Hailing from 10 states and three countries, 16 TFAS students arrived on Capitol Hill this January, ready to “LIVE. LEARN. INTERN.” in the nation’s capital. TFAS Alumnus Jeremy Harrell (ICPES 07) helped welcome the future leaders during the Capital Semester Spring class of 2018 opening ceremony on Jan. 18.

During his remarks, Harrell shared the experience and expertise he has gained throughout his TFAS journey, first as a student and today as an alumni leader. Harrell said that he wouldn’t have been able to build his career and life in Washington without the help of TFAS.

I always want to give back to TFAS because of the significant impact TFAS has had on me.” – Jeremy Harrell (ICPES 07) 

Harrell is the managing director of policy at ClearPath, a think tank focused on clean energy development through free market solutions. Harrell shared his D.C. career journey with the students and explained that his TFAS internship was what planted the initial seed that allowed him to grow into the role he has today. He added that the connections he makes through TFAS programs – both as a student and as an alumnus in the TFAS Public Policy Fellowship and TFAS Alumni Council – are also pivotal to his success.

“TFAS is continuously challenging the way I think,” Harrell said. “TFAS challenges you to think about things differently…it helps strengthen your beliefs and gives you a foundation on why you believe what you do.”

Harrell closed his remarks by offering tips for success in Washington with anecdotes on how following these guidelines has helped him in his career. He advised:

• Keep an open mind.
• Be fair.
• Be honest.
• Be kind.
• Be responsive.
• Be discreet.
• Have fun!

In the two weeks since the program began, the students have taken Harrell’s advice into their busy daily schedules. So far, the students have participated in networking workshops, mentoring sessions, toured the National Mall and visited the State Department’s Diplomatic Reception Rooms.

Shortly after moving in, students began their coursework with TFAS academic partner George Mason University. Classes include a public policy-focused Internship Seminar with Professor Karen Czarnecki (ICPES 88), International Economic Policy with Dr. Anne Bradley and Constitutional Interpretation with Dr. John Samples. Later in the semester, the students will begin the journalism-focused portion of the Internship Seminar class with Professor Richard Benedetto, a course he co-teaches with Professor Czarnecki.

For the next 13 weeks, the young leaders will continue exploring Washington, D.C. and gain the valuable skills and education they will need to be successful and honorable leaders.

Learn more about the students and view photos from the first few weeks of the semester below.

Meet The 2018 TFAS Capital Semester Spring Class:

Joe Andrew is a third-year student at Flinders University in Australia. In his spare time, Joe volunteers for the Australian Red Cross and is a member of the South Australia state parliament. Joe has traveled through Australia, but his time as a TFAS student is his first time studying and working overseas. This spring, Joe is interning at the Office of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden. He hopes to gain valuable experience from the internship to help start his career.

Madeline Baker is a junior at DePauw University. Last summer, she interned with the Office of Ohio House of Representative Laura Lanese. Maddie has been a member of the varsity women’s soccer team for three years. Outside of playing soccer, she enjoys participating in clubs like Women in Economics and Business and Active Minds. This semester she is interning with the James Wilson Institute on Natural Rights and the American Founding.

Jack Harrison is pursuing a bachelor of laws and legal practice and a bachelor of international studies at Flinders University in Australia. He has been active in campus life, representing students through the Flinders Student Union. Jack has also worked in electorate offices for state members of parliament. He has traveled to Eastern Europe and was an exchange student in China during high school. Jack loves following sports and his favorite is Aussie rules football, barracking (cheering) for the Hawthorn Hawks. While in Washington, D.C., Jack is interning at the Office of U.S. Representative Larry Bucshon.

Georgia Rose Hicks is originally from Lobethal, Australia, and she just completed her fourth year of university in Australia at Flinders where she studied law. She previously participated in the Rotary Australia New Zealand Student Exchange Program. Georgia has a special focus on education policy and social issues. This semester she is interning with the Office of U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson.

David Hopkins recently completed his third year at Flinders University in Australia where he is studying international relations. In early 2017, he completed an intensive course in Milan, Italy at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore before traveling to France and England. David undertook a two-week study program in Indonesia in July 2017 as part of the Australian Government’s New Colombo Plan Scholarship. He plans to complete an honors degree in international relations and hopes to pursue a career in foreign affairs. This spring, he is interning at the Office of U.S. Representative Tim Ryan.

