Title: Justin McCartney (SFS’19) Takes on Politics, Sustainability, and Podcasting

Championing Environmental Justice

McCartney is majoring in Culture and Politics (CULP), where the interdisciplinary focus and emphasis on the intersection of power, knowledge, and culture has allowed him to focus on an issue he’s championed while at Georgetown: environmental justice. After taking AP Environmental Science in high school, he was intrigued by the intersection of politics, science, innovation, and society. During his first year at Georgetown, McCartney traveled to Nairobi, Kenya for a weeklong UN Environmental Programme conference with a group of Georgetown students and faculty. On campus, McCartney got involved with the Georgetown University Student Association’s Sustainability Policy Team where he worked with University administrators on Georgetown’s bold new clean energy plans. He also took on the task of reinvigorating a student sustainability network, the Georgetown Environmental Leaders (GEL). McCartney wants Georgetown students to know that anyone can get involved in sustainability. “You can be a policy wonk who focuses on environmental policy, a consultant for clean energy, a lawyer in environmental law, an entrepreneur in renewable technology. It’s such an important topic that really demands we integrate sustainable thinking into every part of our life.”

The flexibility that the CULP major provides allowed him to take a range of courses with a wide variety of subjects. Classes at Georgetown, he says, provide a behind-the-scenes perspective unique to Washington, D.C.

“I’ve taken environmental law courses with a professor who held office hours at her law practice and national security courses with a professor who was on a first name basis with Jim Comey and Bob Mueller.”

Politics, Donuts, and 5:00 AM Lines

When he began his first year at Georgetown, McCartney never pictured himself getting involved in politics. But, he concedes, “It’s pretty hard not to get intrigued by politics when you can see the Washington Monument from the window of your freshman dorm.” Memories from his first year in the midst of the 2016 election include primary debate watch parties with his dorm and getting up at 5 am to be the first in line when presidential candidate Bernie Sanders came to speak. “To say I was excited would be an understatement; but what really resonated with me was how cool it was that I went to a place like Georgetown that could attract literal superstars (or, at least political superstars) to come and speak. It was the first time that I really recognized how special it was to be here on the Hilltop.”

McCartney spent two summers interning on political campaigns, worked for a semester on the Hill, and has become deeply involved with political activism on campus. As he nears graduation, he’s certain that his political engagement will continue. But he wasn’t always certain — it took a special moment with Barack Obama to get him there.

During the summer and fall leading up to the 2018 midterm election, McCartney worked on Jennifer Wexton’s Congressional campaign to represent the 10th district of Virginia. The day before Election Day, former President Barack Obama came to the campaign headquarters to get staffers and volunteers excited about getting people to the polls. McCartney says the president’s visit was a turning point for him.

“Throughout the summer, I had done a lot of thinking and stressing about whether or not it was really what I wanted to do with my life. It wasn’t until that morning, sitting on the ground five feet away from the former President of the United States (who was holding a box of donuts…) and listening to him tell the young crowd about how we reminded him of his younger self and the importance of hitching your wagon to something bigger than yourself, did I really recognize that I was doing the work I was passionate about. It’s a moment that I’ll never forget.”

Model UN: From Delegate to Director

In February 2012, then-high schooler Justin McCartney was one of the over 3,200 delegates at the 49th conference of the North American Invitational Model United Nations (NAIMUN), which is hosted annually by the Georgetown International Relations Club (IRC). While participating, he learned about topics ranging from security in the Middle East to development and climate change. “Because of Model UN,” McCartney says, “I knew that I wanted to study the wide world of international affairs. And I knew that Georgetown was the best place to do it.”

After arriving at Georgetown, Justin’s involvement with the IRC continued. He served various leadership roles for the NAIMUN conference in 2017 and 2018, and says it’s one of the most impactful things he’s been involved with while at Georgetown. “Not only has it allowed me to grow exponentially in skills in time-management, personal leadership, and professional development, but it also has become a home for me on the Hilltop.”

Despite all of the late nights, and running between class and meetings, McCartney says it was all worth it. “I am so grateful for all of the ways that I’ve grown and benefited from being a part of these organizations; but I think that the most important takeaway I’ve had is how good it feels to have a home here at Georgetown.”

Looking Ahead

Following graduation, McCartney is looking forward to working in politics. He says he is not only drawn to the field because of the excitement, but because of a desire to do something for the common good.

“I believe that I have a role to play in lending my skills and talents to the world of public service. It is a career that I hope will allow me to have an impact on my community around me and feel that I am contributing to something larger than myself.”