WASHINGTON, D.C. — Indiana University has officially established a permanent home in the heart of the nation’s capital.
On June 3, 2026, university officials, students, and lawmakers gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the IU Capital Campus, an eight-story facility designed to serve as a central hub for student internships, academic research, and policy engagement.
Located at 1619 Massachusetts Ave. NW—a high-profile neighborhood home to numerous embassies and global institutions—the new campus centralizes IU’s existing Washington-based programs. The building features modern classrooms, collaborative meeting spaces, administrative offices, and on-site student housing.
The primary mission of the Capital Campus is to lower barriers for students seeking real-world experience in government, corporate, and nonprofit sectors. By providing a permanent residence and academic facility, IU aims to give students an immersive launchpad for their careers.
“By bringing our students, faculty, and alumni closer to the institutions and conversations shaping our world, we are opening doors to life-changing experiences,” said Indiana University President Pamela Whitten. “Through the Capital Campus, our students will gain the real-world experience they need to lead in Indiana and beyond.”
The campus will also act as a megaphone for the university’s research, making it easier for IU faculty to share data and insights directly with federal policymakers and industry leaders.
Several foundational IU programs are already utilizing the new space, with more scheduled to arrive later this year:
| Program | Department / School | Focus & Timing |
| Global Policy Program | Hamilton Lugar School | Summer work and learning experience in the capital. |
| Regionals Summer D.C. Program | IU Regional Campuses | A weeklong study trip exploring civic identity and history. |
| Washington Leadership Program | O’Neill School of Public & Environmental Affairs | A historic, 40-year-old program welcoming a new cohort this fall. |
| IU Internship in Politics, Opportunity, Leadership, Social Entrepreneurship | College of Arts & Sciences (Political Science) | Immersive fall internships centered on political leadership. |
To manage this growth, IU appointed Don DeMaria as the campus’s inaugural executive director. DeMaria is tasked with scaling academic programming and building deep mentoring networks with Washington’s massive base of IU alumni.
The expansion has drawn widespread praise from both sides of the aisle, particularly from Indiana lawmakers who call the university their alma mater.
U.S. Senator Todd Young noted the campus will “further position IU as a national and global leader in education.”
U.S. Senator Jim Banks expressed pride in his alma mater, stating the facility “will give more Hoosiers a chance to get involved and take advantage of the opportunities” in D.C.
U.S. Representatives Rudy Yakym, Erin Houchin, and Jefferson Shreve—all IU alumni—echoed that the campus provides a critical, direct pathway for the next generation of Indiana leaders to learn how federal policy is shaped firsthand.
