We hope you enjoy these top news stories about TFAS activities, alumni and events this week. Please visit us on social media for additional up-to-the-moment TFAS news and information and sign up to receive weekly updates.
TFAS alumni, staff and faculty continue to make headlines. Read news, analysis and updates by visiting this week’s “Quick Links.”
TFAS Welcomes Sean Redmond to Board of Regents
The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) is delighted to announce the recent election of Sean Redmond to its Board of Regents. With 15 years of volunteer service to TFAS, Redmond makes an excellent addition as one of the impressive individuals who support TFAS’s mission and programs as TFAS Regents.
Redmond originally became involved with TFAS in 2006. At the time, he was working at the Department of Labor with Karen Czarnecki ’88, who convinced him to mentor TFAS students participating in the Washington, D.C. summer programs.
Redmond is excited about continuing to support TFAS in its mission of developing honorable leaders and feels his new position as Regent will better enable him to do this.
“This year marks my 15 year anniversary being involved with TFAS, so I am especially pleased to serve in this new role and honored to be asked,” Redmond said. “I look forward to helping any way I can because TFAS’s mission is not only vital, but perhaps more important now than when it was founded.”
Read more about Redmond’s career and how he gives back to TFAS at TFAS.org/Redmond.
What to Read Now: New Books by TFAS Scholars and Alumni
The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) scholars and alumni have devoted themselves to speaking up about the ideas we hold in high regard – liberty, limited government, free markets, and honorable leadership. Now they have taken their work to the next level by publishing books that explore these themes. This year, TFAS scholars, Regents and alumni like Helen Andrews, Novak ’17, will publish new books.
On January 12, Andrews released the provocative book “Boomers: The Men and Women Who Promised Freedom and Delivered Disaster.” The result of her Novak Fellowship project, “Boomers” seeks to answer the question, “Is the hatred of the Boomer generation justified?” Andrews follows the lives of six prominent Boomers: Steve Jobs, Aaron Sorkin, Camille Paglia, Jeffrey Sachs, Al Sharpton, and Sonya Sotomayor, profiling their successes, challenges, and ultimate failures to accomplish what they set out to achieve.
TFAS Journalism Fellowships Director Dan McCarthy witnessed this book come to fruition as Andrews carved out the piece during her Fellowship.
“The rave reviews that have greeted ‘Boomers’ are richly deserved,” he said. “It’s her first book, and it’s a showcase of what a brilliant journalist can do with the support of a Novak Fellowship from The Fund for American Studies. We’re proud to have made this work possible, and I’m personally thrilled to have had a chance to read the work while it was in progress as Helen’s fellowship project. These are the results we live for.”
Visit TFAS.org/BookStars21 to learn more about Andrews’ book and read about new projects from Tom Sileo, Novak ’10, Kenneth Rosen, Novak ’18, Grace Olmstead, Novak ’15, Clint Bolick ’78, and TFAS Grewcock Senior Scholar Dr. Donald Devine.
Applications Open for TFAS International Summer Programs
TFAS invites all supporters, faculty members and advisors from universities, as well as TFAS internship supervisors, mentors and alumni to nominate outstanding students to participate in TFAS International programs in Santiago, Singapore and Prague.
Alumni and supporters of TFAS programs are the best resources for future leaders to hear about the life-changing impact of our programs. We encourage all alumni to share your TFAS experience through social media, email or over video meetings.
Summer 2021:
TFAS Santiago
In partnership with Universidad de Los Andes (UANDES), TFAS Santiago offers a unique opportunity for students to learn about the political and economic necessities of a free society while exploring the vibrant metropolis of Santiago, Chile.
TFAS Prague
TFAS Prague brings young leaders from North America, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia to explore fundamental issues related to political philosophy, political economy, and conflict management.
TFAS Asia
Outstanding young leaders from more than fifteen countries across Asia and the United States will convene in Singapore for TFAS Asia. In addition to formal classes and Socratic seminars held at the National University of Singapore (NUS), the program includes guest lectures, cultural events, and tours of local institutions that will highlight Singapore’s unique culture and history.
