Fatimeh's TWC Experience

For the first time, TWC hosted a special SMLS on the White House Fellows program. The event featured a panel of three White House Fellows moderated by Fatimeh Shamseddine, TWC alumna ('09) of the Center for Global Understanding (CFGU) program and Special Assistant to the Director for the White House Fellowship Program. The panelists all belonged to the current 2012-2013 cohort of White House Fellows, representing backgrounds and fields in military, science and law.

The panelists included:

Ambassador Gary Doer is the Canadian Ambassador to the U.S., which he transitioned into in 2009 after his role as the Premier of Manitoba. Prior to his current position as Ambassador, Doer worked to enhance U.S.-Canadian cooperation on trade, agriculture, water protection, climate change and renewable energy. He was named one of the top 20 International leaders on climate change in Business Week magazine.

During the second SMLS of the semester, fall interns were given the opportunity to witness the spirit of true bipartisanship. TWC hosted Tom Daschle, former U.S. Senator from South Dakota and former Majority and Minority Leader of the U.S. Senate. The event was moderated by Larry Korb, former advisor on the Reagan-Bush election committee and a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress.

The Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, Francisco J. Sanchez, spoke to fall 2012 interns as the featured speaker for TWC's October 15th Simpson-Mineta Leadership Series (SMLS). During the event, he discussed what first sparked his interest in public service and the duties of his current position at the International Trade Administration (ITA).

TWC hosted their second SMLS of the summer semester with Brian Lamb, the founder, chairman and CEO of C-SPAN. Traditionally, students have been known to ask questions during these sessions but during the July 9th SMLS, the tables were turned when Mr. Lamb interviewed TWC students on topics such as:

Lawrence J. Korb, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, spoke to TWC summer interns during the first SMLS of the term. In addition to his role at the Center for American Progress, Mr. Korb also serves as the senior advisor to the Center for Defense Information, is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and has authored, co-authored and contributed to more than 20 books and 100 articles on various topics regarding national security issues.

During the SMLS, Mr. Korb discussed:

TWC students enjoyed a lecture by Norman Y. Mineta, who most recently served as the U.S. Secretary of Transportation in President George W. Bush's Cabinet.

The Washington Center hosted Former Vice President, Dick Cheney, for the Alan K. Simpson-Norman Y. Mineta Leaders Series (SMLS). Only a month after his heart transplant, Dick Cheney was the featured speaker during a one-hour discussion moderated by senior producer of C-SPAN, Steve Scully.

Spring interns enjoyed their second SMLS of the semester, which featured the power couple, Jim and Kate Lehrer.

Jim Lehrer has quite the resume, working as the executive producer and host of "The News Hour with Jim Lehrer" on PBS. Jim has also moderated 11 presidential debates and has won numerous awards for his work in journalism.

Kate Lehrer has written four novels in addition to short stories, essays and book reviews. She has also been a frequent panelist on the Diane Rehm Show's "Reader's Review" on National Public Radio.