Rep. Laura Gillen’s Journey from the Hilltop to the Hill

Photo via Representative Laura Gillen

Matt Buscarino: When Laura Gillen first stepped onto Georgetown University’s campus as a transfer student over 35 years ago, she had no idea that the very streets of Washington, D.C., would one day lead her back as a freshman congresswoman. After a decisive victory in the November 2024 election, she now represents New York’s 4th Congressional District in the 119th Congress, carrying with her the lessons instilled during her time on the Hilltop.

Gillen, who graduated from Georgetown’s College of Arts and Sciences in 1991, has had a career defined by service, leadership and an unwavering commitment to her community. From interning on Capitol Hill to working as a town supervisor on Long Island, she took a circuitous yet determined path to the U.S. House of Representatives. Her story is one of resilience, bipartisanship and a deep-rooted belief in the Jesuit values that shaped her as a student.

“I really wanted to go to Georgetown,” Gillen recalled in a recent interview. “I actually did not get in as a freshman. I went to a different school, and I got a 4.0 so I could definitely get into Georgetown. So I had a little bit of an obstacle in my path, but got there and always appreciated the opportunity I had to study with such brilliant professors and make really wonderful friends.”

As a student, Gillen immersed herself in both academics and service. She participated in the prestigious Baker Scholars Program, which provided her with mentorship from business and public service leaders. Through that program, she volunteered at food pantries and soup kitchens, an experience she describes as “eye-opening” and foundational to her worldview.

“One day, I saw a family with little children in a soup kitchen line, and it really stuck with me. I remember going to work one day and seeing a family with these little strollers, and it was very impactful to me. I still remember it to this day,” she said. That belief carried her to India after graduation, where she worked with Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta in their home for the dying before attending law school. “I always think that, serving others, you’ve got to give, but you get so much more in return,” she said, reflecting on that experience.

After graduating from law school, Gillen did pro bono work helping the victims of domestic violence. In 2017, she became the first Democrat in over a century to be elected town supervisor in Hempstead, New York. In that role, she navigated a deeply partisan environment, a skill she now brings to Washington at a time of historic political polarization.

“The only way I could get things done was by working in a bipartisan fashion," she said. "They did not make it easy for me, but I found ways to bridge the gap, and that’s what I’m intending to do in Congress.”

Gillen believes her Georgetown experience gives her a unique perspective in Congress, particularly in fostering dialogue across party lines. She credits the Jesuit tradition of “cura personalis,” or care for the whole person, as a guiding principle in her approach to governance.

“At Georgetown, I was surrounded by people who were deeply invested in their students—not just academically, but personally. That kind of care and inclusiveness shaped the way I think about leadership,” she said. “It taught me that everyone comes from different backgrounds and perspectives, and you have to listen before you can lead.”

Her advice to current Georgetown students looking to follow a similar path? Take risks and embrace uncertainty.

“Don’t be afraid to take chances,” she said, recounting the winding path she took throughout her career. “Certainly, I’ve taken a very circuitous route to get to Congress...I worked in a dive school, I traveled a lot in my 20s, and so I’d say: take chances, trust your gut instincts and don’t be afraid to  follow a different path than somebody else.”

As she settles into her new role on Capitol Hill, Gillen remains committed to serving her constituents and addressing pressing issues, from infrastructure to mental health. And though she may now walk the halls of Congress, she has never forgotten what it means to be a Hoya.

“I was lucky enough to have the ability to attend Georgetown and have access to really an outstanding education...It offered opportunities you don’t get elsewhere. I had the opportunity to work on Capitol Hill, I had the opportunity to be educated or to have guest lectures from people who are really pulling the levers of power in Washington...all of those things were really instrumental in helping me be a better leader,” she said.

As she begins her first term as a member of the United States House of Representatives, Congresswoman Laura Gillen’s reflections on her education and career illustrate that lessons learned on the Hilltop extend far beyond the classroom—often leading graduates to places they never imagined, yet were always meant to be.

Matthew Buscarino is a staff writer for On the Record from New Jersey. He is a Sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences studying Government and History. Matthew has a particular interest in congressional and presidential politics.