Earlier this summer, the Bush School chapter of the Alexander Hamilton Society (AHS) received the award for “Most Improved Chapter” in the nation for the 2015-2016 school year. The award was given at the AHS national conference in Washington, DC. Chelsea Berry and Chris Van Dam, two students from the Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University, represented the School to receive the award.

Founded in 2010, AHS is a nonprofit, nonpartisan national organization that fosters constructive debate on basic principles and contemporary issues in American foreign, economic, and national security policy. The Bush School chapter of AHS regularly invites renowned scholars from universities and think tanks across the country to participate in debates and panels with Texas A&M faculty. In addition, the chapter hosts a number of events for Bush School students, including trivia nights and other fundraising activities.

This past year, the Bush School chapter of AHS hosted a number of important events, including a panel discussion on the future of US policy toward the Middle East. The event, which was covered by the local media, featured Bush School Dean Ryan Crocker, who served in six Middle Eastern countries during his career in the Foreign Service; Dr. Michael Doran of the Hudson Institute; and Dr. Erin Snider, an assistant professor at the Bush School. Last fall, the organization co-hosted an event with the Texas A&M chapter of AHS titled, “Is America Losing the Cyber Battle?” The event featured prominent scholars and experts in the field of cyber security, including Dr. Andrew Ross of the Bush School; Michael Mazza of the American Enterprise Institute; and Willis Marti, Texas A&M University’s chief information security officer.