DC Winter Seminar: International Relations, 2017

To begin, a little introduction. My name is Meredith Passero, and I’m a junior at W&M, studying government and economics. In particular, I’m interested in trade policy, terrorism, and post-Soviet development in Eastern Europe. I have generously been given the opportunity to act as blogger for the International Relations DC Winter Seminar this January. Admittedly, this is my first formal blogging experience, so bear with me.

As a native northern Virginian, I have always felt relatively familiar with the world of Washington. However, after spending a day visiting a variety of offices and agencies in DC over the summer with W&M’s Institute for the Theory and Practice of International Relations, I came to the conclusion that there was a plethora of interesting opportunities and experiences out here in the nation’s capital that I had paid little heed to. As such, I jumped on the opportunity to participate in this seminar, as a way to both expand my knowledge of U.S. grand strategy and broaden my understanding of the affairs of Washington. Like many of my political science peers, I foresee a transition to a position here after college.

While there are numerous events and briefings which I am looking forward to attending, I am most excited for our visit to the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs in the State Department, and the talk by James Carafano from the Heritage Foundation on terrorism.

Until later,
Meredith