A Great Encounter, a private event hosted by the Tocqueville Forum, is a seminar-style meeting between 8-10 Student Fellows and a visiting scholar or other special guest. The visitor gives an informal lecture on an important work of his choice; one that has been formative in his intellectual life. Students then have the opportunity to discuss the work with the guest and also receive a free copy of the book under discussion to promote the building of their personal libraries. With this series, the Forum seeks to nourish in students a love for reading the classic texts of Western Civilization in an age that is more accustomed to gleaning information from online sources than reading deeply in history, theology, literature, poetry, and political philosophy.

The Conference on the American Polity

The student conference is an undertaking co-sponsored by Princeton University’s James Madison Program. Past conferences have allowed students from Princeton and Georgetown to deliver original papers on political theory and to receive valuable comments from professors and graduate students. These conferences have fostered a collaborative relationship between the Tocqueville Forum and the James Madison Program, encouraging connections between the students involved. In the 2009-10 academic year the Forum expanded participation to include students from Boston College and Villanova.

2011 Student Conference on the American Polity

The Tocqueville Forum was proud to participate in the fourth annual Undergraduate Student Scholars Conference on the American Polity. This year, the Forum and its co-sponsor of the conference for the last three years, the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University, invited the Clough Center for the Study of Constitutional Democracy at Boston College to join us in sponsorship.

Our three programs extended an invitation to the Hamilton Institute at Hamilton College and the Tocqueville Program at the University of Notre Dame to participate.

The Conference on the American Polity is a premier undergraduate scholars conference at which undergraduates have the opportunity to present research papers to fellow students, to receive valuable feedback, and to meet students from other universities. The conference concluded with a dinner and a keynote speaker.

It was held at Princeton University on Saturday, March 26, 2011.  

The Conference was highlighted in the Georgetown University Federalist, a student-run paper and blog on campus, on May 5, 2011: http://georgetownfederalist.com/2011/05/tocqueville-forum-fellows-participate-in-conference/.

I am drawn to the Tocqueville Forum because it is an outlet for me to learn even more about how America came to be as it is today with people who are interested in the same ideas. Academic classes can only cover so much material. The Tocqueville Forum supplements what I learn in the classroom with applicable speakers and other forums of discussion. All of the Student Fellows participate because they want to participate, making the experience that much richer.

- Laura Higbee, COL ’15

Utraque Unum

The Utraque Unum is our undergraduate journal, written and edited primarily by student fellows.  The purpose of the journal is not only to acquaint students with the tasks of serious writing and editing, but also to allow them to think through complex problems in politics, in culture, and in Georgetown University life.  Please see the webpage of the Utraque Unum for more details and for past issues.  For more information about our journal or to submit an essay to be considered for publication in the journal, please send an e-mail to utraque.unum@gmail.com.

Reading Group

Since Fall 2007, the Tocqueville Forum has hosted a weekly reading group for undergraduates interested in our mission.  An informal gathering led either by the Postdoctoral Fellow or by the Graduate Fellows, the group reads classics of the western political, theological, and philosophical tradition.

If you are interested in participating in our current reading group and would like to reserve a free copy of the books being discussed, please complete the form on this page.  

Student Retreat

Since the fall of 2009, the Tocqueville Forum has sponsored a trip for a small group of undergraduate Student Fellows to the Airlie Center for an intellectual retreat. 

The idyllic natural setting in Warrenton, VA makes The Forum's Director, Dr. Deneen, says of the retreat: "for one and a half days, we do there what college should be like all the time!"

Due to excited and thankful feedback from students who attended the first retreat, we held the Second Annual Tocqueville Forum Student Retreat in early November 2010 and continued the tradition this year with our third annual retreat over Columbus Day Weekend. 

The theme of the third annual Student Retreat was The Meaning of University Education. You can read the full story on the retreat in the Fall 2011 issue of the Tocqueville Gazette.

The Tocqueville Forum has not only ignited my intellectual curiosity where the university has failed, but it has also brought me together with so many amazing and driven peers looking for something more than what they get in the classroom.

- Kevin Sullivan, SFS ’14, Undeclared

How to Apply

The Student Fellows program enables Georgetown undergraduate students who are strongly interested in the Tocqueville Forum more deeply to explore the themes and questions of at the heart of the American democracy by means of the activities detailed above.  Membership is selective, and admission reflects an accomplishment.  Student Fellows will be given many opportunities to learn about America's founding principles and their roots in the Western tradition.

The due dates for new Student Fellow applications for the 2011-2012 academic year have now passed. Applications are being accepted on a case-by-case basis. To apply, please submit a letter of interest and your curriculum vitae to tocquevilleforum@georgetown.edu. Thank you for your interest.

