SEGL's second semester is underway! Please check back regularly for updates.

April 19, 2010: SEGL in NYC on 4/26

Please join us at our New York City event at 6pm on Monday, April 26th. The event will feature SEGL Founder and Director Noah Bopp, SEGL Board Chair Matteson Ellis, and students from SEGL's inaugural semester. For an invitation, please email Alanna Copenhaver at alanna.copenhaver@schoolforethics.org. To RSVP, email rsvp@schoolforethics.org. See you there!

Posted by Alanna Copenhaver April 19, 2010 8:31am

April 18, 2010: A Week in the Life

This semester, Lesley (in the center of the picture at left) is documenting her experience at SEGL on a blog. To read her latest entries, visit DC Chillin'.

(Note that the views she expresses do not necessarily reflect those of SEGL, its faculty, or its leadership.)

Posted by Robert Ross April 18, 2010 12:32pm

April 16, 2010: The view from the State Department

Imagine you are writing a research paper for History class, and you have the opportunity to meet with the world's leading expert on your topic to discuss your rough draft. That's what happened this week when our students met with Robert Maggi, the U.S. Coordinator for Counter-Piracy, at the State Department. (The students are writing their policy document capstone on Somalia and Piracy.)We met Mr. Maggi in a State Department conference room not far from walking past Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's office suite. Alongside Peter Harrell, an attorney with the Secretary of State's Policy Planning staff, Maggi peppered our students with questions and provided behind-the-scenes information about Somalia and its piracy problem. We also had the opportunity to ask him and Mr. Harrell some of our most pressing questions on the topic. Among other takeaways, we heard about the stark ethical choice many Somalis make between piracy and poverty, and about the ways we might incentivize Somalis to make choices that are in our national interest.

Afterward, we went on a special tour of the State Department with Marcee F. Craighill, the Director and curator of the State Department Diplomatic Reception Rooms. (Click here for a virtual tour.) Highlights of the rare tour included the Treaty of Paris (which ended the Revolutionary War), several Gilbert Stuart paintings, and Thomas Jefferson's writing desk. We ended at the Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room, taking pictures behind the lecturn the Secretary of State uses to greet foreign dignitaries at official functions. Ms. Craighill also treated us to a few minutes on the adjoining deck, from which we could view the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, the Washington Monument, and the Capitol.

View pictures of this field visit, along with a few more of outdoor fun during cherry blossom season, here.

Posted by Noah Bopp April 16, 2010 1:52pm

April 14, 2010: SEGL on Facebook

Join our community of students, graduates, and supporters on Facebook! Click on the logo at left to visit and join our Facebook Group.

Posted by Robert Ross April 14, 2010 8:19am

April 11, 2010: "Cherry Blossoms and Somali Pirates"

Each semester our students select one international ethical crisis and draft a policy document that proposes practical solutions to that crisis. Last term, our students focused on Mexican drug cartels, ultimately presenting their recommendations before Senate staffers. This spring, our students have chosen Somalia's piracy problem, and they are hard at work drafting solutions. The issue has terrific ethical conundrums: Should the shipping companies whose chemical waste destroyed the Somali fishing industry be blamed for the ensuing piracy boom? Is it OK for a new Somali state to practice Sharia law? How ought the law of the sea apply in this situation?

On Monday, we met with Peter Reid, Vice President at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Located less than two blocks from SEGL, the nonpartisan Carnegie Endowment is the oldest think tank in the United States, and now has offices around the world. Reid shared his own experience working on the Northern Ireland peace agreement, and offered advice on how to research, write, and collaborate with others on a policy document. On Wednesday, we spent the day at The George Washington University library; students met with research librarians and conducted their own college-level research. (This experience--an extremely rare one for high school students--is critical in preparing students to use college libraries effectively as undergraduates.)

Friday was one of the toughest--and best--academic days of the semester. In the afternoon, each document-writing group presented a briefing before a mock National Security Council meeting. Our goal as faculty (we portrayed National Security Advisor Jim Jones, ranking Senate Foreign Affairs Committee member Dick Lugar, and OMB Director Peter Orszag) was to improve students' public speaking skills and help students understand the level of research that is necessary to present effectively. We pressed students vigorously on their recommendations, their facts, and their sources a high-stakes, real world environment. Despite the pressure, student reaction afterwards was overwhelmingly positive. (For a fascinating take on a Yale University class that includes such an exercise, click here.)

