MACON – Mercer University junior Creed Dunn has been accepted for admission to the 2018 Engalitcheff Institute on Comparative Political and Economic Systems (ICPES) as a participant in the Leadership Scholars Program.
Dunn, a political science major from Chattanooga, Tennessee, will receive a full scholarship from The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) in the amount of $8,695 to attend ICPES this summer in Washington, D.C. He will be enrolled in and earn credit for two courses through George Mason University and will be provided housing just steps from the White House, Department of State, World Bank and national monuments.
“The opportunity to work in Washington will expand career options for Creed in ways that he can scarcely imagine at present,” said Dr. Chris Grant, professor and chair of political science at Mercer. “His selection in this competitive process is evidence of Creed’s determination and dedication and the skill set he has developed at Mercer over the last three years.”
As part of the program, students interested in pursuing careers in public policy, economics and government service will attend special events during the summer, including a special welcome orientation, roundtable luncheon and other exclusive speaker events. The program also covers costs to participate in continuing education opportunities in the academic year following the summer. These activities will include online and in-person lectures and professional development seminars.
As a student at Mercer, Dunn has participated in Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, Campus Clubs tutoring program, Pre-law Society, National Society of Leadership and Success, Phi Eta Sigma and the Great Books Program.
This semester, he is interning with Georgia State Reps. Bubber Epps and Matt Hatchett. Dunn works in Atlanta three days per week, and his duties include attending committee meetings, legislative tracking, writing a weekly newsletter, and researching various issues and policies.
Upon graduation, he plans to attend law school and work in or around government as an elected official or employee of a governmental organization, nonprofit or NGO.
“Without Mercer’s resources and assistance from plenty of faculty, most notably Dr. Chris Grant, I would have never been able to intern at the Capitol in Atlanta,” said Dunn. “My legislative experience was a key factor in attaining my D.C. internship. You choose to come to a school like Mercer because you want to be more than just a number or statistic. You want people to know your name and recognize your face. Without all of the help from Mercer, I would not have any of the opportunities that are now available to me. I am appreciative, and I am very excited to get to D.C. I am ready to learn more about public policy and how that affects the economy.”
Since 1967, TFAS has been a leader in educating young people from around the world in the fundamental principles of American democracy and the free market system. TFAS has been the launching pad for nearly 17,000 students who have participated in its programs in Washington, D.C., and around the world in Asia, Europe and South America. Alumni of these programs are leaders in government, business, the media and the nonprofit sector. For more information, visit www.dcinternships.org.
