US-Ireland Alliance Summer News Update

Irish Government Contribution to Mitchell Endowment

The Irish Government made its first matching funds contribution to the Mitchell Scholarship endowment last month – an investment in our shared future. The Irish Government will match contributions to the endowment.

Making Business Connections through the US-Ireland Alliance

An Irish pub in Disneyworld got its start at a US-Ireland Alliance event. Read how the Alliance is making business connections.

Next class of Mitchell Scholars will start the year in Cork

The next class of Mitchell Scholars will begin the year with an October event in Cork. We may have time to fit in a meal in Kinsale. If you’ve been, and have a favorite restaurant, I’d welcome recommendations – email me.

Mitchell Scholar meets President Obama

Mitchell Scholar Mariyam Cementwala (’03, Human Rights, NUI Galway) met President Obama last month at an event at the White House marking the 20th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act. Mariyam currently serves as the Manager of Government Relations for the US International Council on Disabilities. As part of her remarks at the event, Marca Bristo, former Chair of the National Council on Disability, recognized Mariyam as one of the future leaders on disability, civil and human rights issues.
See the photo on our home page at http://www.us-irelandalliance.org

100 Attend annual Mitchell Scholars Summer Alumni Gathering
About 100 people braved the 100 plus degree weather to attend the annual Mitchell Scholar summer alumni gathering at the home of Cliff Sloan and Mary Lou Hartman. Thirty-two Mitchell Scholars were in attendance. Many in Washington politics and journalism turned out to meet the Scholars. Some of those attending this summers event included: Kathleen Kennedy Townsend; Neera Tanden, COO of the Center for American Progress; DC Circuit Judge Garland Merrick; Jason Weinstein, the Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Criminal Affairs; Daniel Feldman, the Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan; Richard Lazarus, Director of the Oil Spill Commission; former White House Counsel Greg Craig; Deputy White House Counsel Don Verilli; Adam Liptak who covers the Supreme Court for the New York Times; Publisher of Root Magazine Donna Byrd; Publisher of Slate, Jon Alderman; White House Staff Secretary Lisa Brown; and Steve Riskin of the US Institute of Peace. Many thanks to Mary Lou and Cliff for welcoming our summer invasion.

Kealan McCluskey has joined the Advisory Board of the US-Ireland Alliance

First Irish New York Theater Festival starts in September

New Videos on our website
We’re at work enhancing our website and one aim is to let prospective Mitchell Scholars learn more about the program, the Irish universities and the experiences of Mitchell Scholars. Short video clips (about 3 minutes each) of Mitchells talking about their time is found at the respective Irish university pages:

Nick Johnson studied Drama at Trinity

Winnie Li obtained a degree in Celtic Studies at University College Cork

Monica Bell obtained a degree in Equality Studies at UCD

At NUI Galway, Aaron Rabinowitz studied Economics, and Matt Haney studied Human Rights and Criminal Justice

Jeff Benedict studied Musicology at Maynooth

Jana Kiser obtained a Master’s in International Studies at the University of Limerick

Brittany Schick studied International Security and Conflict Studies at Dublin City University

Hear what Frank McMillan (Theory, Culture and Identity) and Sarah David (Ethnic Conflict) have to say about studying at Queen’s University in Belfast

Ben Coté studied Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Ulster