On the morning of Thursday, December 6th, CSPC released "A Letter on STEM Education for America's Parents" at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) to an audience of STEM education professionals, community leaders, and policymakers. The panel discussion was co-chaired by the Honorable Norm Augustine, former Senator Bill Brock and former Governor Roy Romer and moderated by Dr. Shirley Malcom, the Head of the Directorate for Education and Human Resources Programs at AAAS.

The report is the product of more than a year and a half of discussions among CSPC STEM education team members and other experts from within and outside of government. In an effort to acknowledge the central role parents play in their children’s education  – and in some measure to recognize the lack of action in Congress on this issue – the STEM Education Issue Team has addressed this message directly to parents.  The hope is that they will force policymakers to take necessary steps to improve the education system, so that it can better position students to thrive as adults and better position the United States to compete globally.

To read the letter, click here.

 

 

With the support of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress convened a group of financial experts at Georgetown University for a five-hour table top exercise on financial contingencies facilitated by Booz Allen Hamilton.  The exercise led high level public and private sector participants through progressively worsening scenarios of economic instability in Europe, over the course of which an Italian bank fails, a money market mutual fund “breaks the buck,” and French banks are nationalized before suspending payments to U.S. creditors. 

The purpose of the scenario was not to predict what future events are likely to be, but more so to evaluate tools and processes available to policymakers to address crises, how these tools have changed since 2008, and what needs to be done to create greater economic security and international coordination in financial markets going forward.

As government officials must be wary of their comments causing reactions in the market, the session was held in a not-for-attribution setting to encourage a free exchange of ideas.  This format allowed current government officials, private sector and academic counterparts to openly discuss sensitive issues in a secure environment.  In addition, the events of the scenario were revealed step-by-step, mitigating the tendency of experts to stick to predetermined opinions and comments.

You can read the non-attribution after action report here.  

Religion and the American Experience

Religion plays a major—sometimes leading—role in American public life.  Despite the Constitutional prohibition on religious tests for seekers of public office, it is a rare candidate for the Presidency or, in many cases, Congress who does not have to answer questions relating to faith or religion.  CSPC has explored the influence of religion on U.S. public policy and the broader society through several initiatives.  It has also tracked policy and legal developments related to religion as well as indicators of religious extremism.

In partnership with Trinity Wall Street, an Episcopal parish in New York City, CSPC maintains the on-going Trinity Roundtable series. Events are hosted in New York City and Washington, DC, and serve as a forum for leaders in government, business and non-profit sectors to discuss critical issues of the day through the lens of values, ethics, and morality.

Also, beginning in 2009, the Center has been working with Trustee Francis Rooney (Ambassador to the Holy See 2005-2008) to examine the diplomatic interplay between religion and politics in U.S.-Vatican relations, with the product being a forthcoming book by Francis Rooney that explores America’s role as a promoter and defender of values-driven diplomacy. Research includes analysis of the influence of religious considerations in both American and global politics. 

For more information about these programs, please see the following links:

• Trinity Roundtable: Examining Critical Issues through the Lens of Values and Ethics
• Religion and Diplomacy: A Look at America and the Vatican

 

On March 21, 2013 at the 46th Annual Awards Dinner, CSPC was pleased to honor Senators Mark Warner and Bob Corker with its Publius Award for their distinguished public service. At the dinner, CSPC also recognized this year’s participants in its Presidential Fellows and International Fellows Program, presenting awards for most original paper, best historical analysis of the Presidency, and best military, intelligence or national security strategic analysis. 

Attended by 200 distinguished guests and supporters of CSPC at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington, D.C, the Awards Dinner was an evening to remember. Before sitting for dinner, the Presidential and International Fellows benefitted from a private presentation from the Senators, where they had an opportunity for question and answers in an intimate setting. Dinner was opened with a moderated discussion with Senators Corker and Warner, in which they reflected on their career paths, current challenges in Congress and public service. This was followed by a special message read aloud from President Barack Obama extending his congratuatlions to the Senators and our Presidential Fellows, and a video, generously sponsored by Robert and Kelly Day, paying tribute to the leadership of Senators Warner and Corker, which has been defined by a willingness to cross party lines and to compromise in the interest of the country.  

