We hope you enjoy these news stories about TFAS activities, alumni and events this week. Sign up to receive TFAS updates, and visit us on social media for additional up-to-the-moment TFAS news!
TFAS Announces New International Program in Guatemala
The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) is delighted to announce a new international program this summer – TFAS Guatemala!
Held from July 16-30, 2022, TFAS Guatemala is a two-week educational leadership program hosted in partnership with Universidad Francisco Marroquín (UFM), one of Latin America’s foremost private universities advancing the ethical, legal and overall economic principles of a society of free and responsible individuals. The first week of the program will take place on UFM’s campus in Guatemala City, and the second week will be in the historic town of Antigua.
TFAS Guatemala will expose bright young leaders from around the world to the political and economic necessities of a free society. We encourage you to nominate a university student or recent graduate who would benefit from participating!
To learn more about the program, please visit TFAS.org/Guatemala22.
How Socialist Policies Destroyed His Home Country of Venezuela
The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) outreach fellow Jorge Galicia joined The Daily Signal podcast on April 6 to discuss the Venezuelan reality and to share how socialism destroyed his country. He shared his own childhood experience and how he noticed his life change as he grew up.
“I believe that what’s going on in Venezuela is the most pure version of socialism we have,” he said. “I don’t think we have seen a better example of socialism than the one we saw in Venezuela.”
He shared the political and economic choices the ruling party made and how those transformed the once-wealthy Venezuela into what it is today. The infringement of rights inspired Galicia to become a political activist, through which he fought for his country’s freedom in spite of the danger he faced.
Now Galicia works with TFAS as an outreach fellow. He travels to universities around the U.S. to speak to students about the realities of socialism.
“I’ve been traveling to college campuses to give a historical review and to give an answer to that question of how Venezuela became what it is today,” he explained. “How did we go from being one of the richest places on earth, basically, to one of the poorest nowadays?”
This is the question that must be studied and answered to prevent it happening in other countries, especially the U.S., as we see a greater inclination towards socialist policies.
Listen to the full interview at The Daily Signal.
Post of the Week
TFAS founder Charles Edison, former governor of New Jersey, secretary of the Navy and son of inventor Thomas Alva Edison, knew the solution to the world’s problems lies in those with courage. That’s why #TFAS is committed to building up courageous leaders who are ready, able and willing to face our present challenges with courage and a commitment to a free society.
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QUICK LINKS
Krista Viksnins ’15 is interviewed by Christian Bryant on “In the Loop” about the Baltic states’ support of Ukraine.
Amb. Krzysztof Szczerski ’96 is interviewed on ABC about Poland’s role in aiding Ukrainian refugees.
TFAS Trustee Emeritus Mitch Daniels pens an article for The Wall Street Journal on his proposed response to Ukrainian refugees.
Jillian Kay Melchior, Novak ’11, explains that civil society is Ukraine’s secret weapon in an article for The Wall Street Journal.
Paula Dobriansky, TFAS trustee, coauthors an article in The Washington Times arguing that Ukraine needs to govern the terms of peace to end the war.
Giorgi Lomsadze ’08 reports for Eurasianet on a school that has opened in Georgia for Ukrainian children fleeing the war.
Daniel McAdams, Novak ’98, opines for Eurasia Review on libertarianism, neoconservatism, and their role in Ukraine.
Frederico Bartels, PPF ’18, describes how President Biden’s defense budget fails to align with economic realities in an article for RealClearDefense. He served as an expert panelist at a discussion of the FY 2023 presidential defense budget request hosted by CNAS.
Elise Amez-Droz, PPF ’19, opines for National Review on the positive aspects of the lack of specific healthcare reforms in President Biden’s budget.
James Freeman highlights the courageous work of Carine Hajjar, Rago ’22, in a Wall Street Journal article, saying that, “it’s encouraging to read the words of this year’s Joseph Rago Memorial Fellow for Excellence in Journalism.” Hajjar has a new piece in National Review on the Iran Deal.
Cornell Teague ’99, ’01 has been promoted to principal at The Alpine Group.
Kyle Hybl ’91, ’93 is honored by the Board of Regents of the University of Colorado Law School.
Stephanie Slade, Novak ’16, has joined the Acton Institute as a fellow in liberal studies.
Two TFAS alumni are now part of the team at Speech First. Mary Ellen Beatty ’05, PPF ’08, serves as the director of operations, and Josh Holdenreid, PPF ’18, and Law Fellows board member, serves on the board of directors.
Ximena Bustillo ’19 is advising on a new project, “Voces Internship of Idaho,” to help more Latino students and journalists earn media internship opportunities.
Matthew Continetti, Novak ’08, writes an article for The Wall Street Journal on the history of the American Right, the same topic as his forthcoming book, entitled “The Right: The Hundred Year War for American Conservatism.”
Claudia Teran ’93 left her two-decade career at Fox Corp. for a new position as the vice president, deputy general counsel and global head of commercial at Snap.
Lucy Westcott ’12 was named emergencies director of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). CPJ featured her work helping Afghan journalists escape Kabul.
Jameson O’Connor ’17 is now an assistant district attorney in Johnson County, Kansas.
Mike Kelly ’07 is running to serve on the Johnson County Commission in Kansas. He was recently re-elected to serve as Mayor of Roeland Park.