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President's Speeches & Writing Archive | Biography

President Patricia McGuire

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Patricia McGuire has been President of Trinity since 1989. Before coming to Trinity, Ms. McGuire was the Assistant Dean for Development and External Affairs for Georgetown University Law Center, where she was also an adjunct professor of law. Earlier, she was project director for Georgetown ‘s D.C. Street Law Project. She was also a legal affairs commentator for the award-winning CBS children’s newsmagazine “30 Minutes” and the Fox Television program “Panorama” in Washington.

President McGuire earned her bachelor of arts degree cum laude from Trinity College and her law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center. She is currently a member of the boards of directors of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the Washington Metropolitan Consortium of Universities, the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, Catholic Charities of D.C., Faith in the Future Foundation, and the Ameritas Mutual Holding Company.

She previously served on a governance advisory task force for the American Institute of Architects, and as a member of the Independent Governance Advisory Panel for the American Red Cross. She is a member of the Women’s Advisory Board of the Girl Scouts of the Nation’s Capital.

She served previously on the boards of United Educators, the College Success Foundation – DC, the Community Foundation of the National Capital Region, Goodwill of Greater Washington, the Eugene and Agnes Meyer Foundation, the Washington Hospital Center, the American Council on Education, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the National Defense Intelligence College, the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

In 2014, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan appointed President McGuire to the U.S. Department of Education Advisory Committee on Student Financial Aid, a position she held in 2014-2015. In 2000, President McGuire was appointed by D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams and the D.C. Financial Control Board to a special term on the Education Advisory Committee overseeing the D.C. Public Schools. In June 1998, Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin appointed President McGuire to serve as a member of the first-ever citizens’ advisory panel on coinage, the 8-member Dollar Coin Design Advisory Committee, which recommended the image of Sacagawea for the new dollar coin.

President McGuire has received honorary degrees from Georgetown University, Howard University, Chatham University, Emmanuel College, Saint Michael’s College, Liverpool Hope University, Mt. Aloysius College and College of St. Elizabeth.

In 2019 President McGuire received the Visionary Award from the Washington Area Women’s Foundation.  In 2018 the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities honored President McGuire with the Association’s Presidents’ Distinguished Service Award.  In 2016, the TIAA Institute honored President McGuire with the Hesburgh Award for Leadership Excellence.  In 2015, the Carnegie Corporation honored President McGuire with the Carnegie Award for Academic Leadership, an award recognizes vision and commitment to excellence and equity in undergraduate education.  In 2015, President McGuire received the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award from SOAR!  In 2012, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities recognized President McGuire’s leadership in higher education with the Henry Paley Award.  In 2010, the American Association of University Professors recognized President McGuire’s defense of academic freedom with the Alexander Meiklejohn Award. In 2007, the Greater Washington Board of Trade named President McGuire the “Leader of the Years,” the top business honor for this regional chamber of commerce.  The Washington Business Journal included President McGuire among that publications list of “Women Who Mean Business.” Washingtonian magazine has named her among the “150 Most Powerful People in Washington” and the “100 Most Powerful Women of Washington.” She has also received honors and awards from the Washington Business Journal, D.C.College Access Program, Gallaudet University, Georgetown University Law Center, and other civic and educational organizations.

President McGuire writes and speaks on a wide variety of topics concerning higher education, women and Catholic education, and her articles have appeared in a wide variety of publications.

About Trinity

Founded in 1897 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Trinity enrolls more than 2,000 students in degree programs. Another 3,000 students participate in Trinity’s continuing education programs, including professional workshops for teachers. In February 2003, Trinity opened the Trinity Center for Women and Girls in Sports, a $20 million state-of-the-art athletic complex that is the largest facility in the nation with a particular focus on women and girls in sports. In June 2016, Trinity will dedicate the new Payden Academic Center, an 80,000 square foot building including state-of-the-art laboratories and classrooms.

President McGuire Short Bio

Patricia McGuire has been president of Trinity since 1989.  Previously, she was the assistant dean for development and external affairs at Georgetown University Law Center where she was also an adjunct professor of law.  She began her career after law school as the project director for the Street Law clinical program at Georgetown.  President McGuire serves on a number of boards including the Consortium of Universities, Cafritz Foundation, College Catholic Charities DC, Faith in the Future Foundation and the Ameritas Holding Company.  Her prior board service includes United Educators, the American Council on Education, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the Meyer Foundation, the Community Foundation of the National Capital Region, and numerous other organizations.  In 2019 she received the Visionary Award from the Washington Area Women’s Foundation.  In 2018 she received the Association of Catholic Colleges Distinguished Service Award.  In 2016, the TIAA Institute honored President McGuire with the Hesburgh Award for Leadership Excellence.  In 2015 President McGuire received the Carnegie Award for Academic Leadership from the Carnegie Corporation.  In 2012 she received the Henry Paley Award from the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. In 2010 she received the Alexander Meiklejohn Award for Academic Freedom from the American Association of University Professors. She holds honorary degrees from several universities including Georgetown, Howard, Chatham, Emmanuel, Saint Michael’s, Liverpool Hope and others.  In 2007 she was named “Leader of the Years” by the Greater Washington Board of Trade.  She earned her law degree at Georgetown and her baccalaureate degree cum laude at Trinity.


Patricia A. McGuire, President, Trinity, 125 Michigan Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20017
Phone: 202.884.9050   Email: president@trinitydc.edu

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