Georgetown School of Foreign Service

The future of foreign aid: rebuilding better | School of Foreign Service | Georgetown Raj Kumar (SFS’97), founding president and editor-in-chief of Devex, discusses what kind of opportunities the immense changes provide to improve the way international development and aid are structure...

Can we rebuild international development focused on outcomes? @raj-devex.bsky.social (SFS’97), editor-in-chief of @devex.com, weighs in as part of a new series by SFS faculty and alumni on the future of foreign aid.

Read more: bit.ly/4oqocep

Can tax revenues in low-and middle-income countries or sustainable investment by private corporations help make up for U.S. government funding for development? Prof Steven Radelet weighs in as part of a new series by SFS faculty and alumni on the future of foreign aid.

Read more: bit.ly/4fo8f4p

Izmirlian Students Traverse Continents for Insight into BMW's Value Chain - McDonough School of Business As part of the Dikran Izmirlian Program in Business and Global Affairs (BGA), Tosin Fagbami (BGA’26) and her classmates recently followed the BMW supply chain, traveling to Germany, South Carolina, an...

What is it like to understand a global value chain up close? As part of the joint SFS–MSB Dirkan Izmirlian Program in Business and Global Affairs, Tosin Fagbami (MSB’26) traced BMW’s operations in Germany, South Carolina & Mexico—exploring strategy, supply chains & policy.

Read more: bit.ly/4ogtQjf

A person with curly hair and glasses, wearing a suit, smiles in front of a sign reading "Hudson Institute".

View of the United States Capitol building on a cloudy day, with people walking in the foreground.

Jon Plummer (SFS’27), a 2025 Paul F. Pelosi Scholar, is spending his #SummerSFS here in DC interning at the Hudson Institute. He supports a weekly column in the Wall Street Journal, assists with events and briefs other institute scholars on developments in international affairs.

Who should coordinate Europe’s defense buildup? The best candidate, at least for the near term, has granular understanding of existing forces and informal links to suppliers.

Who, or what, will coordinate Europe’s growing defense efforts? SFS Prof Sara Bjerg Moller asserts in @defenseone.bsky.social that EUCOM is best positioned, but without clear leadership, the continent risks wasting a rare moment of political and financial alignment.

Read more: bit.ly/3U2gMQC

A person smiling, standing at the anchor desk in the CNN Brasil studio, with television screens showing news segments in the background.

View of Rio de Janeiro with visible landmarks such as Corcovado Mountain and Sugarloaf Mountain, under a clear sky with scattered clouds.

Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with arms outstretched against a clear blue sky.

Person standing on the steps of the Christ the Redeemer statue, overlooking the scenic views of Rio de Janeiro's mountains and cityscape.

Ranee Brady (SFS'26), a 2024–26 Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholar, has spent her #SummerSFS in Brazil interning with @cnn-brasil.bsky.social & RioOnWatch. From writing news in Portuguese to covering justice issues in Rio’s favelas, she’s deepening her focus on international politics & journalism. 🇧🇷

Trump Flies to Scotland, Leaving Chaos Swirling in Washington

Golf and trade talks? SFS Professor Charles Kupchan predicted in the @nytimes.com that President Trump’s trip to the UK would result in “more meat on [the] bones” of the UK/U.S. trade deal.

Read more: www.nytimes.com/2025/07/25/u...

From Long Flu to Long COVID: A Brief History of Postviral Illness | Think Global Health Despite centuries of examples, long-term maladies after flu and other viruses remain absent from mainstream policy

What can long COVID teach us about centuries of dismissed illness? In @thinkglobalhealth.org, SFS Prof Emily Mendenhall traces the history of post-viral conditions—and how society has long misunderstood them.

Read more: www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/long...

A person in a white naval uniform stands at a podium with the seal of the United States, giving a speech next to a U.S. flag and a statue of a standing figure in casual attire.

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Group of seven people celebrating an award ceremony for a naval officer in uniform, with three adults and four children standing together, smiling in front of a building on a sunny day.

SFS instills a lasting commitment to service—exemplified by Jeffrey Krilla (SFS’91), awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal in May 2025. He reflects on his time at SFS, career insights and how his education fueled his dedication to public service. 🇺🇸

Read more: bit.ly/4f4DP6M

Three people chatting happily in front of the United States Capitol Building on a sunny day.

Curious about studying global trends and dynamics across disciplines and regions? Come to our SFS Graduate Programs Reception from 5:30–7:30 pm EDT, Tuesday, July 29, at Georgetown’s Capitol Campus & meet admissions reps from SFS graduate programs.

