The Fund for American Studies hosts free online webinars titled Window into Washington. Sessions highlight public policy, economic and career-focused topics that bring some of our best speakers to audiences around the country.


UPCOMING EVENTS

Careers on Capitol Hill: TFAS Alumni Advice and Insights

Wednesday, February 22, 2023
12:00 – 12:45 PM ET

Cost: FREE

Seminar Description

Are you interested in working on Capitol Hill but aren‘t quite sure how or where to get started? Have you wondered what the difference is between a Legislative Assistant and a Legislative Correspondent? What about working for a personal office vs. a committee?  

Join The Fund for American Studies alumni and current/former congressional staffer members as they give you the inside scoop on what you need to know in order to kickstart your search for a career on the Hill.

Meet Our Speakers

Sarah Markley ’16

Professional Staff Member, U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs

Sarah Markley is a Professional Staff Member with the House Foreign Affairs Committee Republican office under Chairman Michael McCaul. She currently works on the Subcommittee for Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations. Previously, Sarah worked as a program advisor at The Fund for American Studies. She received a bachelor’s degree in history and French language from Grove City College and subsequently earned a master’s degree in Violence, Terrorism and Security from Queen’s University Belfast. 

Nicole Tieman ‘09

Former Deputy Communications Director, U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA)

Nicole Tieman is a senior communicator at the Boeing Company, supporting government affairs and state and local operations. Prior to Boeing, Tieman was a communicator on the Senate Finance Committee as well as for Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and former Representative Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI). Over the past decade, Tieman has worked on high-profile political campaigns, including Senator Rick Scott (R-FL)’s first gubernatorial campaign, Gov. Scott Walker’s recall and re-election campaigns, and Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT)’s presidential campaign. 

Jack Still ‘21

Legislative Correspondent/Staff Assistant, U.S. Representative Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX)

Jack currently serves as a Legislative Correspondent and Staff Assistant for Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07). He is originally from Lubbock, Texas and attended William Jewell College in Kansas City, Missouri, where he graduated with degrees in Economics and Political Science in 2021. Jack hopes to ultimately attend law school and return home to work in the Texas government. 


PAST EVENTS

Seminar Description

Are you interested in working on Capitol Hill but aren‘t quite sure how or where to get started? Have you wondered what the difference is between a Legislative Assistant and a Legislative Correspondent? What about working for a personal office vs. a committee? 


Join The Fund for American Studies alumni and current congressional staffers as they give you the inside scoop on what you need to know in order to kickstart your search for a career on the Hill.

Speakers

Joe Minges ’10
Lesislative Assistant, Office of U.S. Representative Ed Perlmutter (CO-07)

Alejandra (Allie) Rodriguez ’19
Press Secretary, Office of U.S. Representive Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27)

Claire London ’15
Scheduler, Office of U.S. Senator Paul Rand (R-KY)

Seminar Description

This seminar will provide an overview of the types of careers available in Washington, D.C. as well as tips and resources on securing a job or internship in the city.

Our nation’s capital has long been a magnet for young people looking to launch their careers after graduation. No American city offers the diversity of job opportunities available in Washington, D.C. Whether you are interested in government, diplomacy, media, lobbying, law, advocacy, business, education or the nonprofit sector, Washington has something for everyone. The pressures from the global pandemic combined with the creative use of technology have led to new opportunities and the rethinking of the traditional workplace.

Join the staff members from the Collegiate Programs department at TFAS along with a panel of D.C. professionals to discuss the employment landscape in Washington, D.C. Whether you are interested in a summer internship, full-time employment, or just curious about what Washington has to offer, this lunchtime seminar will be time well spent.