 

To see a blog post on Senator Mark Warner's website about the event, click here.

To see a press release about the event on Senator Bob Corker's website, click here.

 

In the spring of 2012 at the 45th Annual CSPC Awards Dinner, the Center was pleased to honor Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta with its Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for distinguished public service in navigating the numerous fiscal and military challenges of our time. At the dinner, CSPC also recognized this year’s participants in its Presidential Fellows Program, presenting awards for most original paper and best historical analysis of the Presidency. 

Attended by 300 distinguished guests and supporters of the Center at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington, D.C., the awards dinner was an evening to remember, celebrating the accolades of Secretary Panetta and the brave men and women of our armed forces, including a veteran of The Mission Continues, an organization that empowers wounded and disabled veterans to begin new lives of public service.  After a stirring rendition of the national anthem by the Joint Service Color Guard, a letter from President Barack Obama was read aloud extending his congratulations to the Secretary and our Presidential Fellows.  This was followed by a video, generously sponsored by Robert and Kelly Day, Ray Irani, and Stanley Zax, paying tribute to the life-long service of the Secretary and his decades of strategic leadership and working across party lines. Former Veterans Affairs and Army Secretary, Togo West, followed with a moving introduction of the Secretary, citing the enormous hardships that Panetta has overcome in Congress, in the Clinton administration, in the CIA, and most recently as head of the Department of Defense. 

President Eisenhower once said that “the virtues most cherished by free people--love of truth, pride of work, devotion to country--all are treasures equally precious in the lives of the most humble and of the most exalted.”  A gifted manager with an innate strategic sense, Secretary Panetta’s experience has made him perhaps the most able political diplomat of his time.  Like Eisenhower in his own time, Panetta seems providentially prepared and well-suited to the extraordinary challenges facing our nation today.  As a student of history, Secretary Panetta understands the lessons of his predecessors and has tactfully translated them into solutions for today’s ever-changing world.  Coupled with his civility and sense of humility, Secretary Panetta has earned the admiration of the entire nation. 

 

CSPC would like to thank those who made the evening possible:

 Benefactors:

Kelly and Robert Day

Ray Irani

Stanley Zax

Patrons:

Avery and Andrew Barth

The Crown Family

 

 

Supporters:

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This year the Center welcomes 72 Fellows representing 66 colleges and universities from across the nation.  Their names, universities, and as the year progresses, research papers can be found below.  This year the International Presidential Fellows Program welcomes six students from international universities in Austria, Brazil, Canada, China and Japan to the 2012-2013 class of Presidential Fellows.

Important Documents for Fellows:

 

Welcome Packet for 2012 - 2013 Presidential Fellows

Fall 2012 Fellows Newsletter

Important Dates for Fellows:

 

International Fellows Pre-Conference October 29-31, 2012

Fall Fellows Conference - November 1-3, 2012

FIRST DRAFTs DUE- February 1, 2013

Spring Fellows Conference - March 21-23, 2013

FINAL PAPERS DUE- MAY 10, 2013

The 2012-2013 Presidential Fellows Class:

 