In between presentation prep and delivery on Friday, we saw the National Shakespeare Theatre's production of Henry V. Our students had front row seats at what the Washington Post called "the most charismatic work in Shakespeare the city has experienced in memory." It was not only a welcome change of pace but also a chance to return to a work that our English class confronted earlier in the semester.

On Thursday, we had our first Chinese language and culture class. (We finished with Arabic just before Spring Break.) Megan Linzer, our teacher, is an experienced educator and translator; she was also present at the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations. We are very pleased to have her. For the last few days, students have been practicing the way the Chinese count on their fingers...it is quite different than the American method, as they like to count on one hand, not two!

On March 31, we hosted Lissa Muscatine, Senior Advisor to Hillary Clinton and Chief Speechwriter for the State Department. Her remarks (which she requested be off the record, in order to allow her more freedom to answer delicate questions) on the Clinton Presidential Campaign, effective speechwriting and public speaking, and life on the road with the Secretary of State were eye-opening, engaging, and thought-provoking. Our students impressed her so much that she is arranging a visit for us to the State Department in the coming weeks.

This week we finish our work on the document, visit the State Department, and look forward to our final case studies on immigration, U.S. foreign policy "grand strategy," and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. We're also hoping to reschedule our community service outing; student illness prevented our first expedition and we're anxious to get to work!

Click here for more photos.

Posted by Noah Bopp April 11, 2010 11:02pm

March 28, 2010: "I will be back here somehow"

The cherry blossoms are starting to reveal themselves as we dance into Spring and our city prepares for the official start of tourist season. This weekend we plan to enjoy temperatures in the low 80s and the fireworks that begin the 98th annual Cherry Blossom Festival.

In the weeks leading up to Spring Break, our students completed two engaging case studies, on Congressional Ethics and Social Entrepreneurship. Our Congressional Ethics case study began at the House Ethics Committee (also known as the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct) meeting room, where we spoke with the Committee's Chief Counsel and Staff Director, Blake Chisam. Chisam, the top staff member on the committee, shared the committee's process and philosophy, and highlighted for students the important difference between what is "ethical" and what is "lawful." The Committee, he said, is concerned with what is lawful, not what is ethical. On Wednesday of that week, students attended meetings they had scheduled with their members of Congress, and discussed how members approach and work to solve ethical dilemmas. The day also included optional visits to the House viewing gallery, several Congressional hearings, a Capitol tour, and a Supreme Court oral argument. The experience was fascinating, and several students wrote journal entries on their day. Here is an excerpt from Audrey's entry:

Today was not only exciting but reassured me about our government. In fact, I now can say with confidence that our government does work for the people. I was able to walk into any Senate or House building with ease. It was actually wonderful to be dressed up, in the nation’s Capitol, and experiencing the real debates that occur in our country. I was two blocks away from my temporary home, and yet I was arguably at the center of political thinking, at the place where our government decides what we are given. Yesterday, I had scheduled a meeting in the Longworth House Office Building with my representative from the 5th district of Minnesota, Keith Ellison. As the first Muslim in Congress, he is a fascinating person and interestingly enough, his son Jeremiah went to my school, Blake. I had emailed his office and received news that he would not be available for my meeting—instead, I would meet with his legislative assistant. To my surprise, he walked into the office and said “you are the next generation, you are more important” than his staffers waiting in the other room. This was, of course, the ideal comment from a politician. However, he seemed to really mean it. He allowed me to ask questions and seemed genuinely interested in answering me. NOTE: they told me that when I am in college, I should apply for the internship program in his office.

Something that all of the females in our group thought today was that it is weird to be a woman in the government. So when someone looks at you in the Senate building, is it because you are a woman or because you are professional? We think that it would be interesting to do a poll/study in the Capitol about who talks to whom (so does someone talk to someone if they are both male and female, or only one?). I think we should have another day to do this sort of study.

Many of our female students echoed Audrey's sentiments about being a woman in the halls of power. As a result, we scheduled three female policy professionals the following week: Lorelei Kelley, who trains female candidates in foreign policy; Paige Cottingham-Streater (Deputy Director of the Mansfield Foundation and an SEGL Board Member), who works on educational initiatives with Japan; and Patricia Griffin, a principal at the only all-female lobbying firm in DC. Each visitor gave riveting testimony about the perils and opportunities for women working on the Hill, and each mixed in practical advice (How short can your skirt be? What do you do if someone gives you the "once-over"?) that had our students scurrying to their notebooks.

