NEW EC Year-End Highlights
62 Events
brought together scholars, policymakers, students, and practitioners for dialogue on pressing global policy issues.
43 Student Employees
gained paid professional experience across research, events, operations, and communications.
6 Fellowships
helped recruit and support exceptional incoming master’s students.
9 New EC Members
joined the Executive Circle from D.C., New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and the UK.
IIEP engages students as emerging scholars, professionals, and future leaders. Through fellowships, hands-on work experience, faculty research, public events, and connections with alumni, Executive Circle members, policymakers, and practitioners, we help students learn beyond the classroom and explore the ideas shaping international economic policy.
GW Today Spotlights IIEP Students
IIEP research assistants Simon Debesai and Abigail Ruggles were featured in GW Today for their experience attending the World Bank Annual Meetings and connecting faculty research to real-world global policy conversations.
Opening Pathways to the World Bank and IMF
IIEP prepared 224 endorsement letters for students applying to attend the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings, helping them take advantage of a rare opportunity to engage with global economic and development policy conversations in D.C.
Access to Executive Circle & Alumni Networks
This year, IIEP hosted seven networking events that engaged 200+ students, connecting them with Executive Circle members, alumni, practitioners, and policy professionals across international economics, development, finance, policy, and business.
Established and funded through the generosity of the Executive Circle, IIEP Fellowships help attract outstanding students to the Elliott School’s Master’s program in International Economic Policy. These awards provide critical first-year financial support and help the Elliott School remain competitive in recruiting talented future leaders from around the world.
Meet the 2025-2026 IIEP Fellows:
Abigail (Abie) Craff
M.A Candidate, International Economic Policy
B.A., Economics & German, University of Notre Dame
Abie was awarded a Fulbright scholarship, through which she spent a year teaching English in Berlin, Germany. She also recently joined the IIEP team as the new Program Coordinator. LinkedIn.
George Seifert
M.A. Candidate, International Economic Policy
B.A., Economics, University of Pittsburgh
George is interested in energy infrastructure and natural resource policy, informed by his internship with the U.S. Commercial Service. LinkedIn.
Xiomara Jean-Louis
M.A. Candidate, International Economic Policy
B.S., Sustainability Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic
Xiomara works full-time at Capital One and writes foreign policy analysis for Haiti Policy House, focusing on U.S. policy on Haiti, the Caribbean, and environmental movements. LinkedIn.
Lebopo Sebusang
M.A. Candidate, International Economic Policy
Business Economics & Public Policy, UPenn
Lebopo consulted for Botswana’s Ministry of Health and participated in Gates Foundation-funded youth initiatives in Botswana. LinkedIn.
Tamire Proctor
M.A. Candidate, International Economic Policy
B.A., Economics & International Studies, Willamette University
Tamire spent two years serving as an agricultural extension officer in the Peace Corps, applying agribusiness principles to support economic growth in Northern Ghana. LinkedIn.
Austin Britt
M.A. Candidate, International Economic Policy
B.A., Economics, George Mason University
Austin is interested in international trade and completed an internship at a boutique project management firm in Tokyo, gaining firsthand exposure to international business environments. This summer, he is interning at ITC. LinkedIn.
Operations, Events & Communications. Through the federal work-study program, and with the support of the Executive Circle, IIEP provided 20 students with meaningful professional experience while strengthening the Institute’s events, operations, communications, and outreach. Student staff are embedded in the day-to-day work of the Institute, gaining real office experience while helping IIEP deliver high-quality programming throughout the year.
Their work includes website updates, video editing, social media and email marketing, travel and catering coordination, guest registration, speaker correspondence, event Q&A, and on-site support for conferences, lectures, and roundtables.
Workplace Skills & Career Preparation IIEP pairs this work experience with practical professional development, including guidance on workplace etiquette, LinkedIn profiles, professional headshots, and event professionalism. As a result, IIEP students are recognized as a reliable and well-prepared team, trusted by other GW units and external partners for high-level event support.
With the support of the Executive Circle, IIEP provided 23 students with paid research assistantship opportunities that strengthened faculty research while giving students hands-on experience in academic and policy work. EC support is especially valuable because it gives IIEP the flexibility to hire advanced student researchers, including PhD students, whose training allows them to contribute at a high level. Their work supports faculty progress on grant proposals, publications, datasets, conferences, and new research partnerships.
Student research assistants support faculty with literature reviews, data collection, coding, GIS and mapping, archival research, interview preparation, bibliographies, manuscript support, and policy analysis.
