Sharing the Very Sad News of Carol Lancaster’s Passing

Dear Members of the Georgetown University Community:

It is with great sadness that I write to let you know that Carol Lancaster, former Dean of the School of Foreign Service, has passed away. Carol was diagnosed with a brain tumor in November 2013 and stepped down as Dean this past April.

I can only begin to express the extraordinary impact Carol had on our community; she touched so many lives as an exceptional colleague, teacher, mentor and friend throughout her nearly three and a half decades at Georgetown. Her passion for our University—for our students, their growth and our mission—was unparalleled, and we were all deeply fortunate to have had the chance to be in her presence. Carol will be missed in a most profound way by our entire Georgetown community.

An alumna of our School of Foreign Service Class of 1964, Carol returned to the Hilltop after an extensive career in the government, serving as a professor for nearly three decades before becoming Dean in 2010. She provided extraordinary leadership as Dean of the SFS—during her tenure, the SFS inaugurated two new master’s programs and launched the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security. Carol was a leader and a professor, contributing in countless ways to our community through her vision and scholarship. Moreover, the joy and dedication that Carol brought to her work inspired us all to be the very best versions of ourselves. You can read more about Carol’s distinguished life of service here.

I ask that you please join me in extending our most heartfelt sympathy and support to Carol’s husband, Curtis Farrar, and her son, Douglas Farrar (SFS’05; SCS’12) and the rest of her family.

I invite you to submit a note, memory, prayer or photo to our community memorial page here.

We will honor Carol’s life of service, scholarship and teaching with a memorial service taking place on Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. in Gaston Hall.

As we remember Carol in the days ahead, I hope that all in our Georgetown community will support one another and keep Carol’s loved ones in our thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely,

John J. DeGioia