Tocqueville Forum Student Fellows

2012-2013 Student Fellows

Nick Albanese, School of Foreign Service 2014 - International Politics; Russian
Jon Askonas, 2013 - International Politics
Drew Bausher, College 2013 - Government
Meg Beedle, College 2014 - Undeclared
Michael Budzinski, College 2014 - Government and Portuguese
Matthew Caplan, College 2015 - Undeclared
Kent Carlson, School of Foreign Service 2014 - International Political Economy
Chloe Chen, School of Foreign Service 2015 - Undeclared
Julia Christensen, College 2015 - Undeclared
Michael Clark, College 2013 -Undeclared
Emily Coccia, College 2015 - Government and English
Jim Coury, School of Foreign Service 2015 - Undeclared
Randy Crooks, School of Foreign Service 2013 - International Political Economy (European Studies Certificate)
Drew Cunningham, College 2014 - Undeclared
Helen DeCelles-Zwerneman, College 2014 - Physics
Rachel Farell, School of Foreign Service 2013 - International Politics
Andrea Fernandez, College 2015 - Undeclared
Michael Fischer, School of Foreign Service 2013 - International Political Economy
Ryan Fitzgerald, College 2015 - Undeclared
Julie Gantz, School of Foreign Service 2013 - International Politics
Maria Goncharova, College 2014 - Undeclared
Kieran Halloran, School of Foreign Service 2014 - Regional Comparative Studies  
Daniel Healy, College 2013 - Government
Matt Hamblin, College 2015 - Undeclared
Harry Hill, College 2015 - Undeclared
Harvey Hinman, College 2015 - Undeclared
Shiva Jayaraman, College 2015 - Undeclared
Daniel Kendrick, College 2015 - Undeclared
Sonia Kikeri, School of Foreign Service 2013 - International Political Economy
Daniel LaMagna, College 2013 - Theology
Michael Lessman, College 2013 - Arabic, Philosophy
J. John Lim, School of Foreign Service 2013 - International Political Economy
Amanda Lo, College 2013 - Government
Nathaniel MacArthur, McDonough School of Business 2013 - Operations and Information Management
Lizzy MacGill, College 2014 - English and Spanish
Kevin Magana, College 2013 - Government
Toniann Maniscalco, 2015 - Undeclared
Fred Messner, School of Foreign Service 2014 - International Political Economy
John Micevych, College 2015 - Political Economy
JP Mikhaiel, College 2014 - Biology
Alexander Miller, College 2013 - Undeclared
Christopher Mooney, 2013 - Classics
Andrew Passarelli, College 2015 - Undeclared
Constantine Petallides, School of Foreign Service 2013 - International Politics
Erik Petersen, School of Foreign Service 2015 - International Economics
Thomas Pigott, School of Foreign Serivce 2015 - International Relations
Alexander Podkul, College 2013 - Theology and Government
Peter Prindiville, School of Foreign Service 2014 - International History
Kieran Raval, College 2013 - Government
Mary Grace Reich, School of Foreign Service 2013 - Culture & Politics
Jessica Rempe, College 2015 - French/Undeclared
Katherine Rivard, School of Foreign Service 2015 - Culture and Politics
Jordan Rudinsky, College 2015 - Government; Classics
Hannah Schneider, College 2015 - Government, Russian
Michael Scialpi, College 2015 - Undeclared
Kevin Sullivan, School of Foreign Service 2014 - Undeclared
Stephen Taft, College 2013 - History
Alexander Teague, School of Foreign Service 2015 - International Politics
Steven Waldorf, College 2013 - Government
Amelia Whitehead, School fo Foreign Service 2014 - International Politics
James Wolfe, College 2015 - Classics
Stephen Wooten, McDonough School of Business 2013 - Accounting/Finance
Stephen Wu, College 2013 - Government
Amanda Wynter, School of Foreign Service 2014 - Regional and Comparative Studies
Yongle Xue, College 2014 - Economics

