearly ten percent of the 113th U.S. Congress are Jesuit college and university alumni/ae. Among the 535 Members of this Congress, 52 of them are alumni/ae of Jesuit institutions: 11 in the Senate and 41 in the House of Representatives.

Congressman John Boehner (R-OH, Xavier alumnus) is serving his second term as Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD, Georgetown alumnus) continues to serve as the House Minority Whip. In the Senate, Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL, Georgetown alumnus) continues his service as the Assistant Majority Leader.

Of the 52 alumni/ae, nine were elected in 2012. Prior to her election, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI, Georgetown alumna) previously served as a Member of the House of Representatives. Of the newly-elected alumni, Representative Juan C. Vargas (D-CA, Fordham alumnus) was a Jesuit in studies for the priesthood.

There are currently 14 Jesuit institutions represented by alumni/ae in the U.S. Congress. Georgetown University has the most alumni/ae with a total of 21, followed by Boston College with 7 and Fordham University with 5. The College of the Holy Cross has 4, Creighton University has 3 and Loyola University Chicago, Saint Peter’s University and University of Detroit Mercy all have two alumni/ae represented. The remaining schools with alumni/ae in Congress are Loyola University Maryland, Marquette University, Saint Joseph’s University, Santa Clara University, Wheeling Jesuit University and Xavier University.

"We are proud that nearly 10 percent of Congress are alumni/ae of Jesuit colleges and universities,” said AJCU President Rev. Gregory Lucey, SJ. “We are grateful for their leadership, and we look forward to strengthening the excellent working relationships we have already established with those in Congress and forging ties with new members of the 113th Congress.”

Obama Administration

Complementing the number of Jesuit college and university alumni/ae serving as congressional representatives are the alumni/ae appointed by President Barack Obama to serve in key leadership positions. Members of the Obama administration from AJCU institutions include Department of Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta (Santa Clara University, 1960, BA); Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet A. Napolitano (Santa Clara University, 1979, BA); and White House Chief of Staff Jacob Lew (Georgetown University, 1983, JD).

To download the full list of Jesuit alumni in the 113th U.S. Congress, please click here.

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