The Institute of World Politics and Ashland University signed a Memorandum of Understanding this past August as the beginning of a partnership for international affairs education.
Under this new partnership, Ashland students will have the option for early assurance of admission to IWP’s in-person M.A. programs if they apply on or after April 30th of their junior year. IWP will also provide a special partnership scholarship of $2,200 per semester for up to ten Ashland students and graduates in the in-person Master’s degree program annually. These partnership scholarships would not preclude the recipients from additional merit-based assistance from IWP.
In addition, IWP will grant priority consideration for Ashland students in its internship program. Ashland University may also schedule a tailored student visit to IWP once per year.
Ashland University plans to promote these opportunities to its students.
Jeffrey Sikkenga, Executive Director of the Ashbrook Center and Professor of Political Science at Ashland University said: “Ashbrook is proud to partner with The Institute for World Politics, whose mission aligns with our own—educating citizens to strengthen our capacity for self-government. IWP, by helping students develop a sound understanding of international relations, prepares future leaders for the world stage. We believe Ashbrook Scholars will make excellent students at IWP, and the graduates from both programs will be equipped to strengthen our capacity for self-government among the powers of the earth.”
IWP Senior Vice President for Professional Affiliations Chris Glass commented: “On behalf of everybody at the Institute, we are excited to partner with Ashland University to achieve our shared vision and mission shaping graduates who work, serve, and lead with integrity in their local, national, and global communities.”
The agreement was coordinated primarily by Dr. Tim McCranor (IWP ’12), who currently serves as Academic Advising and Success Specialist and adjunct faculty member at IWP, and Dr. Gregory McBrayer, Director, Core Curriculum and Associate Professor of Political Science at Ashland University.
IWP has welcomed students and interns from Ashland University in the past, including Army officer and analyst for the government Joshua Drusbacky (’19), and one of our professors, Rebeccah Heinrichs, is a graduate of the Ashbrook Scholar Program. Dr. Ken Masugi, who taught at the Ashbrook Center of Ashland University, delivered IWP’s Constitution Day Lecture in 2020.
This year, Christopher Burkett, Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Ashbrook Scholar Program for undergraduate students at Ashland University, is giving IWP’s Constitution Day lecture on September 16th on “The Founders’ Philosophy of Foreign Policy.” This event is co-sponsored by the Jack Miller Center. (Update: Please click here for the video of the lecture.)