Janet Pfister

Executive Assistant and Office Manager, Office of the President
Time at Georgetown: 6 years

What drew you to the job?
The company that I had been with had a lay off, and I was looking for a new position. Someone in my church told me about this one and it seemed like a good fit.

What’s something unexpected that you see in this spot on campus?
We get some unusual telephone calls. It’s really a pleasure to be out here and talk to everyone who walks past the president’s office. There are some very interesting people who come to visit us, plus the people who come to speak on campus. Just being a part of the Jesuit community is a special joy.

Is there anyone in particular who brightens the workday?
Well, Dr. DeGioia always. There are so many people I would be reluctant to pick out just one. Everybody has a special gift.

Do you have a favorite memory here?
I think some of the individuals who I have met here. Fr. Schall is one very special memory. I certainly was inspired by him and by many people in the Jesuit community.

Any stories about Fr. Schall?
The thing that really impressed me about him was his health deteriorated quite a bit in recent years. He was a very physically frail person when he retired. But, when I would see him walking across campus with maybe a half a dozen students around him, he’d be totally engaged in conversation with them, and his voice didn’t reflect his frail physical presence. The students were obviously enjoying their time with him and I found that inspiring.

Do you have a favorite place on campus?
Well, I’m on the Jack crew — well, the old Jack crew. Visiting Jack in Wolfington Hall is such a wonderful time. But Healy is such a wonderful place. I feel like I’m sitting in church every day. And Dahlgren is very beautiful, and the Copley Crypt is very special. It’s a beautiful campus and I love being here, and the students are so special because they’re such a vibrant part of life here. In the summer it’s kind of dull when they’re gone, so it’s exciting when they come back in the fall.

How would you describe Georgetown who knows nothing about the school?
It’s a very caring community, from Dr. DeGioia on down. Cura personalis is something they really try to live here — to take care of the whole person — and I see that in so many individuals around campus. It’s just such a joy to be part of this community. It’s very different from the business world. It’s been a very special privilege for me to be in this position. 

Interview by Danny Funt