2011-2012 Student Fellows

Nick Albanese, School of Foreign Service 2014 - International Politics; Russian
Jon Askonas,  2013 - International Politics
Kevin Baird, College 2012 - History, Government
Drew Bausher, College 2013 - Government
Meg Beedle, College 2014 - Undeclared
Michael Budzinski, College 2014 - Government and Portuguese
Matthew Caplan, College 2015 - Undeclared
Kent Carlson, School of Foreign Service 2014 - International Political Economy
Chloe Chen, School of Foreign Service 2015 - Undeclared
Julia Christensen, College 2015 - Undeclared
Michael Clark, College 2013  -Undeclared
Emily Coccia, College 2015 - Government and English
Jim Coury, School of Foreign Service 2015 - Undeclared
Randy Crooks, School of Foreign Service 2013 - International Political Economy (European Studies Certificate)
Drew Cunningham, College 2014 - Undeclared
Helen DeCelles-Zwerneman, College 2014 - Physics
Emma Dowell, McDonough School of Business 2012 - Finance and Accounting
Rachel Farell, School of Foreign Service 2013 - International Politics
Andrea Fernandez, College 2015 - Undeclared
Michael Fischer, School of Foreign Service 2013 - International Political Economy
Ryan Fitzgerald, College 2015 - Undeclared
Julie Gantz, School of Foreign Service 2013 - International Politics
Maria Goncharova, College 2014 - Undeclared
Brendan Gottschall, College 2012 - Economics
Emma Green, College 2012 - Government
Kieran Halloran, School of Foreign Service 2014 - Regional Comparative Studies
Matt Hamblin, College 2015 - Undeclared
Alexander Henderson, College 2012 - Philosophy & Government
Laura Higbee, College 2015 - Undeclared
Harry Hill, College 2015 - Undeclared
Harvey Hinman, College 2015 - Undeclared
Shiva Jayaraman, College 2015 - Undeclared 
Robert Kaminski, College 2012 - History and Economics
Daniel Kendrick, College 2015 - Undeclared
Sonia Kikeri, School of Foreign Service 2013 - International Political Economy
Joe Knowles, College 2012 - Government/History
Daniel LaMagna, College 2013 - Theology
Michael Lessman, College 2013 - Arabic, Philosophy
J. John Lim, School of Foreign Service 2013 - International Political Economy
Amanda Lo, College 2013 - Government
Nathaniel MacArthur, McDonough School of Business 2013 - Operations and Information Management
Lizzy MacGill, College 2014 - English and Spanish
Kevin Magana, College 2013 - Government
Toniann Maniscalco,  2015 - Undeclared
Fred Messner, School of Foreign Service 2014 - International Political Economy
John Micevych, College 2015 - Political Economy
JP Mikhaiel, College 2014 - Biology
Alexander Miller, College 2013 - Undeclared 
Christopher Mooney,  2013 - Classics
Andrew Passarelli, College 2015 - Undeclared
Javier Pena, School of Foreign Service 2012 - International Politics
Constantine Petallide,s School of Foreign Service 2013 - International Politics
Erik Petersen, School of Foreign Service 2015 - International Economics
Thomas Pigott, School of Foreign Serivce 2015 - International Relations
Alexander Podkul, College 2013 - Theology and Government
Julia Polese, School of Foreign Service 2012 - International History
Peter Prindiville, School of Foreign Service 2014 - International History
Kieran Raval, College 2013 - Government
Mary Grace Reich, School of Foreign Service 2013 - Culture & Politics
Jessica Rempe, College 2015 - French/Undeclared
Katherine Rivard, School of Foreign Service 2015 - Culture and Politics
Jordan Rudinsky, College 2015 - Government; Classics
Hannah Schneider, College 2015 - Government, Russian
Michael Scialpi, College 2015 - Undeclared
Kevin Sullivan, School of Foreign Service 2014 - Undeclared
Stephen Taft, College 2013 - History
Alexander Teague, School of Foreign Service 2015 - International Politics
Steven Waldorf, College 2013 - Government
Amelia Whitehead, School fo Foreign Service 2014 - International Politics
James Wolfe, College 2015 - Classics
Stephen Wooten, McDonough School of Business 2013 - Accounting/Finance
Stephen Wu, College 2013 - Government
Amanda Wynter, School of Foreign Service 2014 - Regional and Comparative Studies
Yongle Xue, College 2014 - Economics
Marzena Zukowska, School of Foreign Service 2012 - STIA, Physics




 

