The 2017 Awardees
Anthony C. Arend
BSFS 1980Washington
Anthony Arend, a professor in the School of Foreign Service, received the John Carroll Award in ceremonies held at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, Austin, TX, on April 22, 2017.
The awards release on Professor Arend noted the following: "After receiving his bachelor's degree from the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS) in 1980, he went on to earn an M.A. and Ph.D. in foreign affairs at the University of Virginia. He also served as a senior fellow at the University of Virginia School of Law Center for National Security Law.
In 1987, Dr. Arend returned to the Hilltop as a professor of government and foreign service. Along with fellow professor Christopher C. Joyner, in 2003, he co-founded the Institute for International Law and Politics (now the Institute for Law, Science and Global Security) and served as co-director from 2003 to 2008. Under his leadership, the institute has given students the opportunity to explore international law from both a legal and political perspective.
Dr. Arend has also served as an adjunct professor of law at the Georgetown University Law Center and director of the Master of Science in Foreign Service Program. He became senior associate dean for graduate and faculty affairs of SFS in 2015.
Dr. Arend has been honored countless times by his students, fellow faculty members, fellow alumni and the university, including, most recently, the Constantine E. McGuire Medal For Outstanding Service to SFS (May 2015). He has dedicated many years of service to the Board of Governors of the Georgetown University Alumni Association, first as a governor (2001-2005) and now as a senator (2005-present), where his contributions and views are widely respected."
Maureen R. Brown
AB 1981Jackson, WY
Maureen Rutter Brown, co-founder of the Georgetown Technology Alliance, received the John Carroll Award in ceremonies held at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, Austin, TX, on April 22, 2017.
The awards release noted the following: "Ms. Rutter Brown graduated from the College with her bachelor's degree in economics in 1981 and continued her education at Columbia Business School, earning her MBA in 1984. After working in commercial banking and management consulting, she most recently served as executive director of Challenge Success, a non-profit begun at Stanford University's Graduate School of Education, where she worked with teams of educators, parents, and students "to identify problems at schools and implement best practices for school policies, curriculum, assessment, and a healthy school climate." She used her expertise to recently publish Overloaded and Underprepared: Strategies for Stronger Schools and Healthy, Successful Kids, a book of best practices for schools and families.
Her extensive experience as a consultant and passion for motivating others led her to co-found the Bay Area-based Georgetown Technology Alliance (GTA), which now boasts more than 1,500 members. She also serves as the alliance's president emerita. GTA has excelled in providing opportunities for shared learning and service around technology issues while strengthening the ties between this community and Georgetown. Ms. Rutter Brown is a knowledgeable university spokesperson and a longstanding advocate of its priorities. Her support for Georgetown's campaigns and dedication to building engagement has been invaluable. She served as co-chair of Georgetown's For Generations to Come Northern California campaign committee and, under her leadership, the committee opened doors to countless potential donors, hosting events and partnering with the university to create strategic, regional engagement strategies that led them to exceed fundraising goals by a large margin.
Ms. Rutter Brown has been a member of the College Board of Advisors, supported her class' reunion activities, and has served on the Board of Regents for many years. Last year, she was elected member emerita of the Board of Regents, a rare and prestigious honor.
Proud supporters of the sciences, scholarships, and Georgetown Athletics, she and her husband David (Parent'14) have generously given back to the university in many ways, including the establishment of key funds such as the Brown Family Women's Lacrosse Scholarship and the Maureen R. Brown & David Brown Fund in Physics."
Dr. Mary Beth Connell, M.D.
MD 1989Bethesda, MD
Mary Beth Connell, a past president of the Georgetown University Alumni Association, received the John Carroll Award in ceremonies held at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, Austin, TX, on April 22, 2017.
The awards release on Dr. Connell noted the following: "Having spent time in the hospital and in the operating room with her father, a retired cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, Dr. Connell knew at a young age that she wanted to become a physician. She earned her bachelor's degree at the University of Notre Dame before she attended Georgetown University School of Medicine, where she received her M.D.
After her residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dr. Connell started her medical career at INOVA Fairfax Hospital. Dr. Connell worked as a PM&R specialist who provided inpatient and outpatient care for musculoskeletal and neurologic conditions with the goal of maximizing patients' function. She later worked as executive director at Mid-Atlantic Traumatic Brain Injury Consortium and then as medical director at US Wellness, Inc., a corporate and community wellness strategy and services provider.
Dr. Connell has volunteered at many different levels of service within the Georgetown University School of Medicine and the Georgetown University Alumni Association. She began her leadership in 1993 as a member of the Georgetown Clinical Society and led the organization in 2003-2004. She joined the Medical Alumni Board in 2000 and served as chair for five years.
In 2006, she joined the Board of Governors and served for 6 years before she assumed the role of Alumni Association president and chair of the Board of Governors in 2012. As president, she worked to increase alumni engagement with the Campaign for Georgetown as well as Annual Fund participation. She also put special focus on spirituality and communications for all alumni, particularly with initiatives to support alumnae and international alumni.
Currently, Dr. Connell is the pre-health programs coordinator for the College. The joy she experienced as a physician, making a difference in the lives of her patients and their families, coupled with her experience as a medical student at Georgetown, influenced her to lend her expertise to the College's pre-med program, preparing young students to enter the medical field."
Albert del Castillo
BA 1979, JD 1982Miami Lakes, FL
Albert del Castillo, a Miami based attorney, received the John Carroll Award in ceremonies held at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, Austin, TX, on April 22, 2017.