The rest of the week our Ethics and Leadership class focused on social entrepreneurship. Each of our students will leave SEGL a social entrepreneur, with a business plan for a social venture and up to $1000 in seed money from Ashoka, the largest organization of social entrepreneurs in the world. Over the course of the week, we met with six local social entrepreneurs, learning essential skills (How do you build a coalition at your school? What is the best way to run a meeting? What is an "elevator speech" and how do you construct one?) along the way. The culminating event was a Young Professionals networking event--an alcohol-free "happy hour" that allowed students to practice their newfound skills in a real-world format. Prior to the event, Josh Marcuse, President of Young Professionals in Foreign Policy, gave a networking clinic that students found humorous and invaluable (How do you initiate a conversation with an important stranger? How do you gracefully exit a conversation that goes on far too long?).

The rest of this week will include several highlights, including a visit from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's chief speechwriter and senior advisor, and a special trip to DC Central Kitchen--which provides food for nearly every homeless shelter in the city--for an evening of community service.

See the latest crop of pictures (including a couple from Ambassador Mark Dybul's visit which are just now available) here.

Two special notes: First, Lesley authored a beautiful piece about her SEGL experience in the Hathaway Brown student newspaper this month. You can read her article here. (Check out the hilarious photo that accompanies the article!). Second, this week we've decided to move the Parents Blog onto the school's News page. We have done this at the suggestion of many students and parents, who told us they wished for more information about SEGL's daily activities before coming to the school. (Our graduates long for reports, too.) We will continue to be thoughtful about privacy as we add new posts, and hope you continue to enjoy these updates.

Posted by Noah Bopp March 28, 2010 8:45pm

February 28, 2010: "There are no shades of gray in policy. It's red or green and you've got 10 seconds."

Giant mounds of gray ice still punctuate the streets, but the birds are singing a bit louder as we round the corner toward spring.

On February 11, former U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador Mark Dybul braved the snow to join our students for a discussion about the future of PEPFAR (the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief). Dybul was the primary architect and implementer of George W. Bush's global HIV/AIDS strategy (which included PEPFAR), and is arguably the most knowledgeable experts on PEPFAR in the world. Using the Socratic Method, he spent two hours helping students see the intricate challenges of creating and supporting partnerships with countries who struggle to fight this epidemic. For example, he asked students who had researched PEPFAR in India whether the United states should be funding a country with a burdgeoning economy and nuclear weapons, or whether the District of Columbia (which has staggering HIV/AIDS numbers well above epidemic levels) should be considered a PEPFAR country. Dybul left with a very positive impression of SEGL students. In an email message afterward, he praised a student's answer as "outstanding - better than 99 percent of members of congress would give." Later, we met with Justin Goforth (Director, Medical Adherence Unit and STD Services at Whitman-Walker Clinic, DC's oldest and largest HIV/AIDS clinic) to discuss the epidemic in DC. Unfortunately, the snowstorm canceled the Congressional hearing on HIV/AIDS that we were going to attend; the hearing will be rescheduled and we hope to see it when it reconvenes.

One highlight from our Education case study (February 15-19) was a visit from Kevin Jennings, President Obama's Assistant Deputy Secretary of Education for Safe and Drug-Free Schools. As the outspoken founder of the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), Jennings has been a lightning rod for conservative bloggers who oppose his lifestyle and some of his past choices. Jennings' presentation, which included stories from his childhood in Appalachia, reflections on how to lead while under fire, and a prescription for better schools (one way to make a school better is to make it safer for all students, Jennings said), was entertaining and powerful. Another of the week's highlights was a day of visits to one of DC's leading independent schools (Sidwell Friends, which Sasha and Malia Obama attend), and to a leading charter school (Thurgood Marshall) in one of the District's poorest neighborhoods. Students felt that the contrast in attitudes was particularly eye-opening: though the facilities at Sidwell were fantastic, at Thurgood Marshall, the pride was palpable, and the focus on learning was obvious. Earlier in the day, we visited with former Fairfax County School Board Chairwoman and former Virginia State Assembly Member Kris Amundson, who is now at Education Sector, a DC think tank. Asked to think about ethical decision making in policy decisions, she painted a stark picture: "There are no shades of gray in policy. It's red or green and you've got 10 seconds."

Last week we confronted a complex set of global issues embodied in the Tata Nano, a revolutionary and controversial new Indian car. On Wednesday, we met with the General Manager of Tata Motors, North America, who answered a barrage of economic, environmental, and ethical questions from informed students. Her remarks generated a fascinating discussion afterward about SEGL's speakers thus far (most of whom have been white men). Are the primary leaders in DC white men, and if so, should our speakers reflect that reality? Could a woman or person of color who is second in command be more useful as a guest than a white man who is the final "decider"?