Karim  Abouelnaga, Cornell University

Noriko Amanuma, Waseda University

Timothy Ambard, United States Air Force Academy

Philip Angelides, Colorado College

Jonathan Askonas, Georgetown University

Catherine Barnao, George Washington University

Peter Boal, Haverford University

Andy Dessel, Pennsylvania State University

Hannah Brookhart, Michigan State University

Aaron  Brown, North Georgia College and State University

Ernest  Brown, Emory University

Anthony Cardon, United States Naval Academy

Ryan Cho, Columbia University

Justin Chock, United States Naval Academy

Matthew Curliss, United States Military Academy

Jesse Dashefsky, Swarthmore College

Ryan Davenport, Texas A&M University

Andrea de Sa, Princeton University

John Dearborn, University of Connecticut

Vahid Dejwakh, College of William and Mary

Katelynn Donelson, The Catholic University of America

Samantha Farish, Middle Tennessee State University

Adrian Ferrari, Dartmouth College

James Fleischmann, University of Tennessee- Chattanooga

Sydni Franks, Denison University

Matthew Genova, Vanderbilt University

Tyler Glaze, United States Air Force Academy

Mackenzie Green, Smith College

Lore Hayek, University of Innsbruck

Lucas Hernandez, Rollins College

Scott Hiers, University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill

Leonard Horne II, Morehouse College

Gray Huffard, Colgate University

Miles Kellerman, University of Wisconsin- Madison

Patrick Kennedy, Stanford University

Chan "Peter" Kim, University of Southern California

Brent Lane, United States Coast Guard Academy

T. Austin Larrowe, Virginia Tech

Katelyn Lee, University of California- Los Angeles

Michael Lewis, Tulane University

Franklin McGuire Jr., The Citadel

Jonathan Messing, University of Pennsylvania

Rodrigo Morais Chaves, Getúlio Vargas Foundation

Seth Morris, University of the South

Samantha Moyer, Institute of World Politics

Mike Norton, University of Arkansas

Emily Oehlsen, Georgetown University

Alexander Ognibene, University of Toronto

Anthony Palmer, Gettysburg College

Sarah Pfander, Middlebury College

Donophan "Trey" Price, Hampden-Sydney College

Neeraj "Raj" Salhotra, Rice University

Thomas Sanford, Washington and Lee University

Stacia Sarwinski, United States Coast Guard Academy

Eva Schneider, Barnard College

Andrew Shindi, Harvard University

Katherine Smith, Hofstra University

Jason Spencer, Virginia Military Institute

Daniel Stefany, Wake Forest University

Eric Stormer, Gannon University

Brittany Taylor, Southern Methodist University

Matthew Thwaites, Yale University

Paul "Nathan" Tindall, United States Military Academy

Sean Toal, United States Military Academy

Daniel Tully, Northwestern University

Victoria Turecamo, Long Island University- Brooklyn

Jacob Tzegaegbe, Georgia Institute of Technology

Madelynne Wager, University of Michigan

Meicheng Wang, Nanjing University

Janelle Wichmann, University of Cincinnati

Victoria Wilmarth, Duke University

Mutsumi Yoshikawa, Ritsumeikan University/American University

 

Staff Contact
For more information on the Presidential Fellows Program, please contact Andy Steele, Program Director, via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at 202-872-9800.

Voices of the 2012-2013 Presidential Fellows

The Presidential Fellows Speak with Professor Jane Hall During the 2013 Spring Leadership Conference

Awards and Honors of the 2012-2013 Fellows

Andy Dessel (Penn State) – USA Today Student Leadership Award at Penn State. Dessel was also recognized on Penn State's official news site. To read the article, click here.

Jacob Tzegaegbe (Georgia Tech) – 2013 Marshall Scholar

Ryan Cho (Columbia University) – Army Reserve Officer Training Corps' Distinguished Military Graduate.

P.N. Tindall (United States Military Academy) – Fulbright National Finalist and a Truman National Finalist

Eva Schneider (Barnard College) – author of the blog "The Council Chronicle: Election Edition." A social action project through the Athena Leadership Center at Barnard, a program dedicated to empowering young female leaders and teaching leadership skills.

Austin Larrowe (Virginia Tech) – Austin was recognized on NBC's WSL10 station in Virginia for being the first Presidential Fellow from Virginia Tech. To watch the video, click here.

Mike Norton (University of Arkansas) – 2012 Truman Scholar

Karim Abouelnaga(Cornell University) – 2013 Echoing Green Fellow. To read more about Karim and the Echoing Green Fellowship program, click here.

Staff Contact

For more information on the Presidential Fellows Program, please contact Andy Steele, Program Director, via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at 202-872-9800.