Speakers

Michael Moroney
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, PARTNER & GROUP HEAD, FLEISHMANHILLARD

Aubree Weaver
DEPUTY PRODUCTION DIRECTOR, POLITICO

Joel Troutman
CONSULTANT, DELOITTE

Bonnie Worstell
FEDERAL AGENCY STAFF MEMBER | FORMER DNC OPERATIONS AND CONTRACTS ASSOCIATE

Noah Becker
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, ADVOCACY ASSOCIATES

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Seminar Description

As we celebrate 100 years of women’s suffrage in the United States, this talk will explore the historical context and enduring impact of restrictions on women’s rights and job market opportunities. The Discussion will focus on how these limitations shaped women’s lives in American history, the economic and political motivations that contributed to improvements in women’s economic rights over time, and why this history matters for all of us today.

Speaker

Jayme Lemke
SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW, MERCATUS CENTER

Thursday, October 29, 2021

Seminar Description

Success isn’t just about what you know, but who you know and how you present yourself. This is even more important in today’s virtual climate. Connecting with people can be difficult and in this time of Zoom meetings and new online platforms, it is getting even more challenging! Now more than ever it’s essential to understand how to build your network in order to turn it into future career opportunities.

The panelists will provide advice on various topics including how to identify new contacts, develop lasting connections and virtual networking etiquette tips that will help you leave a notable impression. This session will also show you how to use social media, traditional and non-traditional PR techniques to create a professional image that you can build upon as your career progresses.

Speakers

Jean Schindler
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR ELECTORAL SYSTEMS

Michael Moroney
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, FLEISHMANHILLARD

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Seminar Description

News is nonstop in Washington, D.C. and readers and viewers worldwide depend on journalists to provide up-to-the-minute and accurate reporting. In this session, participants will get to meet reporters who will take a break from their work to share what it’s like to work in the news-making capital of the world.

Whether it’s covering Congress or the courts, policymakers or even the president, a reporter needs to cut through the noise to get to the truth. Join us to learn how reporters can do this and get a few tips on how you might one day get to do the same as you plan your career in journalism.

Speakers

Aubree Weaver
DEPUTY PRODUCTION DIRECTOR, POLITICO

Amanda Finnegan
EDITOR OF BY THE WAY, THE WASHINGTON POST

Jory Heckman
REPORTER, FEDERAL NEWS SERVICE

Abby Smith
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTER, THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Thursday, November 19, 2020

Seminar Description

This online seminar will introduce you to prominent TFAS alumni who have built successful careers in foreign policy, international relations, and national security. They will share career highlights, lessons learned, and best practices for navigating the increasingly competitive job market in Washington, D.C. and beyond. Most importantly, they’ll give advice on how you can advance global peace, commerce, security, and diplomacy so that we might all enjoy the benefits of a free and open society.   

The TFAS Academic Internship Program on International Affairs is designed to help students launch a career in foreign policy, international relations, and national security. Alumni of our program have gone on to serve in a broad range of government agencies, international organizations, NGOs, think tanks, and private enterprises, including the U.S. Departments of State, Defense, Justice, and Commerce, the Department of Homeland Security, CIA, DIA, USAID, the United Nations, World Bank, U.S. Institute of Peace, National Endowment for Democracy, Atlantic Council, Brookings, AEI, Cato, CACI, and Deloitte as well as many other nonprofits and NGOs committed to tackling global issues on human rights, aid & development, climate change, and international law. What do all of our alumni have in common? They all got their start with TFAS.

Speakers

Jeff Phillips
COUNTRY MANAGER, INDO-PACIFIC, U.S. TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

Angela Girard
FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER, DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Blaise Misztal
FELLOW, HUDSON INSTITUTE

Heather M. Robinson
SIGAR

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Seminar Description

Dr. Bradley’s remarks will examine al-Qaeda as a case study in modern terrorism from a rational choice, comparative institutional perspective. Seeing terrorist activity through this lens allows us to capture both the demand and supply sides of its “market,” a perspective that can illuminate dimensions of international terrorism that often escape more conventional analyses, and offer some novel and promising counterstrategies.

Speaker

Dr. Anne Bradley
TFAS ACADEMIC DIRECTOR

Thursday, December 10, 2020