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!
Mitch Daniels on Campus Free Speech and Leadership at Purdue
In this week’s episode of the Liberty and Leadership Podcast, TFAS President Roger Ream ’76 and Governor Mitch Daniels take a deep dive into the issues addressed and the lessons learned during his landmark 12 years as president of Purdue University. He talks about how Purdue was able to increase enrollment by 30 percent while tuition remained flat, why he believes student loan forgiveness will end up being disastrous, how the adoption of the Chicago Principles allowed Purdue to promote free speech on campus, and the balance of educating Purdue students in both STEM and citizenship. He also gives advice to current students about how they should remain flexible – as they’ll never know what opportunities life may present.
Capital Semester Students Explore D.C. and Hear from Leading Alumni
The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) kicked off its Spring 2023 Capital Semester last month with a new cohort of driven college students from the United States and Poland. Students have already heard from a variety of alumni working at top organizations in Washington, D.C., including Chase Forrester ’16, with America First Policy Institute, Josh Sorbe ’18, with the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and Abby Nugent ’16, with the American Enterprise Institute.
Students are spending the semester expanding their knowledge on international affairs and public policy while earning up to 12 credit hours of intensive academic courses through George Mason University.
Read more about the class and what’s in store for the semester here.
Alumni Find Forever Love at TFAS
The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) Alumni Network helps alumni build lasting relationships that develop successful networks and careers around the world, but for some, things turn out to be more serious. While managing the TFAS Business + Government Relations program track in 2017, Joel Troutman ’13 met his future wife, Sarah Markley Troutman ’16, who returned to TFAS as a program advisor.
They spent the summer getting to know each other as colleagues and friends, but went their separate ways once the summer ended and Sarah relocated to Ireland to complete her master’s degree. It wasn’t until 2020 when they reconnected at the TFAS Founders’ Day Celebration that their friendship quickly blossomed into a relationship.
Read more about Sarah and Joel’s happily ever after here.
TFAS Social
Javi O’Ryan ’23, a martial artist and five-time world champion in taekwondo, was among the 51 participants from 17 countries who gathered in Santiago, Chile, to study economics, political theory, and the foundation for the rule of law and institutional governance at TFAS Santiago last month.
Javi posted a recap video from the program, in which she shares her experience with TFAS International and shows off her marital art skills.
View this post on Instagram
TFAS Faculty, Alumni, Supporters in the News
Kat Timpf, Novak ’12, will publish her first book “You Can’t Joke About That” on April 18th, 2023.
Charlie Sulek, Law ’11, was elected as a judge of the Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals.
Jared Mullendore, Law ’11, is policy counsel and director, government affairs for the Renewable Fuels Association.
Matthew Continetti, Novak ’08, wrote an article for Free Beacon about how republicans can avoid the mistakes of the 2022 elections by focusing on an agenda that matters to most Americans.
Cami Mondeaux ’20 is starting a new position this month as politics reporter at the Washington Examiner.
Christina Banoub ’11 started a new position as manager of competition, labor, and tax issues for the National Pork Producers Council.
Faysal Itani ’03, ’06 wrote an article about the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri for New Lines Magazine.
Alexandra Seymour, PPF ’18, was interviewed by the BBC on The World Tonight about Starlink’s role in the Ukraine conflict and Elon Musk’s recent comments about access restrictions.
Krista Viksnins ’15 wrote a piece about Russia’s war against Ukraine for UpNorth.
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