Vice President for Interdisciplinary Initiatives

Dr. Kathleen Maguire-Zeiss

Dr. Maguire-Zeiss teaches neuroscience across medical, graduate and undergraduate programs, with a primary appointment in the Department of Neuroscience at the School of Medicine and a joint role in the Department of Biology at the College of Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying age-related neurodegenerative diseases, with particular interest in how the brain’s innate immune system responds to abnormal proteins in conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. Her work aims to advance understanding of disease progression and identify new therapeutic targets.

In addition to her research, Dr. Maguire-Zeiss is committed to shaping the intellectual and professional formation of the next generation of neuroscientists, serving as the founding director of the MS in Integrative Neuroscience program and director of the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience (IPN), a program that spans academics across both campuses. She is the principal investigator on an NIH training grant for PhD students. Her tireless dedication to the Georgetown community as chair of the Department of Neuroscience and service on several search committees, participation in the Ignatian Colleagues Program, the Collegium and the University Examen committee reflect a deep commitment to the Jesuit values of cura personalis and service to the greater good, ensuring that our community grows in both excellence and mission. In recognition of her work at Georgetown, Dr. Maguire-Zeiss received the Karen Gale Achievement Award from the Georgetown Women in Medicine and the President’s Distinguished Scholar-Teacher Award in 2024.