Creating a Georgetown Legacy
georgetown university | summer 2025
giving.georgetown.edu/planned-giving
Dr. Joan Sullivan (N’70), honored at the 2025 Honor Flight Luncheon for her lifetime of service and dedication.
A Legacy of Service
Dr. Joan Sullivan (N’70) has led an adventure-filled life—from Long Island to Georgetown, Guatemala to Japan, Iraq to Afghanistan, and many stops in between. Reflecting on her journey, she credits Georgetown as “the place that introduced me to new ideas and experiences, and gave me the foundation to be successful in whatever I decided I wanted to do. Georgetown’s belief in us as graduates was incredibly helpful and gave us confidence.”
Sullivan came to Georgetown in 1966 with the goal of becoming a nurse. Inspired by three of her aunts who were nurses, she saw the profession as a meaningful way to earn a living while also being able to help others. One of the things she loved most about her experience was that she was a Georgetown student first and then a nursing student. She had the opportunity to live and learn alongside students from all over the world. Georgetown opened doors she never imagined.
“The Jesuits have such great reputations for being educators and scholars, but they were also very human and didn’t use religion as a barrier,” says Sullivan. She fondly recalls having wonderful talks with Fr. Baumiller, Fr. McFadden, and Fr. McSorley that deeply impacted her experience as a student.
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In this time of transition, it is important to remember the principles put forth by St. Ignatius long ago, forming the foundation of our Jesuit values. Georgetown remains steadfast in its commitment to the transformative power of education and the belief that education should be available to all. We continue to focus on the concept of cura personalis developing the whole person intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually—and the importance of the Jesuit hallmarks of service and justice.
We are also sharing exciting news about the School of Nursing and highlighting how Georgetown is supporting our student-veterans and military families— both exceptional programs that embody the spirit of our Jesuit values.
Thank you for all you do for Georgetown. Your generosity makes the work we are doing across Georgetown University, Georgetown Law Center, and Georgetown University Medical Center possible and we cannot express our gratitude enough for your continued support.
Warmest regards,
Mindy Siebenaler Bopp, J.D., LL.M (L’20) Executive Director of Planned Giving & Senior Philanthropic Advisor
202-687-6778 mls300@georgetown.edu
Sullivan also made sure to take advantage of living in Washington, DC—recalling experiencing the tumultuous events of that time, including those related to the Vietnam War protests, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy. She and her friends would take the bus to the Capitol and visit House and Senate offices. At graduation, she and her friends wore black armbands to protest what happened at Kent State.
Sullivan credits Georgetown with teaching her lessons that would serve her well in the Army and throughout her life: how to make decisions, work as part of a team, and perform risk analysis. She also very much came to value Georgetown’s reputation in the larger world. “People sit up straighter and are more respectful and responsive knowing you graduated from Georgetown.”
After leaving the Hilltop, Sullivan earned a Master’s in Nursing and went on to work as a neonatal intensive care nurse in Memphis while teaching in the nursing program at University of Tennessee. It was there that she joined the U.S. Army Reserves, later transitioning to the National Guard. During her years in the Army, she served on active duty for two combat tours—in Iraq and Afghanistan—and had the privilege of serving in missions in Guatemala, Iceland, and Japan as part of her service. Among her most impactful stateside assignments were providing medical support following the crash of TWA Flight 800 and serving as the Task Force Surgeon, and caring for soldiers and first responders at the World Trade Center site in New York City after 9/11. “Every time I came back to America, I felt so incredibly humbled by everything I had been afforded in my life.”
Joining the Army gave Joan the opportunity to attend medical school. She went on to serve as the division surgeon for the 42nd Infantry Division and later as the New York State surgeon before retiring from the military after 37 years with the rank of colonel. Sullivan then worked at a successful OB/GYN practice in Ithaca, New York, where she lived for 20 years until her retirement to Florida a few years ago.
Through the years and across many time zones, Sullivan has remained deeply connected to the Georgetown community. Several of her closest friends are fellow alumni, and she participated in the Alumni Admissions Program for many years.
When asked why she made the decision to include a gift to Georgetown as part of her estate planning, Sullivan is quick to acknowledge how much the university shaped her life. “I made this gift because I wanted to give back to an institution that gave me so much.” She was also inspired by the Military and Veterans Resource Center (MAVRC), and “considered it a no-brainer to direct my gift to a program that is making an education at Georgetown possible and easier for active military and veterans. The military can only be better with the more education that soldiers bring into their experience.”
“Georgetown was an amazing time for me. It opened doors that would not have readily been available—the opportunities, the education, the philosophy, interacting with different kinds of people, and exposure to things I never would have dreamt of learning about made a huge impact on my life.”
Caring for
the Individual with Georgetown’s School of Nursing
At Georgetown University, our commitment to health and to improving the human condition is a core part of our mission as a Catholic and Jesuit institution. For more than 100 years, nursing at Georgetown has been dedicated to advancing the health and well-being of individuals and communities through excellence in education, scholarship, and social action. Rooted in the Jesuit tradition of cura personalis, we have a distinctive ability to support the formation of ethical, compassionate, and highly-skilled nursing professionals who work to uplift the well-being of all.
As our population grows, ages, and becomes more diverse, the demand for nurses is expected to rise significantly and evolve in complexity. At Georgetown, we are evolving to meet the new challenges. In 2022, the School of Nursing (SON) was restored to its original structure as a standalone institution—just as it was at its founding in 1903. In May 2025, the Berkley Family made a significant gift to establish the Berkley School of Nursing at Georgetown. In addition to the naming of the school, the gift will provide critical resources to invest in scholarships, faculty, and innovation—all to achieve the goals of addressing the rising demand for nursing professionals and enriching nursing education in new and vital ways.