Joseph Janey is a junior at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. Last summer, he interned on the Advisory and Transaction Services team at CBRE in Minneapolis. He is hoping to pursue a career in real estate investment banking after graduation, a goal his internship at the Columbia National Real Estate Finance, LLC will help him reach this semester as a TFAS student. During his first two years at St. Thomas, Joe played football and is now involved in the business fraternity on campus. In his free time, he enjoys being on the lake either fishing or wake boarding with friends.

Olivia Jones is a currently a sophomore at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina. She is secretary of the Honors Program Advisory Council and participates in Art Club, French Club and Rotaract Club. Olivia is a presidential aide at The Citadel, assisting with executive events held by the president of the college. Last summer, she interned at Falls Church Arts, located just outside of Washington, D.C. Through the TFAS program this spring, she is interning with The Charles Group.

Jon Kowalik is currently a junior at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee where he plays football, is the vice president of Phi Alpha Theta and interns at Facing History and Ourselves. He is also the director of communications for a nonprofit which provides hurricane relief to the Virgin Islands. Along with his current positions, Jon has worked as a legal intern, a marketing intern at a start-up, as well as an operations intern at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. This spring, he is interning with the Office of U.S. Representative Ed Perlmutter.

Emine Mutlu is a junior at Maine Maritime Academy. She completed a May term abroad in Galway, Ireland in 2016 where she studied Irish literature and history. Last summer, she represented Irving Oil Company as a brand ambassador throughout New England and Atlantic Canada. She is currently learning Turkish and German and hopes to become fluent in both languages. This spring, Emine is interning at the Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration.

Ingrid Radulescu was born in Romania but raised in the United States. Due to being raised between two cultures and frequently traveling, her interest in international affairs sparked at an early age. Ingrid recently presented her ongoing research concerning Shakespeare and Romanian National Identity at the National Collegiate Honors Council.  After completing her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature at Andrews University, she plans to attend law school in hopes of launching a global career. She is interning at American Academy of Diplomacy this spring.

Rachel Rohrbach is a student at Marshall University where she plans to graduate in December with an accounting degree. She has completed various internships through Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP, Nelson Mullins and the West Virginia State Capitol. Rachel spent one summer studying international politics in Spain. On campus, she serves on the Lewis College of Business advisory board and is also active in her sorority, Alpha Xi Delta. She is also a member of Beta Alpha Psi, Beta Gamma Sigma, and Phi Kappa Phi academic honor societies. Rachel is interning at the Office of U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito this spring.

Lusamba Tshibengabo is a sophomore year at the University of Nebraska Omaha where she is studying political science as a Susan Thompson Buffett Scholar and Regents Scholar. Lusamba is also member of the Underserved Law Opportunities Program and the Black Student Union. As an aspiring immigration attorney, she is pursuing minors in sociology and international studies with concentrations in law in the courts. This semester, Lusamba is interning with Washington Council of Lawyers.

Taylor Tummons is a junior at William Jewell College where he is majoring in institutions and policy through the Oxbridge Honors Program. Taylor is a member of Lambda Chi Alpha and writes for his school newspaper, The Hilltop Monitor. Last fall, Taylor studied abroad at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree, he plans to attend law school. Taylor is interning at the Institute of World Politics this semester.

Hanlin Wang is a student at Southwest University for Nationalities in China where he is majoring in French. He is a hobbyist and enjoys reading, playing the violin and playing football. During university, he actively participates in social service. Hanlin has traveled to the UN Asia Pacific headquarters as the delegate of China to learn and execute sustainable development goals. As a project manager at Enactus, he founded several social innovation projects including one that has successfully launched as a social enterprise.

Meagan Wilson is a studying business economics at the University of Idaho. She spends most of her time outdoors enjoying camping, hiking or fishing. Her future goals include obtaining an MBA and following her dreams of becoming a CEO. Meagan is interning with A.C. Fitzgerald & Associates this spring.

Xinyu Zhong is currently a senior at University of Finance and Economics in China. She is currently studying journalism and will begin her master’s degree this fall. In 2017, she joined Deloitte Consulting as a summer intern and attained a return offer. With the hope to becoming a global citizen, she is always seeking opportunities to exchange ideas with talented people around the world. Xinyu represented China at the World Bank Youth Summit in 2017. This semester she is interning at the Asian Development Bank.