New home for the University of Utah’s Washington D.C.-based interns will continue location’s legacy as a convening space to advance education

WASHINGTON, DC (June 11, 2021) — Mathematical Association of America’s (MAA) headquarters has been located in the beautiful buildings at 1527 and 1529 18th St NW for over 40 years. It is a five-story classic revival brick building with a rich history in Washington, D.C. and it has a new owner. The University of Utah has purchased both buildings and the Carriage House from the Mathematical Association of America (MAA)—the houses’ owner since 1978. For over four decades, the building served as MAA headquarters for staff, members, and the broader mathematical science community. Over the years, the building served as the convening space for not only MAA leadership but also the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics and Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences. The halls of the building echo with the voices of past leaders whose foresight, planning, and decision-making helped to shape the mathematical sciences we know today.

“We are delighted that the University of Utah will be able to make use of this majestic building,” said Michael Pearson, executive director of the Mathematical Association of America.

The University of Utah will use the location as a living and gathering place for students of the Hinckley Institute of Politics, which runs one of the nation’s most enduring and prestigious Washington, D.C. internship programs. This will be in keeping with the building’s recent history as a space to advance education.

“This purchase represents a tremendous step forward in the history of the university and the Hinckley Institute of Politics,” said Jason Perry, vice president for government relations and institute director. “A permanent residence in Washington, D.C. puts the U in good company with peer schools from the Association of American Universities. Our vision is that this new addition becomes a treasured home for University of Utah interns, faculty, and alumni living in or visiting the Washington, D.C. area.”

Perry says the $13 million purchase was made possible through the generosity of private donors and favorable terms from the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). “We are especially grateful to our colleagues at the Mathematical Association of America for making this purchase possible. We look forward to continuing the association’s legacy in using this historic landmark as a convening space for conversation on important issues of the day.”

This building means a great deal to the members of our organization and has served us well over the past 40 years. We are pleased to see that tradition continue.

Michael Pearson, executive director of the Mathematical Association of America

In the last few years, the MAA’s business model has progressed to keep pace with technological advances, industry trends, and evolving community needs. Relocating to a new, more modern facility, will better suit the organization’s growth and serve the mathematical community while also spurring the kinds of collaboration and teamwork that will advance the organization’s mission. The new MAA headquarters will be located in the same neighborhood and will be announced at a later date.

For more information on MAA and MAA’s history.

Providing affordable housing for students

Since 1965, Hinckley’s national program provides more than 100 students annually with full-time, paid internships in a variety of government institutions, public advocacy groups and consulting firms. As the program has grown, the list of host offices has diversified, and Hinckley is now able to pair students from nearly all majors with an internship related to their field.

Housing has consistently been a major challenge. Each semester, an already competitive pool of interns has been narrowed as dictated by available housing. Acquiring the property will allow the Hinckley Institute’s national internship program to house up to 50 interns per semester and provide access for university leadership and staff, said Perry.

Located steps from Dupont Circle, Embassy Row, Think Tank Row, and nine blocks from the White House; 1529 18th Street NW is perfectly situated for student interns. The historic building consists of two large, interconnected brownstones and a separate stand-alone carriage house to serve as a conference and event space.

As the Washington, D.C. Hinckley Internship Program turns 55 this year, this milestone purchase is fitting as it marks over half a century of internships, lasting professional networks established, career trajectories honed, lifelong friendships made, and student lives transformed. In addition, it allows the U to join many of its peer institutions in the Association of American Universities in establishing a permanent residence in D.C. such as Michigan State, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, Carnegie Mellon, and the University of California system.

About the Mathematical Association of America

The Mathematical Association of America is the world’s largest community of mathematicians, students, and enthusiasts. We accelerate the understanding of our world through mathematics because mathematics drives society and shapes our lives. Learn more at maa.org.

About the University of Utah

The University of Utah is the state’s flagship institution of higher education, with 18 schools and colleges, more than 100 undergraduate and 90 graduate degree programs, and an enrollment of more than 32,000 students. In 2019, the university was selected as a new member of the Association of American Universities—an invitation-only, prestigious group of 65 leading research institutions marked by excellence in academic expertise and research impact, student success, and securing resources in support of core missions. The U strives to be a model public university in delivering unmatched value in higher education and health care while making social, economic, and cultural contributions that improve the quality of life throughout the state, the nation, and the world. The U's reputation for excellence draws top-tier faculty and attracts motivated students from across the country and internationally. These students bring with them diverse experiences and outlooks—representing traditional and nontraditional students alike—thereby enhancing the exceptional educational experience the U offers.