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 Supporters Raise Scholarship Funds for Ukrainian Students
The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) is dedicated to providing transformative programs worldwide for young leaders committed to the values of a democratic free society. Russia’s invasion poses an ongoing threat to Ukraine’s freedom, yet we see those facing down a war stand up and fight for the ability to live freely. They remind the world that the desire for freedom remains strong, and education is needed to reinforce that.
Because of this, gracious TFAS alumni and supporters have raised scholarship funds for Ukrainian students to attend a summer program. Through these programs, students will have the opportunity to learn the principles of courageous leadership, the importance of economic freedom, and to bring the ideas of liberty to life.
With the support of our donors, eight Ukrainian students received scholarships to attend TFAS programs this summer. More than 125 alumni and supporters banded together to raise more than $55,000 thus far, ensuring that future Ukrainian students can benefit from TFAS programs as well.
TFAS President Roger Ream ’76 expressed gratitude on behalf of TFAS for the selfless support and generosity of the alumni and supporters who jumped at the opportunity to lend a helping hand to the next generation of leaders.
“The overwhelming outpouring of support is a testament to TFAS’s alumni and donor community,” Ream said. “TFAS is grateful for each and every person who came forward to help us fund the scholarships for these courageous students.”
Read more about the generosity of TFAS alumni and supporters at TFAS.org/UkraineScholarship.
Liberty + Leadership Podcast – Dan McConchie
Dan McConchie ’93, ’95 joins Roger Ream ’76 for an exciting conversation on episode one of the Liberty + Leadership Podcast!
Dan is a two-time TFAS alumnus and current Illinois state senator. He has remained actively involved at TFAS for nearly 30 years. He served on the TFAS Board of Regents for six years and is a long-time supporter of the programs.
Dan has represented Illinois’ 26th District since 2016 and prior to his leadership position, Dan served as a Caucus budget negotiator, advocating for responsible state spending and lower taxes. Dan staunchly supports policies and legislation that promote job growth and a smaller, smarter government. He currently serves on the Senate Executive and Redistricting committees. Listen in as we discuss his TFAS experience, where he met his wife, his time in the military, his career in politics and the event that forever changed his life.
Access the full podcast transcription, video and episode at TFAS.org/S2E1story.
TFAS Promotes Continuing Education with Spring 2022 Curriculum of Liberty Seminars
The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) believes learning should not stop at high school or college. TFAS encourages continuous learning and growth, especially in important topics like leadership, freedom, liberty and economics. Through the TFAS Journey, program participants continue their education with TFAS from high school to college to their early career and beyond.
TFAS accomplishes this through Continuing Education programs like the Curriculum of Liberty Seminars, which are invitation-only alumni conferences focused on a variety of topics related to liberty. The program is held in partnership with Liberty Fund, Inc., a private educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.
Elise Amez-Droz, PPF ’19, participated in the seminar on philanthropy and liberty. She said she loved the whole experience and gained new insight on the relationship between philanthropy and trust. She made connections between the seminar topic and her day-to-day work as a healthcare program manager at the Mercatus Center. Amez-Droz specifically appreciated the curriculum’s format, the opportunity to dig deeper, and the topic’s practical applications.
“The Socratic seminar format is ideal to get more out of a reading than we would otherwise,” she said. “Each person has interesting observations while reading a text, but when we sit down and discuss them in a conversational format, I think we all get a lot more out of it, and we can connect the ideas of the text with practical situations we might be facing today in our work.”
QUICK LINKS
Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs featured Chang Boong Lee ’15 in an Instagram post highlighting his upbringing, educational interests and success at Princeton.
Alma Weijia Chen ’20 started a new position as a graduate student researcher at UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Program).
TFAS Grewcock Senior Scholar Dr. Donald Devine questions how religious John Locke was in an article for The American Spectator.
TFAS Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Anne Bradley recently opined on price gouging laws and the current inflation rates in the Eurasia Review.
TFAS Trustee Ambassador Paula Dobriansky was interviewed on Fox News to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Alexandra Herlong ’13 is now an assistant attorney general at the Utah Attorney General’s Office.
Frederico Bartels, PPF ’18, writes about downsizing the department of defense in an article for The Washington Times.
Trevor Carlsen, PPF ’19, opines in Townhall on keeping undue influence out of local elections.
Dr. Don Devine has two recent book reviews: Steven Hayward’s biography of M. Stanton Evans for the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, and Yoram Hazony’s new book, “Conservatism: A Rediscovery,” for Law & Liberty.
Manuela Briano ’20 recently began an internship at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN.
Ugo Stornaiolo ’20 tries to find common ground between various political ideologies in an article for the Mises Institute’s Power & Market blog.
Emma Blair ’21 writes about the role of women in politics during various phases of Arizona’s history in an article for the Western Tribune.
Charles McElwee, Novak ’20, writes about the significance of the results of the Pennsylvania primaries for November and the future of politics in the state for City Journal.
Leslie Corbly ’14 is interviewed on KUTV about privacy rights and controversial “geo-fence” warrants used to investigate property crimes.
Arrian Ebrahimi ’19, ’20 is now a policy assistant at the Semiconductor Industry Association.
Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service profiled Khamza Sharifzoda ’17 in a feature article detailing his professional success working for the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Rachel George ’08 is now the research director for fp21, an organization focused on injecting objective evidence into foreign policy decision making.
Khanh Do ’20 is starting a new position as a business development representative at Viafoura.
Sergei Kelley ’21 is starting a new position as a legislative aide for Rep. Whiteford at the Michigan House of Representatives.
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