Seventeen Indiana University students took part in the forum, organized by the IU Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies. The forum was launched by Dean John Ciorciari and the school’s leadership team and led by Founding Dean Lee Feinstein.
“The forum was designed to emphasize integrity and leadership skills,” said Ciorciari. “These align with the ethos of the school and its namesakes and are necessary for a successful and sustainable career.”
“Perhaps the most important benefit of the program is to build students’ confidence by showcasing the breadth of the education and training they are receiving,” said Feinstein. “Combining knowledge of place with cross-cutting analytical expertise is well-suited to a global career and mindset.”
Throughout the summer, the group typically met twice a week in Indiana University’s D.C. offices, just across the street from the White House. Other sessions included a meeting with Sen. Young at his senate office, a tour of the White House, and a private tour of an exhibit by the Simon Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Program participants ranged from incoming first year students to recent graduates. The only graduate student in the program, Behzad Sabeti, served as program coordinator and associate instructor for the forum.
“Hamilton Lugar School’s Leadership Forum in D.C. was an exceptional platform that bridged the gap between academic theory and empirical experiences not always captured in classroom discussions,” said Sabeti.
“While talking about the content of the exhibit, she was also explaining how they made decisions in planning it,” said Murphy. “When you go to a museum you don’t see all of the work that goes into it, so I think it was unique to be able to do that.”
Sam Kirley, a junior International Law and Institutions major, spent the summer interning at the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum, as well as participating in the D.C. Global Leadership Forum. “Being led by former Ambassador Feinstein is remarkable,” said Kirley. “For university students to have that close contact with someone who was a very important person in a powerful position, it’s nice to hear about his experience and the people he has connections with in a professional, but relaxed setting. There is a lot of access provided to us that certainly would not be possible if it was not for this leadership forum.”
This fall, Durbha is returning to IU to begin a Master of Public Affairs. “I’m going to do my second year of grad school in D.C., so my biggest goal in the program was meeting people and forming connections,” she said.
Durbha was impressed with University of Virginia Professor Mara Rudman. Early in her career, Rudman was chief counsel to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, working for chair and then ranking member Rep. Lee Hamilton – one of the school’s namesakes.
“She’s insanely successful,” Durbha said. “She worked in the White House during the Clinton and Obama administrations. It was just great to hear from her. I don’t think I fully realized how big of a network IU has, and how successful some of these people are. It’s inspiring.”
One of those incoming students was Hutton Honors scholar Elena Laguna, an International Studies major. Laguna’s high school graduation was the morning of the second session. When her peers expressed amazement that she attended the leadership session after the commencement ceremony, she said, “My grandparents told me, ‘Elena, you should go to class, this is your new path.’”
Another incoming student was Elliot Rothman, a Wells Scholar entering the International Law and Institutions program. Rothman commuted nearly three hours from his home in Virginia for each of the sessions.
“Ambassador Feinstein was just an amazing teacher,” said Rothman. “He’s really good at helping explore all the different facets of each topic while still making sure we have an eye on the bigger picture. It genuinely was amazing to get to meet so many people with such a unique variety of jobs.”
Rothman said of the final session, a meeting with Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States, “She was willing to answer – in detail – a question from each of us. That was amazing.”
Rothman was even more impressed that after their visit, the ambassador posted a picture of them on X, saying it was a pleasure to meet them, and that they all had thoughtful questions.
Ciorciari concurred. “Based on the success of the inaugural program,” he said, “the plan is to build semester-long programs beginning in the fall of 2025.”
Students interested in participating in the Global Leadership Forum should visit the forum webpage and sign up to be notified when applications open.