2010-2011 Student Fellows

Jack Appelbaum, College 2014- Government
Jonathan Askonas, School of Foreign Service 2013- International History
Gavin Bade, School of Foreign Service 2014- Undeclared
Kevin Baird, College 2012- History
Robert (R.J.) Barthelmes, College 2012- American Studies
Drew Bausher, College 2013- Government
Margaret Beedle, College 2014 - Undeclared
Katherine Bermingham, College 2011- Government and English
Brigid Bower, College 2011- Economics; Catholic Studies Minor
Peter Brigham, School of Foreign Service 2014- International Political Economy
Michael Budzinski, College 2014- Government and Spanish
Matthew Cantirino, College 2011- Government and Theology
Rachel Carandang, College 2014- Undeclared
Alexander Chang, School of Foreign Service 2013- International Politics-Security Studies
Michael Clark, College 2013- Undeclared
Colin Cortes, College 2013- Government
Drew Cunningham, College 2014- Classics and Government
Helen Decelles-Zwerneman, College 2014- Physics
Nico Dodd, College 2012- English
Will Downes, College 2011- Government and History
Rachel Farell, School of Foreign Service 2013- International Politics
Michael Fischer, School of Foreign Service 2013- Undeclared
Rahul Garabadu, College 2013- Government
Matthew Giebler, College 2012- Government; Arabic and Islamic Studies Minor
Ohm Gore, College, 2011- Government
Brendan Gottschall, College 2012- Economics; Government and Chinese Minor
Kieran Halloran, School of Foreign Service 2014- International Politics
Libby Hambleton, College 2013- Government and History
Justin Hawkins, College 2011- Government
Dan Healy, College 2013- Government
Alex Henderson, College 2012- Government and Philosophy
Katelyn Jones, College 2011- Government
Robert Kaminski, College 2013- History and Economics
Sonia Kikeri, School of Foreign Service 2013- International Political Economy
Joseph Knowles, College 2013- Government and History
Danielle Lee, College 2013- Undeclared
Alex LePore, College 2012- Government; Philosophy Minor
John Lim, School of Foreign Service 2013- International Political Economy
Michael Madoff, School of Foreign Service 2013- International Politics
Andrew Marsh, College 2013- History and Philosophy
Matthew McKillip, College 2011- English
Justin Mercer, College 2013- Government and Economics
Emily Merki, School of Foreign Service 2011- International Politics - Intl. Law
JP Mikhaiel, College 2014- Biology
Alexander Miller, College 2013- Undeclared
Benjamin Mishkin, School of Foreign Service 2013- Undeclared
Christopher Mooney, College 2014- Undeclared
Angela Morabito, School of Foreign Service 2013- Culture and Politics
Jooyong Park, College 2012- Economics and Government
Javier Pena, School of Foreign Service 2011- International Politics
Constantine Petallides, School of Foreign Service 2013- International Politics
Michael Pfeiffer, School of Foreign Service 2011- International Politics- Foreign Policy and Policy Processes
Alexander Podkul, College 2013- Government and Theology
Natalie Punchak, College 2011- Government and English
Kieran Raval, College 2013- Government
Rowley Rice, College 2013- Government and History
Melissa Riggio, College 2014- French
Victoria Roehrich, School of Foreign Service 2011- International Politics
Collan Rosier, College 2011- Government and History
Judy Shing, College 2013- Government and History
Sonal Somaiya, School of Foreign Service 2014- International Political Economy
Jay Sykes, College 2011- Government
Stephen Taft, College 2013- History
Allison Theveny, College 2014- Undeclared
Christopher Tosetti, College 2011- Government; Social and Political Thought
Timothy Tsai, College 2013- Philosophy and Economics
Bryana Tucci, School of Foreign Service 2011- Middle East Regional Studies
Steven Waldorf, College 2013- Undeclared
Stephen Wooten, Mcdonough School of Business 2013- Undeclared
Stephen Wu College, 2013- Undeclared
Yongle Xue College, 2014- Undeclared
Marzena Zukowska, School of Foreign Service 2012- Science, Technology, and International Affairs; Physics

  

