WASHINGTON, DC - Ten percent of the 112th U.S. Congress are Jesuit college and university alumni/ae. Among the 535 Members of this Congress, 54 of them are alumni/ae of Jesuit institutions. At least 30 alums also serve in appointed positions in the Obama Administration.
There are 12 Jesuit alumni/ae in the Senate and 42 in the House of Representatives. Among the top leadership, Congressmen John Boehner (R-OH) is serving as Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD) serves as the House Minority Whip. In the Senate, Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) continues as the Assistant Majority Leader.
Of these 54 alumni/ae, 36 received graduate or professional degrees from Jesuit universities. There are 18 Jesuit institutions represented by alumni/ae in the U.S. Congress. Georgetown University has the most alumni/ae with a total of 18; followed by Boston College with 7; the College of the Holy Cross and Fordham University each tied with 4; while Creighton University, Marquette University, and the University of Detroit Mercy each have 3.
"With the many challenges facing our nation, we are happy that our Jesuit college and university alumni/ae continue to play important roles in Congress and the Administration,” said AJCU President Fr. Charles Currie, S.J. “Their commitment to lead and to serve is in the best Jesuit tradition.”
Obama Administration
Complementing the congressional representation are the approximately 30 alumni from the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities currently serving in appointed positions to President Barack Obama. Members of the Obama administration from AJCU institutions include Department of Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates (Georgetown University, 1974, PhD), Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet A. Napolitano (Santa Clara University, 1979, BA), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Leon E. Panetta (Santa Clara University, 1960, BA), Office of Management and Budget Director Jacob Lew (Georgetown University, 1983, JD), and White House Chief of Staff William Daley (Loyola University Chicago, 1970, BA).
From the Department of Education are Under Secretary Martha Kanter (University of San Francisco, 1989, EdD), Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs Gabriella Gomez (Loyola Marymount University, 1995, BA) and Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary Julius Lloyd Horwich (Georgetown University, 1986, BSFS).
In the Department of Labor is Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Jane Oates (Boston College, 1975, BA).
| UNITED STATES SENATE | |
Senator John Barrasso |
Senator Scott Brown |
Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. |
Senator Richard J. Durbin |
Senator Michael (Mike) Johanns |
Senator John F. Kerry |
Senator Patrick J. Leahy |
Senator Mark Steven Kirk |
Senator Robert Menendez |
Senator Barbara A. Mikulski |
Senator Lisa Murkowski |
Senator Jim Webb |
| UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES | |
Representative Steve Austria |
Representative Timothy H. Bishop (D-NY) Elected 2002 B.A. College of the Holy Cross (1972) |
Representative John A. Boehner |
Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL) Elected 2006 M.B.A. University of Detroit Mercy (1986) |
Representative Ann Marie Buerkle |
Representative Francisco "Quico" Canseco (R-TX) Elected 2010 B.A. Saint Louis University (1972) |
Representative Michael Capuano |
Representative David Cicilline (D-RI) Elected 2010 J.D. Georgetown University (1986) |
Representative Hansen Clarke |
Representative Henry Cuellar (D-TX) Elected 2005 B.S. Georgetown University (1978) |
Representative John D. Dingell |
Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) Elected 2004 M.A. Georgetown University (1986) |
Representative Paul Gosar |
Representative Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) Elected 2006 J.D. Georgetown University (1978) |
Representative Steny H. Hoyer |
Representative William Keating (D-MA) Elected 2010 B.A. Boston College (1974) M.B.A. Boston College (1982) |
Representative Jeff Landry |
Representative Frank A. LoBiondo (R-NJ) Elected 1994 B.S. Saint Joseph's University (1968) |
Representative Zoe Lofgren |
Representative Daniel E. Lungren (R-CA) Elected 2004 J.D. Georgetown University (1971) |
Representative Stephen Lynch |
Representative Donald Manzullo (R-IL) Elected 1992 J.D. Marquette University (1970) |
Representative Edward J. Markey |
Representative Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) Elected 2002 B.A. University of Detroit Mercy (1987) J.D. University of Detroit Mercy (1991) |
Representative Gwen Moore |
Representative James P. Moran (D-VA) Elected 1990 B.A. College of the Holy Cross (1967) |
Representative Mick Mulvaney |
Representative Timothy F. Murphy (R-PA) Elected 2002 B.A. Wheeling Jesuit University (1974) |
Representative Jerrold Nadler |
Representative Bill Owens (D-NY) Appointed 2009, Elected 2010 J.D. Fordham University (1974) |
Representative William J. Pascrell Jr. |
Representative Gary Peters |
Representative Michael Quigley |
Representative Robert C. Scott |
Representative Albio Sires |
Representative Adam Smith |
Representative Lee Terry |
Representative Chris Van Hollen Jr. |
Representative Peter J. Visclosky |
Representative Peter Welch |
| Representative Frank Wolf (R-VA) Elected 1980 J.D. Georgetown University (1965) |
Representative Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) Elected 1992 B.S. University of San Francisco (1980) |
Bold names indicate new members