This year the Center welcomes 71 Fellows representing 66 colleges and universities from across the nation.  Their names, universities, and as the year progresses, research papers can be found below.  This year we are also excited to welcome two students from international universities (University of Tokyo and Waseda University in Japan) to the 2011-2012 class of Presidential Fellows and to our inaugural International Presidential Fellows Program.

Publication Announcement:

 

Congratualtions to the twenty Fellows published in the 2010-2011 Fellows Review!  To order additional copies of the publication please contact Andy Steele via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Joseph Amoroso, United States Military Academy

“Fighting to Own the House: Reevaluating Competition in Elections for the U.S. House of Representatives”

Jacqueline Cortese, Carnegie Mellon University

“Motivations, Mission, and Relationships of the Early Congressional Space Caucus, 1981-1983”

Jesse Crosson, Hofstra University

“The Politics of Compassion: George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and the Faith-Based Initiative”

Alex Ferraro, Gettysburg College

“Congress, Not Ronald Reagan, as the Great Communicator: The Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986”

Alex Fullman, University of Southern California

“Running for Change: Small Donations and Presidential Elections”

Jonathan Green, Northwestern University

“The Constitution of Nature and the Course of Providence”: John Adams’s Discourses on Davila

Alan He, Colgate University

“Leadership on the Deficit”

David Hoyt, Stanford University

“The Geoeconomic Role of CFIUS in US-Sino Relations”

Rosanna Kim, Swarthmore College

“Is the 112th Congress the Worst Congress Ever? Evaluating the Contemporary Consequences of Divided Government”

Mary Kroeger, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

“The Disability Rights Legislative Schema: A Federal-Level Interest Group Perspective”

Torey McMurdo, University of California, Los Angeles

“Peace, Please: U.S. Approaches to Nuclear 123 Agreements in a Changing Middle East”

Harrison Monsky, Yale University

“Nuclear Power Reconsidered: Carter’s Nonproliferation Strategy, 1977-81”

John Patrick O’Har, Georgia Institute of Technology

“Failure in Government Services: An Assessment of the Inability to Reauthorize the FAA Legislation”

Mary-Grace Pellegrini, University of Michigan-Ford School

“Unilateral Presidential Powers and the NATO Campaign in Libya”

Joshua Post, United States Military Academy

“The Bush Administration and US- Georgia Relations: A Case Study in Neoconservative Foreign Policy?”

Daniel Richardson, James Madison University

“Dodd-Frank and the Politics of Implementation”

Jonathan Robinson, George Washington University

“Change, Continuity, and the Evolution of the Federal Minimum Wage, 1937-2010”

Steven Roth, United States Coast Guard Academy

“A "3D" Approach to Security and Development in Nigeria”

Gabriel Royal, United States Military Academy

“Only Obama Could Go To Afghanistan: How Ike and Obama Used Their Political Reputations to Their Advantage”

Carson Whitelemons, Smith College

“Presidential Drug War(s): Obama's Drug Control Policies in Context”

Important Documents for Fellows:

 

2011-2012 Presidential Fellows Program Welcome Packet

Fall 2011 Conference Newsletter

Spring 2012 Conference Newsletter

Important Dates for Fellows:

 

Fall Fellows Conference - November 3-5, 2011

FIRST DRAFTs DUE- February 8, 2012

Spring Fellows Conference - March 28-30, 2012

FINAL PAPERS DUE- MAY 4, 2012

The 2011-2012 Presidential Fellows Class:

