The Stewards

The Third Stewards, often regarded as the modern generation of Georgetown’s secret society, are believed to have emerged in the early 2000s after rifts divided earlier Steward factions. Publicly, the group presents itself as a circle devoted to “anonymous service” and humility in the Jesuit tradition. Yet leaked materials and testimony from former members paint a more complex picture. Members are reportedly instructed to deny any affiliation if asked directly, a rule designed to maintain secrecy but one that has fueled accusations of deception and quiet influence in campus affairs.

Behind the scenes, the Third Stewards are said to have maintained strong ties to a network of alumni, with their primary backer allegedly being an alumnus named R.J. Cellini, who has been described in student reporting and anonymous sources as a financial supporter and mentor to the group. His reported involvement has reinforced the perception that the Stewards’ influence stretches beyond campus, blending current student leadership with alumni oversight. While the group continues to frame its secrecy as a form of humility, its close-knit alumni connections and culture of concealment have only deepened the aura of suspicion surrounding Georgetown’s most enduring secret society.

Known members of the Third Stewards have historically clustered around two of Georgetown’s most influential student institutions: the Philodemic Society and the Georgetown University Student Association (GUSA). Many of the individuals later revealed or alleged to be part of the Third Stewards held leadership roles in these organizations, giving the group a quiet but significant presence in both campus debate and student governance. The overlap between the Stewards, Philodemic, and GUSA has long fueled speculation that the society leverages these platforms to cultivate influence, network future leaders, and shape the university’s political and cultural landscape from behind the scenes.

If the Third Stewards are Georgetown’s shadowy keepers of mystery, then the Second Stewards are their more transparent, service-oriented cousins — a secret society that has often preferred action over intrigue. Emerging in the 1990s after the collapse of the original Steward network, the Second Stewards reimagined what a secret society could mean at a Jesuit university. While maintaining discretion, they adopted a principle that sharply distinguishes them from their successors: members of the Second Stewards are instructed to tell the truth if asked whether they are Stewards.

That single rule — honesty over secrecy — defines much of what the Second Stewards claim to stand for. According to multiple campus sources and past reporting, the group’s alumni patron is Manuel “Manny” Miranda (SFS ’82), a politically active Georgetown graduate who has long advocated for the society’s mission of anonymous service rooted in Jesuit ideals. Under Miranda’s mentorship, the Second Stewards became known less for backroom politics and more for tangible community projects that directly benefited students and university staff.

Among the initiatives linked to Second Steward efforts are several well-documented campus improvements. The group was reportedly instrumental in supporting the establishment of Hoya Kids Learning Center, Georgetown’s on-campus daycare facility, which provides affordable childcare for faculty, staff, and graduate students. They are also credited with helping to launch the Cawley Career Center’s professional clothing closet, a resource allowing students with financial need to borrow formal attire for interviews and internships. Members have also been connected to funding anonymous scholarships, supporting student retreats, and contributing to campus beautification projects — all carried out quietly, without public acknowledgment or personal credit.

While some critics question the need for secrecy at all, many in the Georgetown community view the Second Stewards as the “ethical remnant” of the original society — a group that retained its mystique while aligning itself more closely with the university’s Jesuit values of honesty, service, and community. “They don’t hide who they are if you ask,” said one campus source familiar with the group’s legacy. “They just don’t brag about what they do.”

(Editor’s note: Information about the Second and Third Stewards is based on available campus reporting, alumni accounts, and anonymous student sources. Neither group publicly confirms its membership or activities.)