Georgetown Chinese Executive Education Institute Graduation Ceremony & Dinner

Remarks by John J. DeGioia
Georgetown Chinese Executive Education Institute Graduation Ceremony & Dinner
Philodemic Room & Riggs Library
Georgetown University
January 15, 2009


Thank you Dean Manuel. And good evening to everyone. It is my pleasure to welcome you to the first graduation of the Georgetown Chinese Executive Education Institute. This is certainly a very meaningful day for the Georgetown community. We are truly thrilled to welcome more members into our family; and we value this opportunity to further deepen our friendship with the wonderful people of China.

There are so many individuals to thank for making this possible. Special acknowledgement must go out to:

• Deputy Chief of Mission for the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Xie Feng…and Deputy Secretary-General of the China Friendship Foundation for Peace & Development, Madame Zhang Jinmei, for their excellent work on behalf of the Chinese Government and people;

• Deputy Secretary Roy Bernardi of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development—and an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown beginning this Fall—and Loretta Greene, Director of International Trade Association Affairs in U.S. Commercial Service at the U.S. Department of Commerce, for sharing their time and expertise with our students;

• Rob Manuel, for his leadership as Dean of the School of Continuing Studies, which houses the Institute;

• Chris Augostini, our Chief Financial Officer, for all of his help and support for this initiative;

• Jim Parenti for helping to ensure a smooth and successful experience for our graduates; and

• Everyone else whose contributions made today happen—please accept my sincerest gratitude.

Tonight is of course a celebration. It gives me great pleasure to recognize the accomplishments of our graduating class—an impressive cohort of government officials who are the first to go through the Georgetown Chinese Executive Education Institute.

As I’m sure the graduates can attest—they just completed an incredibly intensive, incredibly comprehensive, two-week training program. Using a case-study methodology, they focused on five major areas of relevance to contemporary society: business strategy, innovation, entrepreneurship, communications, and US public policy. Their academic studies were augmented by interactive sessions with governmental leaders around the city—from the Department of Health and Human Services…to Homeland Security…to Housing and Urban Development. It is this type of in-depth exposure to US policies and practices that underlies the work of the Executive Education Institute.

At its core, the Institute’s mission is one of exchange. It is in the give-and-take that we learn the most. Through the intellectual and professional partnership between Georgetown and China’s executive officials, we hope to deepen Sino-American understanding—on both Chinese soil, and our own.

This goal stems from the very mission of our institution: the formation of men and women for others—of capable, compassionate, and thoughtful global citizens. Because of our long tradition of educating public officials…because of our location in the United States capital…and because of our network of prominent scholars, government officials, and business leaders…we are able to provide an education that launches promising students from the classroom to a life of effective public service.

The Georgetown Executive Education Institute is an extension of this work. I know that our scholars and students have already benefited greatly from this interaction—and as a result, are better-prepared to meet the call of public service.

So thank you again to everyone for being here and making it possible. This is yet another exciting milestone in our relationship with our Chinese colleagues, and with the Chinese Foundation for Friendship, Peace, and Development. Our exchanges have already born constructive dialogue and increased learning—and we look forward to seeing where they will take us in the future.

In that spirit, please allow me to congratulate today’s graduates. We are extremely proud to officially welcome you into the Georgetown family. And now I would like to invite Rob Manuel, Dean of our School of Continuing Studies, to say a few words and help present our certificates…

Dean Manuel…

* * * *

Thank you Dean Manuel. I hope everyone is enjoying themselves so far.

Again, it is a pleasure to be with you this evening, and to have the opportunity to celebrate the graduation of our first Executive Institute class.

We are gathered here today in the spirit of two ideas that are central to Georgetown’s institutional mission. The first is of course the pursuit of knowledge. In establishing the Executive Education Institute—and in nurturing both an intellectual and professional exchange—we are embarking on this very quest. In attempting to heighten our understanding of both Chinese and American societies…and to promote a deeper appreciation of Sino-American relations…we are fulfilling one of the core ideals of our institution.

In fact, because of this, it is quite fitting that we meet this evening in Riggs Library. It is one of the oldest and most beautiful places on campus…and it has provided the inspiration and resources for several generations of Hoyas in their own pursuit of knowledge. Today’s graduates can now count themselves amongst their ranks.

The second idea that guides our celebration is a belief in the special relationship between Chinese and American societies. We share a friendship that has meant a great deal to both of our peoples, and has grown through the challenges we embrace together.

As I’m sure you are aware, we recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and the US. Since our leaders established this official relationship in 1979, we have participated in a number of diplomatic, cultural, technological, scientific, and economic exchanges—all of which serve as the foundation for our present pursuits.

So as we celebrate a milestone in the relationship between Georgetown and our Chinese colleagues, it seems especially appropriate to also recognize this larger context and history of our engagement. For quite some time now, our two cultures have both benefited and grown significantly through dialogue with one another; and because of that, I think it is extremely important we pursue as many opportunities as possible for further understanding and friendship.

It is in the spirit of these two ideas—the pursuit of knowledge and Sino-American friendship—that I would like to offer a toast:

As the strength of our peoples and our societies depends on the strength of our ties…

As the accomplishments we celebrate today underscore and promote that mission…

And as everyone here tonight devotes talent and time to this important endeavor…

Let us raise our glasses and toast our continued work together…and a brighter and deeper friendship between Georgetown University and our dear Chinese colleagues…