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Scholars in the Arts
"I am fascinated by the breadth of Art History and by how painting teaches a culture about itself."
J. Patrick Hornbeck, II
"More than anything else, I value the opportunity to put knowledge to work in the service of a more just, more humane world."
- Alumni of: 2003 Graduate Scholarship Program
- Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
- Four-year College or University: Georgetown University
- Graduate School: University of Oxford
Biography
While J.P. Hornbeck has built an impressive academic record, he states that "the pursuit of knowledge should never be undertaken entirely for its own sake." Instead, he says, "Knowledge in the service of others can transform the world."
One example: Two years ago, J.P.'s conversation with a friend about Georgetown's identity as the nation's oldest Jesuit and Catholic institution of higher education led to their decision to attempt to resurrect a long-dormant tradition, Jesuit Heritage Week. In spite of a cool initial reception, they built support and a program that succeeded in attracting 2,000 students to the six-day event. The theme of Jesuit Heritage Week this year will be social justice, reflecting J.P.'s commitment to social justice and to the disadvantaged.
Among J.P.'s achievements as an activist and student leader was the establishment of a university-wide council of student leaders representing the Baha'i, Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Orthodox, and Protestant faith communities; serving as the press secretary in a state race for attorney general; serving as the marketing director for the Oxford University Dramatic Society's New Writing Festival; and playing a critical role in the university's Middle States accreditation process.
As a visiting student at Oxford, J.P. studied with three scholars of international stature. J.P. posted a GPA of 75, the highest awarded. He was awarded the College Collections Prize (best term exam paper), a first for a visiting student. Two of his papers have been accepted to be read at scholarly conferences, including one where undergraduate papers are almost never accepted.
J.P. hopes his doctoral studies will prepare him to assume leadership roles in academia and in the public sphere (where he can work "to convince the world that education is a tool for social justice"), and that his interdisciplinary approach to scholarship will help to interest future students not only in his field, but also in the entire spectrum of academic enquiry.
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