The awards release on Mr. del Castillo noted the following: "[Albert] found Georgetown through his late mother, Dr. Raquel Cruz, who moved her family from Cuba to America in 1961. A strong believer in education, she encouraged her son to attend Georgetown and unwittingly began a Hoya family legacy. He graduated in 1979 with a B.A. in government and obtained his J.D. from the Law Center in 1982. He rowed on the men's varsity lightweight crew team and served three years as a resident assistant.
As a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, P.A., he has served as lead bond counsel in numerous highly innovative and complex bond financings, two of which were selected as the 2004 National "Deal of the Year" and the 2012 Southeast Region "Deal of the Year," respectively. He is a fellow in the American College of Bond Counsel and is listed in several publications for his excellence in public finance law practice, including Chambers USA Guide (2006-2016) and The Best Lawyers in America (2006-2017). He has frequently been selected as "Top Dealmaker of the Year" (Public Finance) by the Daily Business Review.
With the support of his wife Barbara, he has unceasingly given back to his alma mater through dedicated alumni service. He provided invaluable leadership as co-chair of John Carroll Weekend 2014 Miami and as capital campaign co-chair of Florida, where he helped surpass fundraising goals. He also served two terms each on the Board of Regents and the Law Alumni Board and is a long-time participant in the Alumni Admissions Program. He and Barbara currently serve on the Georgetown Law Parents Leadership Council.
Mr. del Castillo actively supports his community in civic and nonprofit endeavors. He currently serves on the Archdiocese of Miami Finance Council and as chairman of the Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church and School Finance Council."
Gail Gillis-Louis
AB 1975Washington DC
Gail Gillis-Louis, a Washington-based banking executive, received the John Carroll Award in ceremonies held at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, Austin, TX, on April 22, 2017.
The awards release on Ms. Louis noted the following: "A pioneer dedicated to opening doors, Gail Gillis-Louis has been a champion of the underserved in support of Georgetown's students and alumni and throughout her professional career.
A proud graduate of D.C. Public Schools, Mrs. Louis entered Georgetown in 1971 as a Community Scholar. As a student, she was a member of the cheerleading team, serving as its captain during her senior year. She was also a founding member of the Gospel Choir and active in the Black Student Alliance, which had been recently formed to foster the academic and social well-being of African American students.
After completing her bachelor's in sociology at the College in 1975, she earned an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where she distinguished herself as a Bristol-Myers Fellow.
A career-long banker, Mrs. Louis has played pivotal roles in financial institution mergers and the launch of a new financial institution. She is now a relationship manager at PNC Financial Services Group, where she is vice-chair of Women Connect, a company-sponsored group which provides educational and professional opportunities to women in the workplace. As a certified women's business advocate, she aids new and existing women-owned businesses. In 1986, Georgetown named her an exemplar of the achievement, service, and spirit of women as part of the university's celebration of 25 Years of Women in the College.
Dedicated to advancing opportunities for students and alumni of color, Mrs. Louis and her husband Conan (I'73, G'78, L'86) established the Patrick Healy Dinner, which celebrates the achievements of Georgetown's African American alumni community, and helped to create the Patrick Healy Scholarship, which provides assistance to students with demonstrated financial need. She was also a founding member of the African American Alumni Advisory Board.
As in her cheerleading days, Mrs. Louis' enthusiasm for Georgetown as an alumni volunteer has been tireless. She has served on the University's Board of Governors and Alumni Senate since 2000, and was a founding member of the College Board of Advisors. She also generously supported the Office of Mission and Ministry on the renovation of St. Williams Chapel and outreach to Gospel Choir alumni, and has been a constant mentor to students and young alumni. In 1994, she received the William Gaston Award for outstanding service to the Alumni Association."
John K. Reagan
BSBA 1984Dallas, TX
John Reagan, a Dallas based technology manager, received the John Carroll Award in ceremonies held at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, Austin, TX, on April 22, 2017.
The awards release on Mr. Reagan noted the following: "Raised in Dallas, Mr. Reagan arrived on the Hilltop as a first generation college student and earned a bachelor's degree in accounting in 1984. As a student, he became a sports writer and editor for The HOYA, beginning his lifelong involvement with Georgetown Athletics. After graduating, he earned an MBA from Duke University.
Mr. Reagan joined Dallas-based Greyhound Lines, Inc. in 1998 and currently serves as its director of information security, leading the firm's data protection and cybersecurity efforts. He also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Dallas, teaching courses in e-commerce and marketing strategy.
In 1996, he launched HoyaSaxa.com, a website that covers Georgetown football and basketball. He is a longtime board member of Hoyas Unlimited, having 23 years of dedicated service and served as its president from 2000 to 2002. He was also appointed to the Athletic Hall of Fame Committee, where he has served since 2009.
A former vice president of the Georgetown Club of Dallas-Ft. Worth, he joined the Alumni Association Board of Governors in 2000 and has served on its Alumni Senate since 2009. He has also participated as an interviewer with the Alumni Admissions Program for 33 years.
Mr. Reagan is a past recipient of the Alumni Association's William Gaston and James P. Reed awards for volunteer service, and served on his class' 25th and 30th Reunion committees. With roots firmly grounded in the Lone Star State, John was the first John Carroll awardee from Texas in 54 years, and was a member of the 2017 John Carroll Weekend planning committee."