The Berkley School of Nursing at Georgetown is uniquely positioned to help strengthen the nursing pipeline and respond to the changing needs of the profession. Guided by our enduring commitments to the common good and to educating people for others, SON is devoted to developing future nursing leaders who are prepared to meet the ever-evolving health challenges of our time.
“Nursing education goes beyond academic and scientific knowledge as it requires a deep understanding of the social and cultural aspects of health care and the root of health disparities in our communities.”
—Dean Roberta Waite, Georgetown University School of Nursing
Georgetown’s Veterans Services & Programming
Dates to Remember
October 3–5, 2025
Georgetown Law Reunion
November 7–9, 2025
Georgetown Medical Center Reunion
April 3–6, 2026
John Carroll Weekend, San Juan, PR
May 29–31, 2026
Undergraduate Reunion (for class years ending in 1 or 6)
Georgetown University’s community of U.S. service members, veterans, and military families exemplify the ideal of service to society. Georgetown’s Military and Veterans’ Resource Center (MAVRC) supports military-connected students as they apply to attend and advance beyond the university.
MAVRC works to remove barriers to entry and provide essential services that help military-connected students successfully navigate the transition from military to civilian life. The Hilltop is home to more than 1,200 military-connected students, including service members, veterans, and their families. MAVRC serves as a liaison and advisor, ensuring that both prospective and current students receive comprehensive information on admissions, financial aid, academic support, career networking, and campus resources.
Dedicated to helping students and the broader campus community, MAVRC offers one-on-one advising, connects students with resources, hosts programming and events, and fosters alumni engagement.
Scholarship Support
Military-connected students enrich our campus in the spirit of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, a veteran and adult learner. As a proud participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program (YRP), Georgetown partners with the Department of Veterans Affairs to enhance financial access for military-connected students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs, including the Law Center. YRP takes effect once an eligible participant reaches the Post9/11 GI Bill’s private tuition maximum for an academic year. At that point, the academic school contributes YRP funding, which the VA matches up to the amount specified by the program. This investment reflects the university’s commitment to making education more financially accessible for veterans.
These students bring invaluable perspectives to their classmates and leave Georgetown prepared to lead in careers that shape the future and influence global development.
Dr. Joan Sullivan (N’70)—(continued from page 1)
Simple Planned Gifts that Make an Impact
Bequests and Beneficiary Designations
By including a gift to Georgetown as part of your legacy, you are continuing a tradition of educating young people to act in the service of others. Below are two impactful ways to support Georgetown that may also have significant tax benefits.
Bequest in a Will or Trust
Creating a revocable bequest gift in your will or trust allows you to help ensure the future of the university while providing flexibility in case your circumstances change in the future. Bequests can be designated to a school or program at Georgetown you feel passionately about or it can be left unrestricted and put to use where needed most.
Tax-Smart Ways to Use Your IRA
If you are 701/2 and older, you can direct up to $108,000 this year to Georgetown from an IRA using a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), which avoids income tax and counts toward your RMD (if you are 73+) with the added benefit of supporting a Georgetown school or program that is important to you.
Take Advantage of Higher Interest Rates (for now) with a CGA Individuals who are 701/2 and older can use up to $54,000 from an IRA to fund a new Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA). CGAs pay you (and/or a spouse) income for life while also leaving a gift for Georgetown in the future. Higher interest rates make CGAs more attractive due to increased payout rates (based on the age of the beneficiary). The current rate at age 70 is 6.3%, and 8.1% at age 80. With future interest rate cuts possible, now may be a good time to lock in a higher payout CGA.
Use Your IRA to Fund a Testamentary Trust
Another way to maximize your legacy is to use an IRA to create a Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) for your children. With the elimination of the stretch IRA, non-spousal beneficiaries of an IRA must take the funds in full within 10 years, which often
Beneficiary Designations
Another simple way to leave a legacy is by naming Georgetown as the beneficiary of a retirement account, life insurance policy, or brokerage account. Leaving a retirement account to an individual may decrease the gift by as much as 70% after deducting federal and state income taxes. Due to Georgetown’s nonprofit status, we can realize the full value of gifts from retirement accounts, allowing you to leave other assets to loved ones while avoiding tax and maximizing your impact to a school or program that is meaningful to you.
results in substantial tax liabilities that may reduce the amount received by up to 70%. Alternatively, you may be able to use a CRT to make distributions over your children’s lifetime and avoid state and federal income taxes while supporting Georgetown.
A CRT provides an income stream to beneficiaries of your choosing for a specific period of time or for life. After the trust term ends, the remainder becomes a gift to Georgetown for a purpose you choose. This option can provide your children with a steady source of income for either a specific number of years or their entire lifetime, and can be helpful if they are financially dependent on the IRA assets or if you want to help provide for their financial security. Using an IRA to establish a CRT for your children is a powerful estate planning strategy that can provide your heirs with a tax-efficient income stream, support Georgetown, and ensure your legacy endures for generations.
If you are interested in learning more about how to use an IRA to make a gift to Georgetown, or to request a customized CGA or CRT illustration, please contact the Office of Planned Giving at 800-347-8067 or plannedgiving@georgetown.edu.
Creating Your Legacy is a helpful resource as you begin the estate planning process. Scan the QR code, return the response card, or visit giving.georgetown.edu/planned-giving to request a copy.