Projects include:
Water Insecurity in Washington, D.C. IIEP research assistants supported Dr. Alicia Cooperman's study on water insecurity by conducting in-person surveys across Washington, D.C., interviewing residents about their perceptions of water quality, helping participants test their water, and logging results in collaboration with the University of the District of Columbia. The project gave students hands-on experience with field research, community engagement, and data collection, while contributing to a study of water insecurity in a high-income urban context.
Women's Climate Activism. Two IIEP research assistants supported Dr. Renata Avelar Giannini’s research on women’s climate activism by translating Portuguese-language audio interviews with women in the Brazilian Amazon. The project gave students hands-on experience with qualitative research and multilingual fieldwork materials, while supporting scholarship expected to inform journal articles, op-eds, and future grant proposals.
Quantitative Research & Working Paper Support. PhD research assistants supported faculty working papers and research projects across the Institute, contributing literature reviews, database construction, regression analysis, modeling, and technical review. For example, students supported Dr. Ajay Chhibber’s paper, A Variable Mark-up Model of Inflation in India, and Dr. Barbara Stallings’s work on China’s economic relations with Southeast Asia and Latin America.
Networking & Professional Preparation. Open to all students and recent alumni, IIEP helps students build confidence, meet professionals, and take full advantage of GW’s location in Washington, D.C. Students connect with Executive Circle members, local alumni, policymakers, and practitioners through small-group lunches, speed networking sessions, public events, and informal conversations. To help students make the most of these opportunities, IIEP provides networking guides, event tips, and practical preparation so they feel ready to introduce themselves, ask thoughtful questions, and explore a wide range of career paths. 2025-2026 Events included:
- IIEP-EXEC Student Networking Lunch featuring Executive Circle member Max Angerholzer
- IIEP-EXEC Student Networking Lunch featuring Executive Circle members Lisa Schroeter, Nick Pistentis, Erik Kiefel, Frank Wong, and Ranjani Sankaran
- IIEP-EXEC Student Networking Lunch featuring Executive Circle member Ranjani Sankaran
- IIEP-EXEC Student Networking Lunch featuring Executive Circle Co-Chair Lisa Schroeter
- IIEP-EXEC Student Networking Rounds & MIEP/IDS Reception featuring Executive Circle members and recent alumni from the Master’s programs in International Economic Policy and International Development Studies
World Bank–IMF Annual Meetings. In 2025-26, IIEP supported more than 200 students applying to attend the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings by preparing recommendation letters and sharing practical guidance on what to expect, how to attend, and how to make the most of the experience.
The Annual Meetings bring together finance ministers, central bank officials, development leaders, academics, private-sector representatives, and policymakers from around the world to discuss the most pressing issues in the global economy. For students, attending offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from global decision-makers, observe international economic policymaking up close, and better understand the institutions shaping development, finance, and global governance.
This year, IIEP hosted or co-hosted 62 events with partners across GW, Washington, and the global policy community, including the World Bank, International Growth Centre, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Hong Kong. These programs connect students, faculty, policymakers, business leaders, scholars, alumni, and partners around major issues shaping the global economy.
Nobel Laureate Daron Acemoglu Speaks at GW
As part of the 11th ECINEQ Society for Inequality Conference, co-hosted by IIEP and the World Bank, 2024 Nobel Laureate Daron Acemoglu delivered a keynote address at GW on AI, inequality, and the future of work.
What Comes After the Trade War?
Michael Froman, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, joined Dean Alyssa Ayres for the 2025 Wenger Lecture on International Business to discuss how the United States can help shape the next chapter of global trade.
GW China Conference Makes Its Hong Kong Debut
For the first time, IIEP hosted the GW China Conference in Hong Kong, partnering with the University of Hong Kong to bring together leading scholars and practitioners on U.S.-China economic relations.
The Future of Finance & Trade in Africa 3.0
IIEP’s 3rd GW Africa Conference brought together central bank governors, ministers, CEOs, scholars, and practitioners to explore the forces shaping finance, trade, innovation, and growth across the continent.
India’s Next Economic Chapter
IIEP’s 6th GW India Conference theme was “Fostering Innovation, Addressing Inequity.” The program included a keynote from V. Anantha Nageswaran, Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India.
Jobs, Firms, and Growth in Cities
For the 10th Urbanization and Development Conference, IIEP, the World Bank, JHU, and the International Growth Centre brought together leading scholars and practitioners to examine how cities shape jobs, firms, growth, and the future of development.
Watch Recordings
IIEP’s 62 faculty affiliates represent schools and departments across GW, including the Elliott School, Milken Institute School of Public Health, Columbian College of Arts & Sciences, GW School of Business, Trachtenberg School, GW Law, and more. Their work spans books, awards, media features, public scholarship, policy commentary, and engagement with students, alumni, and Executive Circle members.