RSVP: bit.ly/4f3h0Ax

In Ecuador, This Son of Immigrants Explored His Fascination With Latin America - Georgetown University In Latin America, Jeremy Suzuki not only deepened his passion for the region but also related to his own experiences coming from an immigrant family.

What happens when classroom learning meets real life? Jeremy Suzuki (SFS’28) spent six weeks in Ecuador with the Georgetown in Quito program, deepening his interest in migration while studying regional issues and living with a host family.

Read more: www.georgetown.edu/news/jeremy-...

The Enshittification of American Power First Google and Facebook, then the world. Under Trump 2.0, US statecraft is starting to mimic the worst tendencies of Big Tech.

“De-enshittifying the platforms of American power isn’t just an urgent priority for allies, then. It’s an imperative for Americans, too,” write SFS Prof Abraham Newman & Henry Farrell in @wired.com. They say reliance on U.S. comms & weapons makes allies more vulnerable.

Read more: bit.ly/3U0wZG5

A Senior Finds His Niche in the Great Outdoors - Georgetown University Peter Sukstorf has studied chameleons in Madagascar and helped rescue fur seals in Alaska. Find out his environmental internship this summer.

Chameleons and gulf chicks and seals, oh my! As an intern at the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies in Homer, Alaska, STIA major Peter Sukstorf (SFS’26) is spending his #SummerSFS gaining hands-on experience in environmental education and conservation.

Read more: bit.ly/4kEwrAg

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A person standing between large boulders with a scenic mountain backdrop.

Wooden signs at the Cape of Good Hope, labeled as the most south-western point of the African continent, with rocky terrain and a mountain in the background.

Person standing and smiling next to two informational banners.

Elizabeth Koenck (SFS’27), a 2025 Paul F. Pelosi Scholar, is spending her #SummerSFS in Pretoria, South Africa, interning with South Africa’s Department of Basic Education. She’s using coding and data tools and working with global education teams on early literacy research. 🇿🇦

Rubio heads to Asia on trip overshadowed by tariffs, Middle East Secretary of State Marco Rubio canceled the Tokyo and Seoul destinations of this week’s trip to Asia amid an Israeli visit to the White House and a renewed trade war.

How does canceling stops in Tokyo & Seoul send a message about Trump’s Asia strategy? SFS Prof Evan Medeiros tells the @washingtonpost.com it sends conflicting signals during U.S. Sec. of State Marco Rubio’s Southeast Asia trip.

Read more: wapo.st/4ePNgaq

Opinion | Netanyahu’s legacy won’t be made on the battlefield alone The Israeli prime minister has shown admirable military resolve. Political courage must come next.

How will Netanyahu secure his legacy? Not on the battlefield alone, says Ambassador Dennis Ross. In @postopinions.bsky.social, Ross argues that Israel’s longest-serving prime minister must build on his military resolve in Iran with more political courage in the West Bank.

Read more: wapo.st/44Kyhdf

What Drones Can—and Cannot—Do on the Battlefield The Pentagon should learn from Israel and Ukraine.

Is the Pentagon ready for the future of war? In @foreignaffairs.com, CSET’s Lauren Kahn and co-authors argue the U.S. must embrace AI-powered uncrewed systems to stay ahead in modern warfare or else risk losing both deterrence and future wars.

Read more: fam.ag/4ljilpb

An individual standing on a coastal sidewalk with Bondi Beach and residential buildings in the background.

Night view of the Sydney Opera House illuminated with colorful light projections, reflected in the water below.

Exterior view of the University of Sydney building at twilight, featuring pedestrians and illuminated signage.

Yajat Gupta (SFS’27), a 2025 Paul F. Pelosi Scholar, is spending his #SummerSFS in Sydney, Australia, interning at @usstudiescentre.bsky.social. He’s exploring U.S. politics, Indo-Pacific security, human rights and multilateral alliances—bringing his international politics studies to life. 🇦🇺

Five questions about Long COVID and patient activism online - SFS - School of Foreign Service - Georgetown University SFS Professor Emily Mendenhall answers questions about Long COVID, vaccine politics and how digital activism has helped Long COVID patients find resources and community.

How are online communities changing the conversation around Long COVID? SFS Prof @emendenhall.bsky.social shares insights on Long COVID, vaccine politics and digital activism.

Read the full Q&A: bit.ly/4nCaEfr

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Person wearing a cap, glasses, and traditional sarong standing on a stone path at dusk, with the unique conical structures of the Todo village in the background.

Person in a pink dress sitting at the front of a boat, overlooking the serene waters and lush green cliffs of Manila.

