Students researching environmental racism explore hidden history at a Florida cemetery where Black pioneers of historic coastal communities are buried. Those communities are now threatened by development.
Message from the Executive Director:
As fresh blossoms emerge, it’s hard to believe the academic year is almost over. It feels like we’ve just begun! Six months after I arrived at the Eisenhower Institute we’re already selecting next year’s fellows and preparing to host summer interns for a unique new Washington residential program. Over spring break I joined Environmental Leadership participants in Florida. Soon we’ll travel south for an immersive civil rights experience. I can’t wait. Being with students is energizing. Their minds are sharp and their perspectives fresh, like trees in full bloom. They remind me that spring is the season of renewal—a perfect time to launch our strategic planning process, renewing our commitment to President Eisenhower’s balanced approach to addressing society‘s greatest challenges. We are refreshed, revived, and ready for the work.
News:
- Eisenhower Institute participated in experiential learning over spring break, traveling to D.C. to explore civil rights through music and culture as well as South Florida to examine the links between coastal segregation and modern beach access.
- In partnership with Spotlight PA and other media outlets, the Institute will host a Republican primary debate for the Pennsylvania gubernatorial race on April 19 at 7 p.m. Watch live on PCN.
- The Institute launched our new Washington Summer Fellowship, a 10-week residential program in D.C. designed to enhance internship experiences. We also look forward to welcoming a small group of high school students to Gettysburg this summer for our new Civic Engagement Camp (applications are still be accepted).
- Miss a recent EI event? Check out our YouTube page to catch up on student-led conversations with columnist George Will, former White House speechwriter Jon Favreau, experts on U.S.-China relations, and voting rights scholars and activists.
- New on Ike's Anvil: students share perspectives on Biden’s first State of the Union Address, decriminalized marijuana, and campaign finance reform.
Upcoming Events:
- April 7 | 7 p.m. ET: Gen Z: Committed to the Fight! A conversation with John Della Volpe, director of polling at Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics (Virtual & In-Person)
- April 12 | 7 p.m. ET: Gettysburg College Campus Policy Debate (In-Person)
- April 19 | 7 p.m. ET: Republican Gubernatorial Debate at Gettysburg College (Watch on PCN)
In the Media:
- Tracie Potts shared her excitement for joining Gettysburg College and her vision for the Eisenhower Institute’s role in the local community in the Gettysburg Times.
- Kevin Nealer discussed the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on U.S.-China relations with the South China Morning Post.
- Chika Okafor, an Eisenhower/Roberts Fellow at Harvard University, released a new working paper on the links between election cycles and the behavior of prosecutors.
- Scott Boddery reflected in The Hill on the politics of Justice Breyer’s decision to retire from the Supreme Court.
- Scott Boddery and Ben Pontz ’22 authored a proposal in Politico for floating the number of justices to restore the Supreme Court's legitimacy as an alternative to court packing.
Student Spotlight:
- Matthew Fellini ’22 will serve this summer as a research and educational assistant at National Defense University’s Eisenhower School, where he will assist with research and lesson plans.
- Vanessa Igras ’24 has been award a Myra T. Herron Memorial Scholarship from Gettysburg College and a Benjamin Gilman International Scholarship from the U.S. State Department to support two semesters of global study at the American University in Cairo, where she will take a range of classes and work with AUC's Student Action for Refugees organization.
- Ashton Willcox ’25 is a Youth Director and Regional Political Coordinator for Dr. Mehmet Oz’s Senate campaign in Pennsylvania. He has been working with the campaign on events all across the state, as well as engaging fellow students and training them on the nuts and bolts of campaigning.
Alumni Updates:
- Julia Kerr ’18 passed the July 2021 administration of the New York Bar Exam and is working as a tenants’ rights advocate at New York Legal Assistance Group in New York City.
- Annie Palmer ’20 is an Account Coordinator at Jun Group, an ad tech firm in NYC, where she creates performance reports and optimizes campaigns to help meet clients' goals. She enjoys the problem solving, creative thinking, and analytical skillsets needed in the role, as well as the fast-paced environment and continued opportunity for growth.
- Jessiey Ken-Kwofie ’21 is a Cloud Applications Consultant at Oracle, working with public sector, K-12 organizations to promote more efficient operating environments through cloud applications. She loves facilitating consultative conversations with tenured school officials and having continued exposure to innovative top-tier technologies.
We’d love to hear from you! Share your Eisenhower Institute alumni updates with ei@gettysburg.edu.
Make a Gift:
If you would like to make a gift to the Institute, you can do so by mail or online. Please contact our office with any questions at 717-337-6685.