Featured Highlights
Award-Winning Book on Technology and Global Power
Jeffery Ding's book, "Technology and the Rise of Great Powers: How Diffusion Shapes Economic Competition," received the Georgetown Lepgold Book Prize and the 2026 STAIR Book Award. The book offers a timely lens on the U.S.-China AI race.
NPR’s “Super Bowl of Economics”
Barry Chiswick's research on the effects of minimum wage policies on young adults with cognitive disabilities was featured by NPR Planet Money in its roundup of five notable papers from the 2026 American Economic Association Annual Meeting.
Jay Shambaugh Featured on Financial Times Podcast
Jay Shambaugh was featured in the Financial Times’ The Economics Show to discuss what China wants from the United States, how tariff negotiations unfold, and how trade policy and national security have become increasingly intertwined.
India-US Trade Deal in the Global Spotlight
Distinguished Visiting Scholar, Ajay Chhibber, joined Al Jazeera to discuss India’s mixed reaction to the U.S.-India trade deal, offering perspective on tariffs, market access, and the economic relationship between the world’s largest and fifth-largest economies.
IIEP’s Executive Circle brings together alumni, parents, and friends of the Elliott School and GW who dedicate their time, expertise, and support to advancing the Institute’s work. Led by Co-Chairs Lisa Schroeter, B.A. ’92, and Carl Richardson, M.A. ’99, members serve as a valued brain trust for IIEP, advising Institute leadership, supporting student opportunities, and strengthening dialogue on global finance, trade, development, and economic policy.
Welcome to our newest members:
- Meredith Broadbent, GWSB '98 (Washington, D.C.)
- Mark Detmer, P'29 (Los Angeles, CA)
- Shelly Detmer, P'29 (Los Angeles, CA)
- Thomas Gratowski, M.A. '14 (London, UK)
- David Junius, MA '97 (Hong Kong, SAR)
- Andrew Morris, BA '08 (Chicago, IL)
- Lukasz Niedzielski, P' 27 (New York, NY)
- Christine Zibilich, P'29 (New York, NY)
- Nathan Zibilich, P'29 (New York, NY)
Executive Circle meetings give members regular opportunities in the fall and spring each year to engage with IIEP in-person and virtually, hear directly from Institute and Elliott School leadership, connect with students, and learn from faculty research on timely global economic issues. The meetings are often paired with receptions, lunches, and side events that create additional opportunities for conversation and connection.
Across the fall and spring meetings, members received Institute updates, heard from Dean Alyssa Ayres, engaged with student perspectives, and learned from faculty presentations on topics including climate change, artificial intelligence, rare earths, critical minerals, and global economic policy.
IIEP hosted five IDEAS Sessions this year, bringing Executive Circle members together with GW faculty experts, distinguished visiting scholars, and policy practitioners for virtual, small-group discussions on timely global economic issues. Moderated by Executive Circle Co-Chairs Lisa Schroeter and Carl Richardson, these sessions provided opportunities for members to engage directly with scholars, share private-sector perspectives, and explore emerging trends, risks, and policy developments in an interactive setting. Topics are shaped by Executive Circle member interests and help inform IIEP leaders on current and emerging trends in the field.
Regional Powers & their Business Prospects: Brazil, India, & South Africa
Featuring:
Ajay Chhibber, IIEP Distinguished Visiting Scholar
Danny Leipziger, Professor of International Business
Barbara Stallings, IIEP Distinguished Visiting Scholar
The Post-APEC Economic Outlook
Featuring:
Jay Shambaugh, Professor of Economics and Int'l Affairs
Stephen Kaplan, Professor of Political Science and Int'l Affairs
Barbara Stallings, IIEP Distinguished Visiting Scholar
Not Your Grandmother's Energy Crisis
Featuring:
Robert Weiner, Professor of Public Policy, Public Administration, and International Business
US–UK and UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement
Featuring:
Meredith Broadbent, Senior Adviser (Non-resident), Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business at CSIS
Emanuel Adam, Chief Trade and Policy Officer & Executive Director, BritishAmerican Business
Stablecoins: Promises, Pitfalls, and Geopolitics
Featuring:
Silvia Sgherri, GW Professorial Lecturer
IIEP-EXEC student networking events connect GW students with Executive Circle members for conversations about career pathways, leadership, and current issues in international economic policy. This year, IIEP organized seven student networking events, including small-group lunches and informal discussions with members visiting Washington, D.C.
These gatherings are among IIEP’s most valuable forms of student engagement, creating space for students to ask questions, build confidence, and learn directly from alumni, parents, and friends whose careers span business, policy, finance, development, and global affairs.