Graduation 2017

Commencement day for the class of 2017. The sun was out before we got to Baker Stadium. Luckily there was just a short bit of rain. Congratulations to all the graduates!

Puget Sound and IPE alumnus discussed in Patrick Eha's new book How Money Got Free: Bitcoin and the Fight for the Future of Finance

A great excerpt from Patrick Eha's new book How Money Got Free: Bitcoin and the Fight for the Future of Finance. There's prominent mention of Puget Sound and even Professor Dillman's class on the Illicit Global Economy! Eha discusses at length the career development of Nic Cary, an IPE and Business double major ('07) who is today the president of Blockchain, the world’s leading Bitcoin software company. Also quotes from UPS alumni Erik Voorhees and Nick Vasilius (IPE '07), who is a Puget Sound trustee.

 From Wired.com:

 How One Scrappy Startup Survived the Early Bitcoin Wars

Gabe Newman receives IPE International Internship Grant

Congratulations to Gabe Newman (IPE ’18) for his summer IPE internship! Gabe will be working for the World Trade Center in Tacoma, and is looking forward to utilizing his foreign language skills while conducting trade and market research. Gabe originally chose to be an IPE major because he enjoyed having a background in sociology, and was interested in further exploring global issues from an interdisciplinary perspective. Another IPE major recommended the IPE program to him, and Gabe quickly became fascinated with studying state and market relations on a global scale. He particularly appreciates studying China and East Asia through an IPE lens, especially by using neo-mercantilist and constructivist theory.

Next year, Gabe is hoping to write his thesis on the impacts of China’s export of renewable energy resources on China’s growing global governance and hegemony. Gabe is interested in investigating the ways in which the Chinese state innovates with green energy and how, despite being a world-class polluter, China is simultaneously becoming a world-class producer of renewable technology. Last summer, Gabe studied abroad in Shanghai, where he was able to focus on Chinese economics and immerse himself in the language and culture. In the future, Gabe would like to find a way to continue focusing on issues regarding China and renewable energy, perhaps by working for the State Department or local government. In his spare time, Gabe is a professional photographer who loves to cover portraiture, large events, nature and street photography, and photojournalism. Check out some of his work at gabrielnewmanphotography.com/.

IPE Commencement Ceremony photos - IPE class of 2017

Here are some photos from IPE's annual Commencement Ceremony and Reception on May 12th. It was great to see all the graduating seniors together and meet their families.

Congratulations to Clara Brown, Jensen Handwork, and Sierra Miller for receiving IPE's Pros Ta Akra Academic Achievement Award. Congrats also to Mia Kelliher, Katie Merrill, and Angelica Spearwoman, recipients of the Susan Strange Award.

IPE class of 2017

Nick, Brian, Miles, and Addison

Sierra, Katie, and Mia

Profs Ly, Kontogeorgopoulos, and Dillman with Angelica

Megan Sanders receives IPE International Internship Grant

Congratulations to Megan Sanders (IPE ’19) for her summer IPE internship! Megan will be interning with the State Department on public outreach, and is hoping to discover whether she would enjoy a career in domestic politics. When originally looking at colleges, Megan thought she wanted to study International Relations, but when she visited UPS, she was fascinated by the way the IPE program considers the economic and sociological sides of global affairs. Megan believes this background in economics and socio-anthropology will make her studies more well-rounded and increase her awareness of the complex factors contributing to how countries interact. So far, her favorite experience with the IPE program has been Nick Konto’s class on the political economy of Southeast Asia, and then studying abroad in Thailand with the LIASE program to learn about the significance of rice as a staple in the economy and culture of the region. In the future, Megan is considering a career with the US Department of State or an internationally-oriented NGO. In her free time, Megan loves swimming, traveling, and exploring Washington.

 

Katie Hart receives IPE International Internship Award

Congratulations to Katie Hart (IPE ’18) for her IPE Summer Internship and for her new position as the 2017-2018 IPE Program Assistant! Katie became an IPE major because she thoroughly enjoyed Lisa Nunn’s introductory IPE class and discussions of IPE theory. She also finds her IPE professors and her peers to be engaging, critical, and thoughtful, creating an environment where she can learn and have her beliefs challenged. This summer, Katie is interning with the Northwest Immigrants Rights Project here in Tacoma, Washington. Next year, Katie is looking forward to continuing her involvement with the IPE department and building the relationship between the department and the greater Tacoma community. Previously, Katie has studied abroad in Madrid, Spain while interning with the Red Cross of Madrid with one of their youth development programs. After graduation, Katie jokes with her parents that she would like to buy a one-way ticket to Argentina, backpack in Patagonia, and hope for the best, but in the long term she is interested in pursuing a career in immigration law in the Pacific Northwest. In her free time, Katie likes playing lacrosse, hiking, trail running, or drinking cappuccinos in coffee shops.

IPE senior thesis photos

Spring 2017 IPE senior thesis presentations wrapped up last week. Here are some photos from Professor Dillman's class.

Miles, Nick, and Addison

Jensen

Becca

Drew, Jensen, and Xander

Addison

Katie

Matt (standing)

Drew (presenting)