TFAS alumni, staff and faculty continue to make headlines. Read news, analysis and updates by visiting this week’s “Quick Links.”
Alessandra Bocchi Selected as 2020 Joseph Rago Memorial Fellowship for Excellence in Journalism
TFAS is pleased to introduce Alessandra Bocchi as the 2020 recipient of the third annual Joseph Rago Memorial Fellowship for Excellence in Journalism.
Born in Italy, Bocchi has worked in North Africa, Hong Kong and across Europe. She has reported on a breadth of issues including Islamist terrorist attacks, the migrant crisis and populist uprisings in Europe, and has also covered foreign policy issues in the United States. Throughout her career, Bocchi has worked for Arab, Italian and American newspapers.
As a Rago Fellow, Bocchi will work with the Opinion section of The Wall Street Journal through a nine-month internship.
The Fellowship is named in honor of Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial writer Joseph Rago, who was a rising star at The Wall Street Journal and a key member of its editorial page team before passing away at the age of 34 in 2017.
“This Fellowship has created and will continue to offer abundant opportunities for those who meet its high standards,” said Paul and Nancy Rago. “Our first two Fellows have succeeded through their talent, hard work and humility – the very same exemplary traits of the Fellowship’s namesake, our son, Joseph Rago.”
To learn more about the Bocchi and Joe’s legacy, please visit TFAS.org/RagoFellow20.
Two-Time Alumna Says Transformative TFAS Programs Instill Global Perspective and Leadership in Students
In the spring semester of 2019, Ebony Tyson ’19, ’20 was on her way to class in her college’s criminal justice department when she spotted a flyer on the bulletin board promoting the Fall 2019 TFAS Capital Semester program. The North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University student was fascinated by global affairs, and decided a semester-long internship in Washington, D.C. would be the perfect place to jump start her career.
She applied and was accepted and later that fall, embarked on 15 weeks in the nation’s capital that would ultimately give her a broader perspective of the world and the desire to experience new cultures around the globe.
A native of Detroit, Tyson has always been passionate about international relations. However, it wasn’t until she took a course on international economic policy with TFAS Academic Director Dr. Anne Bradley that she felt motivated to pursue her master’s degree and a career in the field.
“My economics course at George Mason was amazing,” Tyson said. “The way that Dr. Bradley framed economic concepts was so interesting to me, and it really inspired me to look further into international economic policy as a potential career path.”
Learn how participating in two TFAS programs has shaped Tyson’s future career at TFAS.org/Tyson.
Economics Lesson of The Week: The Fish Activity
As students return back to school, whether online or in the classroom, TFAS continues to provide resources to help teachers and parents continue the important task of educating our nation’s future leaders. This week, we are continuing our series to feature new lessons from our high school programming division – the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE).
This week’s lesson is “The Fish Activity,” a simulation that can be modified to a larger scale or outdoor setting to encourage social distancing. The activity introduces the “free-rider problem” that occurs when resources are owned in common – what economics refers to as “the tragedy of the commons.” In this simulation, students act as fisherman who have conflicting objectives and incentives. Students will explore economic concepts, including how the assignment of property rights eliminates “the tragedy of the commons” problem, and how market approaches can lead to conservation and environmentalism. This lesson teaches how well established property rights increase the value of investments that pay off in the future.
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.
QUICK LINKS
Sienna Kossman ’13 discusses tightening credit standards in the U.S. in a piece for The Balance.
Ryan Lovelace, Novak ’17, reports for The Washington Times on cybersecurity concerns for the upcoming election.
Former TFAS Regent Thomas Morrison released a new book this week titled “Torts R Us,” a legal farce that “captures some of the humor and absurdity in modern litigation.”
Rym Momtaz ’05, ’07, discusses French President Emmanuel Macron’s response to the explosion in Beirut, Lebanon in Politico.
Robby Soave, Novak ’17, discusses cancelled talk at Tulane over concerns about the book “Life of a Klansman” in a piece for Reason.
University of Mississippi student James Hirsch ’20 is featured in the Oxford Eagle for his participation in the Leadership + The American Presidency program track of the 2020 TFAS Virtual Summer.
Arturo Ambriz ’20 shared on LinkedIn about his internship this summer with the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute through the TFAS Virtual Summer.
Farah Shoucair ’04 opines for Middle East Eye on the Beirut explosion.
Veranika Laputska ’11 is interviewed about the political current events in Belarus on the RN Breakfast with Fran Kelly show.
Joy Pullman, Novak ’13, opines for The Federalist on support for reopening schools.
TFAS Professor Richard Benedetto writes for RealClearPolitics on the character of Brent Scowcroft.
Firas Maksad ’01 discusses the future of Lebanon in a piece for The Washington Post.
Naomi Schaefer Riley, Novak ’01, opines for City Journal on shift in charitable institutions embracing radical politics.
TFAS President Roger Ream is mentioned in the Daily Signal for his support of the Philadelphia Statement, an 845-word document that aims to defend free speech in the U.S.
Jennifer Kabbany, Novak ’02, opines for the College Fix on self-censoring practices of college students.
TFAS Grewcock Senior Scholar Don Devine opines for the American Spectator on efforts by parents across the country to have schools reopened.
Robert Bellafiore, PPF ’19, reviews Garrett Jones’ new book titled “10% Less Democracy” in a piece for Law & Liberty.
Joshua Voogd ’19, ’20 and Sarah Stevens ’20 share their experiences participating in remote internships through the TFAS Virtual Summer in a feature in Nextgov.
Valerie Bostwick ’06 is an assistant professor of economics at Kansas State University.
Chris Rohe ’99 has co-founded a new company called GuardianSat to aid in space innovation.
Post of the Week
Sydney Rockwell ’20 announces her participation in the Capital Semester Fall program on Instagram: “I am absolutely blessed to announce that I have been awarded a full scholarship to attend The Fund for American Studies (@tfasorg ) Capital Semester Program on International Affairs and Public Policy! In addition, I have been selected as a Congressional Intern for Representative Tim Burchett(R-TN)(@reptimburchett )!!!! I will also be taking 12 credit hours at George Mason University! I cannot wait to be living and learning in Washington D.C. this semester and working on Capitol Hill!! This new adventure starts very soon… I fly out Friday✈️”
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We hope you enjoyed 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.