Ms. Shelby Allen, Howard University

Mr. Joseph Amoroso, United States Military Academy

Ms. Christina Bazak, Denison University

Ms. Eliza Blanchard, Vassar College

Mr. Neil Booher, Vanderbilt University

Mr. Myles Bugbee, Rice University

Mr. Samuel Campbell, Washington and Lee University

Ms. Leila Clark, Colorado College

Mr. Travis Clinger, Rollins College

Mr. George Cokeley, The Citadel

Ms. Jacqueline Cortese, Carnegie Mellon University

Mr. Jesse Crosson, Hofstra University

Mr. Michael DeLong, United States Naval Academy

Mr. Zach Drennen, Middlebury College

Mr. Kevin Eaton, Southern Methodist University

Ms. Catherine Ettman, Princeton University

Ms. Kate Ferguson, Duke University

Mr. Alex Ferraro, Gettysburg College

Ms. Brittany Fifer, United States Coast Guard Academy

Mr. Alex Fullman, University of Southern California

Ms. Emily Gargiulo, University at Buffalo

Mr. Jonathan Green, Northwestern University

Mr. Marquis Hawkins, Cornell University

Mr. Kenji Hayata, Waseda University

Mr. Alan He, Colgate University

Mr. David Hoyt, Stanford University

Mr. Jed Ipsen, University of Minnesota

Ms. Miki Ito, University of Tokyo

Mr. Kyle Jackson, Texas A&M University

Mr. Jeremy Kaufmann, Dartmouth College

Mr. Rosanna Kim, Swarthmore College

Ms. Monika Kothari, Michigan State University

Ms. Mary Kroeger, University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill

Mr. Michael Kutner, College of William and Mary

Mr. Linus Marco, Haverford College

Ms. Emily Martens, University of Connecticut

Ms. Lesedi Mbetha, Barnard College

Mr. Ryan McCann, Trinity College

Ms. Tory McMurdo, University of California- Los Angeles

Mr. Adriano Medina, Long Island University- Brooklyn

Mr. Harrison Monsky, Yale University

Ms. Julia Muhlnickel, Tulane University

Mr. John Nickerson, United States Air Force Academy

Mr. John O'Har, Georgia Institute of Technology

Ms. Mary-Grace Pellegrini, University of Michigan- Ford School

Ms. Jenna Pickett, Virginia Military Institute

Mr. Joshua Post, United States Military Academy

Ms. Emma Quinn, United States Naval Academy

Mr. David Ray, Institute of World Politics

Mr. Dan Richardson, James Madison University

Mr. Jonathan Robinson, George Washington University

Mr. Steven Roth, United States Coast Guard Academy

Mr. Gabriel Royal, United States Military Academy

Mr. Ibn Salaam, Hampden-Sydney College

Ms. Lydia Scott, Pennsylvania State University

Mr. Matthew Seubert, University of Arkansas

Mr. Alex Sommer, University of Wisconsin- Madison

Ms. Stephanie Spangler, Emory University

Mr. Charles Stam, Columbia University

Ms. Sarah Stegner, University of Cincinnati

Mr. James Steiner, Georgetown University

Ms. Carson Whitelemons, Smith College

Mr. P.J. Wilkie, University of the South

Mr. Joseph William, Harvard University

Mr. Jay Zeigler, United States Air Force Academy

Mr. Colin Zelicof, University of Pennsylvania

 

Staff Contact
For more information on the Presidential Fellows Program, please contact Andy Steele, Program Director, via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at 202-872-9800.

Who are the Fellows?

Fellows are current undergraduate and graduate students who have distinguished themselves through their academic and extracurricular achievements and are interested in pursuing careers in public service. Fellows come from a wide range of academic majors and are nominated by their respective colleges and universities. Typically, Fellowships take place during a student's final year as an undergraduate; however, advanced underclassmen and graduate students are also welcome in the program.

How do I become a Fellow?

If you are interested in becoming a Fellow, please contact your office of scholarships and fellowships to find out if your school currently nominates students for the Presidential Fellowship Program. While the participating universities may vary in a given year, please see the "Fellows' Schools" section for more information on the colleges and universities represented by our most recent class of Fellows. The Center does not determine the guidelines and deadlines for nominations, rather participating universities create these policies. Accordingly, information concerning the nomination process is available through the participating universities. Unfortunately, the Center is only accepting nominations from participating universities at this time and will not able to accept at-large applications for the Presidential Fellows Program.

If you are a representative of a college or university and would like your school to be able to nominate students to the program, please contact Andy Steele, Program Director, at 202-872-9800 or via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .