Marion, Ind. (May 21, 2026) — Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) sophomore Elliot Williams has been selected for the Fund for American Studies (TFAS) D.C. Summer Internship Program, one of the nation’s most competitive and well-regarded opportunities for undergraduate students interested in public policy, economics, and civic leadership. Williams, who is pursuing dual majors in Theology & Philosophy and Economics, will spend eight weeks in Washington, D.C., this summer gaining firsthand professional experience in the nation’s capital.
TFAS, a nonprofit educational organization founded in 1967, places students in professional internships throughout the Washington, D.C., metro area while simultaneously enrolling them in academic coursework and professional development programming. Williams’ selection is a notable achievement on a national, and even international stage, as the program draws applicants from colleges and universities across the United States and abroad. And with participants logging approximately 30 hours per week at their internship placements alongside a rigorous academic schedule, selection is both a professional honor and a significant academic commitment.
“This opportunity to go to the nation’s capital and dive deeper into the field of economics is such an exciting honor for me. I am looking forward to learning from and engaging with the top-level professors, professionals, and fellow students during my time there,” said Williams. “My main goal is to figure out how I can help the church and broader society better understand economic fundamentals to improve our communities and the world at large.”
Williams’ path to the TFAS program reflects the kind of integrative learning environment that IWU is designed to cultivate, and faculty mentorship played a central role in his preparation. Tom Lehman, Ph.D., professor of economics, inspired Williams with engaging lectures and insightful conversations, encouraging him to pursue opportunities in the field of economics, while Angie Thompson, interim co-division chair for the DeVoe Division of Business, regularly met one-on-one with Williams to discuss his progress in the application process and offer any assistance that she could provide.
“Elliot is a great example to other students in the Economics major, and a positive ambassador for IWU and the DeVoe Division of Business,” said Lehman. “This will be a wonderful opportunity for him to develop further in his desire to integrate economic theory and ideas with Christian faith and theological perspectives.”
Campus programming also contributed directly to Williams’ readiness for the TFAS application. In December 2025 DeVoe Division of Business and Social Sciences hosted “A Christian Perspective on Capitalism” featuring Anne Bradley, Ph.D., an event that situated economic thought within a framework of Christian faith and moral reasoning, which proved especially formative for Williams. That kind of integrative intellectual experience which connects rigorous academic disciplines to questions of meaning, vocation, and service is central to IWU’s approach to education.
Williams is set to begin the TFAS program in May 2026, with the internship running through July. The experience will include professional placement, academic credit, networking with fellow students and leaders from across the country, and exposure to the full scope of policy and civic life in Washington, D.C.
For IWU, Williams’ selection reinforces the university’s mission of equipping graduates not only with knowledge, but with the character, preparation, and opportunity to make meaningful contributions in their fields. It is the kind of outcome that begins in the classroom, deepens through mentorship, and flourishes when students are committed to pursuing excellence with Christ-centered confidence.
From internships in Washington, D.C., to mentorship and career preparation on campus, IWU students are equipped to pursue meaningful opportunities that connect faith, vocation, and professional growth.