2009-2010 Student Fellows

Parul Aggarwal SFS '12 International History & Philosophy
Erika Barger COL '10 Government
Robert Barthelmes COL '12 American Studies
Drew Bausher COL '13 Government
Melissa Bell COL '11 Government
Ryan Berg COL '10 Government & Theology
Andrea Bischoff SFS '11 International Politics
Ben Bold COL '13 Undeclared
Jeffrey Bolling SFS '10 International History
Brigid Bower COL '11 Economics
Emily Cabanatuan SFS '12 International Politics
Matthew Cantirino COL '11 Government & Theology
Alexander Chang SFS '13 International Political Economy
Sophia Christides SFS '12 International Political Economy
Colin Cortes COL '13 Government
Kelleigh Cosentino SFS '12 International Politics
Emma Dowell MSB '12 Business
William Downes COL '11 Government
Randal Drew SFS '10 International Affairs
Emily Durst COL '10 Philosophy
Rachel Farell SFS '13 International Politics
Maria Fernandez SFS '10 International Poltics
Michael Fischer SFS '13 Undeclared
Julie Gantz SFS '13 Undeclared
Ohm Gore COL '11 Government
Scott Gray COL '10 Government & History
Andrew Gray SFS '12 International History
Alexander Gutierrez COL '11 Government & Theology
Libby Hambleton COL '13 Government & History
Daniel Healy COL '13 Undeclared
Alex Henderson COL '12 Government & Philosophy
Christine Herlihy COL '11 Government
Calvin Keen SFS '10 Science, Technology, and International Affairs
Daniel Kim SFS '12 International Politics
Joseph Knowles COL '12 Goverment & History
Alexander Kritikos COL '10 Government & Philosophy
Melinda Ku COL '10 American Studies
Jeffrey Long COL '10 Government
Matthew McKillip COL '11 English
Emily Merki SFS '11 International Politics
John Morris COL '13 Undeclared
Brett Nadrich COL '12 Culture and Politics
Jooyong Park COL '12 Government & Economics
Julie Patterson COL '12 American Studies and Spanish
Michael Pfeiffer SFS '11 International Politics, Foreign Policy and Policy Process
Alexander R. Podkul COL '13 Government
Natalie Punchak COL '11 Government, English, Spanish
Victoria Roehrich SFS '12 Regional and Comparative Studies
Collan Rosier COL '11 Government & History
Levy Stephen SFS '13 International Politics
Jay Sykes COL '11 Government
Timothy Tsai COL '13 Undeclared
Christopher Tosetti COL '11 Government
Steven Waldorf COL '13 Undeclared
Stephen Wooten MSB '13 Undeclared
Stephen Wu COL '13 Undeclared
 

2008-2009 Student Fellows

Mark Anderson, ‘11
Erika Barger, ‘10
Ryan Berg, ‘10
Andrea Bischoff, ‘10
Jeffery Scott Bolling, ‘10
Martina Bozadzhieva, ‘10
Matt Cantirino, ‘11
Jason Cheberenchick, ‘09
Larry Creech, ‘09
Michael Slone Desnick, ‘11
Wynne Dillon, ‘10
Emma Dowell, ‘12
William Downes, ‘11
Loghman Fattahi, ‘11
Ohm Gore, ‘11
Scott Gray, ‘11
Brennan Gummerove, ‘09
Justin Ryan Hawkins, ‘11
James Blake Kelly, ‘12
Alexander John Kritikos, ‘10
Melinda Ku, ‘10
Timothy Lang, ‘09
Jeffrey Long, ‘10
Matthew James McKillip, ‘11
Emily Merki, ‘11
Amanda Murphy, ‘09
Brett Nadrich, ‘12
Drew Peterson, ‘10
Michael Pfeiffer, ‘11
Anthony Piccirillo, ‘09
Natalie Punchak, ‘11
Collan Rosier, ‘11
Taylor Salisbury, ‘10
Janice Shon, ‘11
Jennifer Danielle Singleton, ‘09
Thomas Skomba, ‘10
Jay Benjamin Sykes, ‘11
Adam Wilner, ‘09
Eric Wind, ‘09
Kevin Windels, ‘10

2007-2008 Student Fellows

Paul Biedlingmaier
Jeffrey Bolling
Katherine Boyle
Michael Brown
Ryan Callahan
Matthew Cantirino
James Crowley
Caitlin Devine
Wynne Dillon
Randal Drew
Matthew Engler
Loghman Fattahi
Tweedy Flanigan
Stephanie Gallo
Joseph Germani
Ohm Jayavant Gore
Robert Gregory
Christopher Golski
Adam Haffez
Doug Hance
Justin Hawkins
Sam Hornak
Thomas Kelly
Stephen Kenny
A.J. Kritikos
Grace Lager
Brendan Lane
Jeffrey Long
Nicolas Lourié
Kayleigh McEnany
Morgan McGovern
Emily Merki
Grant Morrow
Mela Norman
Taylor O'Neill
Anthony Piccirillo
Charlotte Powers
William Quinn
Daniel Rendleman
Austin Roberts
Jennifer Singleton
Tom Skomba
Luke Swiderski
Rebecca Tapscott
James Unger
Eric Wind
Kevin Windells
Michael Wood
Noëlle Yasso

2006-2007 Student Fellows

Katherine Boyle
Caitlin Devine
Wynne Dillon
Randal Drew
Matthew Engler
Stephanie Gallo
Joseph Germani
Christopher Golski
Doug Hance
Arielle Holland
Sam Hornak
Grace Lager
Brendan Lane
Grant Morrow
Taylor O'Neill
Anthony Piccirillo
Charlotte Powers
Daniel F. Rendleman
Austin Roberts
H. J. Shea
Jennifer Danielle Singleton
James Unger
Eric Wind
Kevin Windels
Michael Wood