The Georgetown University Annual Institute on Sacred Scripture was founded in 1964 by the Reverend Joseph A. Fitzmyer, S.J. to provide priests, religious, and laity with the latest information in critical biblical scholarship. The first Institute was a part of the Sesquicentennial Celebration of the foundation of Georgetown University and registration was open to priests only. The Institute was such a success that Fr. Fitzmyer was asked to offer it again in the following year, and also to open the registration to non-priests. Father Fitzmyer served as director of the Institute until 1989, when he was succeeded by the Reverend John R. Donahue, S.J. In June, 2000 Alan C Mitchell, Associate Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at Georgetown University, succeeded Fr. Donahue as director. The Institute continues to commit itself to the goal of offering its participants a quality education in critical biblical scholarship.