European Journalism Institute (EJI)
EJI is a week-long journalism training program held in Prague that brings together approximately 25 early to mid-career journalists and upper-level journalism students from around the world. Participants engage with industry professionals to expand their understanding of religion in public life, explore fundamental issues related to journalism ethics, and boost reporting skills through lectures and workshops.
Economics Lesson of The Week: When Disaster Strikes, What Can Government Do?
TFAS provides resources to help teachers and parents continue the important task of educating our nation’s future leaders. Our “Economics Lesson of The Week” series features new lessons from our high school programming division – the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE) – each week.
This week’s lesson is “When Disaster Strikes, What Can Government Do?” In this lesson, students will explore historical examples of disasters. They will then determine how governments should respond, and how government should not respond in the event of a disaster. Through a series of case studies, students will observe that big institutions are not always best suited for dealing with natural disasters. If we expect governments to perform functions for which they do not have the necessary knowledge, incentives, and mechanisms, we not only invite disappointment, but risk undermining their ability to perform the vital tasks for which they were created: restoring civil order, maintaining the rule of law, and providing those few public goods necessary for other economic and social institutions to operate.
TFAS offers a plethora of online lesson plans, readings, handouts, video demonstrations, and hands-on activity guides to teach the “economic way of thinking” in engaging and relatable ways.
Visit TFAS.org/FTELessons for a one-stop guide to our available resources.
Post of the Week
TFAS alumna Alexandra Hudson, Novak ’19, joined TFAS Professor Richard Boyd to discuss reinvigorating civic life in America in a virtual TFAS alumni panel. Learn more about the event at TFAS.org/NovPanel.
What a wonderful evening this was discussing the ways and means of recovering civility in our world today.
Read the highlights here. https://t.co/mGwuHpQgrp
— Alexandra Hudson (@LexiOHudson) January 26, 2021
QUICK LINKS
TFAS Grewcock Senior Scholar Dr. Donald Devine joined The Dan Proft Show to discuss his new book, “The Enduring Tension: Capitalism and the Moral Order.”
Tom Sileo, Novak ’10, and his co-author Beau Wise join C-SPAN to discuss their new book, “Three Wise Men.”
Elise Amez-Droz, PPF ’19, has a new essay in Discourse Magazine on how government labels of “essential” and “nonessential” dehumanize the American worker.
Kristin Tate, Novak ’19, discusses the ways COVID-19 has impacted our lives in the last year in a piece for The Hill.
Laura Vanderkam ’99, Novak ’06, shares six strategies for parents dealing with distractions while working from home in a piece for The Washington Post.
The Leadership Institute will be hosting a virtual “Wednesday Wake-Up Club Breakfast” with TFAS Grewcock Senior Scholar Dr. Donald Devine on Wednesday, February 3.
Marissa Brand, PPF ’19, is starting a new role as director of Push Digital’s newly launched strategy agency, Laurens Group. Fellow TFAS alumna Christiana Purves ’12 joins as vice president of Laurens Group.
Marie Kloor ’08 has co-founded Hydra Studios, a new personalized “post-pandemic” fitness concept.
TFAS professor Chris Coyne shares how political peace can begin with everyday interactions between individuals in a piece for The Hill.
Anna (Ebers) Broughel ’07, PPF ’17, is an adjunct professor of energy economics at The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
Ian Corbin, Novak ’13, discusses how technology has helped people avoid civic engagement in a piece for The Washington Post.
Curt Mills, Novak ’18, discusses potential challenges President Biden may face in encouraging bipartisanship and unity in a piece for The American Conservative.
Illinois state senator Dan McConchie ’93, ’95 was interviewed by Illinois Public Media’s 21st Show.
Philip Cave ’17 is pursuing a master’s degree in international relations at the Institute of World Politics, where he received the Great Statesman Scholarship for 2021.
Will Weatherford ’02 has been appointed to the University of South Florida Board of Trustees.
TFAS Trustee Peter McPherson shares how the Biden administration can help strengthen public research universities in the first 100 days of the presidency in a piece for Forbes.
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