Georgetown University has announced a $10.5 million gift from an alumna and her husband who wish to remain anonymous in support of the university’s Technology & Society Initiative, the Ethics Lab, and an endowed scholarship.

The gift includes $5 million to establish a Technology, Ethics, & Society Chair in the College of Arts & Sciences to advance the Technology & Society initiative by leading collaboration among university scholars and to spearhead efforts to recruit new faculty talent. In addition, $500,000 will fund efforts of the Ethics Lab — a team of applied ethicists using design mindsets, as well as a physical ideation space in Healy Hall — to create programming and undergraduate courses focused on Technology, Ethics, & Society, including five courses that will count toward an undergraduate major (Computer Science, Ethics, & Society) and a future interdisciplinary minor (Tech, Ethics, and Society). The remaining $5 million is dedicated to an endowed scholarship fund.

“Ethics has always had a place at the university. Georgetown has always worked for the common good and social justice is part of its Ignatian mission,” said the alumna. “Georgetown has the roots to do this.”

“I am deeply grateful to this family for their generosity, which will enable us to deepen the context for our students and our faculty to be at the forefront of conversations on technology and ethics,” said Georgetown University president John J. DeGioia. “Their contribution will allow us to build on the strength of our Tech & Society Initiative and will have a lasting impact as we explore the role that technology can serve in advancing the common good.”