How are graduate students navigating shifts in the U.S. international development field? Georgetown GHD students are spending their #SummerSFS interning across the public, private and nonprofit sectors to build skills, networks & hands-on experience. 🌏

Read more: bit.ly/4lWJjDd

Woman with long brown hair in a Georgetown University t-shirt smiling in front of a brick building.

A person wearing a business suit stands in front of the United States Capitol building under a partly cloudy sky.

A person stands at a podium with the United States Senate seal, smiling and wearing a business suit with a name badge.

Meet Zeinah Abdelsalam (MSFS’27), an incoming grad student spending her #SummerSFS in DC as a federal affairs intern at Orion Strategies, focusing on energy, environment & AI. Originally from Egypt & raised in Dubai, she brings a global perspective to her work.

The Must-Read Books For Summer Travel According to Professors - Georgetown University Traveling this summer? Here are a few books Georgetown professors recommend for your journey — and their travel recommendations.

Still building your summer #TBR? 🌍📚 Georgetown professors, including SFS’s Lahra Smith and Angelo Rivero Santos, recommend books that explore Africa, Latin America and beyond—plus they share travel tips for these regions.

Read more: www.georgetown.edu/news/the-mus...

Opinion | The Trump doctrine on nuclear nonproliferation is born By striking Iran’s nuclear program, Trump has sent a strong message to any country seeking the bomb.

How should the world respond to emerging nuclear threats? In @postopinions.bsky.social, SFS Prof Matthew Kroenig argues that Trump’s strikes on Iran signal a new doctrine: countering nuclear proliferation through military force.

Read more: www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Tax revenues and local spending: tackling clichés about immigration Immigration is often perceived as a tax burden. Yet a study by Anna Maria Mayda and the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (Liser) shows that, depending on the qualifications of migrants ...

How does immigration really impact local economies? SFS Prof Anna Maria Mayda explains to Delano that high-skilled immigrants often boost tax revenues and spending, while low-skilled individuals can have the opposite effect.

Read more: delano.lu/article/tax-...

How Trump Could Lose This War U.S. strikes were limited, but the campaign against Iran could still get messy.

What did the U.S. & Israel’s strikes on Iran actually achieve? With a shaky ceasefire in place, SFS Prof Daniel Byman writes in @foreignpolicy.com that the attacks may delay Iran’s nuclear program but risk escalation, diplomatic fallout & a shift to more covert enrichment.

Read more: bit.ly/3GgZjAC

YouTube video by Georgetown SFS The Crisis in Iran | SFS Fast Break

Yesterday, 400+ SFS @GUAlumni joined Dean @JoelHellman_SFS for Fast Break with Amb Dennis Ross on crisis in Iran. Ross offered analysis on the recent U.S. and Israeli strikes, Iran’s response and regional implications for Gaza, the West Bank and Saudi Arabia. Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDGE...

Person standing next to a banner at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy Center for Innovation Forum event titled "Making the Case: How CR Innovation in Retirement Plan Design is Good for Business." The banner also thanks sponsors including BlackRock.

Three individuals smiling at a registration table inside a building, with a banner reading "Georgetown University" in the background.

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Who says research is just for the school year? Terry Li (SFS’26) is spending his #SummerSFS on the Hilltop exploring real-world policy issues—from India’s environmental regulations to U.S. retirement programs. ☀️

Unpacking the Gender 'Paradox’ Behind Arab Women in Tech - MERIP ompared to women in the United States and most European countries, Arab women are highly represented in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and related computing fields. In fact, six of […]

What explains the gap between STEM education & tech employment for Arab women? In a @merip.bsky.social research article, SFS Prof Fida Adely & co-authors explore how cultural norms, structural barriers and lack of mentorship add to this persistent gender paradox in MENA.

Read more: bit.ly/4edWqwQ

Why a Wider War With Iran Is Unlikely The regime is too weak to escalate or dash to a bomb.

What comes next after U.S. & Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear program? With a tentative ceasefire established but uncertainty ahead, SFS Prof Matthew Kroenig argues in @foreignpolicy.com that a wider war is unlikely, as Iran appears unwilling & ill-equipped to escalate.

Read more: bit.ly/45CVTCD

Taking Out Iran’s Nuclear Facilities Could Usher In a New Dawn for Peace and Prosperity In the Middle East Trump’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites appear to mark a pivotal step toward Middle East peace.

What might recent U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran mean for Middle East diplomacy? Amb. Dennis Ross explores this question in a piece co-authored for @time.com, arguing the strikes mark a strategic shift that could weaken Iran’s influence & revive regional peace efforts.

Read more: bit.ly/466rf4z