On Friday night we joined Abigail Wiebenson (former head of the Lowell School in DC and a good friend of the school) for dinner at her home. Abigail's late husband was a noted DC architect who transformed their Dupont Circle home into a "Colorado cabin in the city." The rustic interior is magical, filled with a lifetime of trinkets, souveniers, and toys, and Abigail's homemade pork loin, vegetables, rice, and ice cream sandwiches were a wonderful way to celebrate a very rewarding week.

On Saturday morning the students each recited the famous St. Crispin's Day speech from Shakespeare's Henry V. We are reading the play not only to hear Shakespeare's literary "music," but as a treatise on leadership. Already, one of our guest speakers has referred to Henry V Act IV, Scene One, as one of the great examples of leadership in Western Literature. John F. Kennedy was a great fan of the play, and many have called him the President who most resembled King Henry. After Spring Break, we will see the play at the National Shakespeare Theatre Company. Saturday we elected Everett as our favorite performer; his performance is recorded here. (For comparison, you can view Laurence Olivier here and Kenneth Branaugh here. Or ask your child for her/his own rendition over Spring Break!)

One more note: on Wednesday the 24th, the school held a successful outreach event at the home of William and Peggy Breer in the Forest Hills neighborhood of DC. (Click here for a Washingtonian Magazine article featuring their home--the second one featured.) Three students chosen at random were invited to attend. We were impressed with their poise and ability to interact and they represented themselves, their sending schools and SEGL well.

In closing: Our $150,000 in 150 Days Founding Annual Fund campaign, stands at over $90,000 with about two months remaining. Donations can be made by mail or online at www.schoolforethics.org/donate.html. Thank you.

View recent Spring semester pictures here.

Posted by Noah Bopp February 28, 2010 11:46pm

February 9, 2010: "It's not who makes no mistakes...it's who makes the fewest."

This week found us celebrating one snowstorm ("Snowmageddon," the Washington Post called it) and hunkering down for another (no name just yet, but another 10-20 inches are forecast for the next 24 hours). We continue to be well-stocked with extra food, blankets, flashlights, and tips for staying well; meanwhile, some fantastic guests and a few expeditions to local parks have provided a remedy for cabin fever.

As part of their case first case study on ethical decisionmaking and Haiti, we gave our students the opportunity to donate a portion of the school's two-week food budget to an organization providing relief to Haiti. (The budget cut could not affect nutrition or quantity.) Students researched the best option (they chose a leading microfinance nonprofit) and debated the merits of sacrificing a part of their experience here. To help them reach a decision, they read two of the most provocative articles that they may ever come across: "The Singer Solution to World Poverty," by Peter Singer, and "Lifeboat Ethics: the Case Against Helping the Poor," by Garrett Hardin. After much negotiating, they reached consensus: $200 of our two-week food budget will go to the nonprofit.

Our guest speakers this week included Bud Krogh, who was most famous as Director of Nixon's Special Investigations Unit (the "Plumbers" of the Watergate era) during the early 1970s. Bud is now known for a reflective, mea culpa autobiography called Integrity and for his work developing an ethical decisionmaking matrix called "The Integrity Zone" (click here for a diagram he shared with our students). On Wednesday, we met with Krogh and heard about his time in the White House. He started with stories about Elvis's visit with Nixon (Krogh was responsible for Presley's infamous Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs badge), reducing the fat in U.S. hot dogs (Krogh's endorsement of a plan to increase meat content by 2% caused chaos in meatpacking plants around the country), and G. Harrold Carswell's unsuccessful bid for the Supreme Court (Krogh didn't hold up the closeted racist's nomination despite clues that he might prove unworthy). Throughout his talk, he shared several lines that sent students scurrying to their notebooks: "Sometimes the best answer isn't 'yes.' Sometimes the best answer is 'I don't know; let me get back to you.'" Or: "It's not who makes no mistakes. That's impossible. It's who learns the most from those mistakes, and who makes the fewest going forward." We also spoke briefly with Ambassador David Abshire, Director of the Center for the Study of the Presidency, former Ambassador to NATO and Special Counselor to Ronald Reagan during the Iran-Contra scandal. (I was pleased that Dr. Abshire mentioned Henry V in his remarks on leadership, as our students are about to begin reading the play.)

Friday afternoon and evening were extremely intense. With snow falling fast outside the window, Mr. Krogh returned to present a true-life leadership case study (click here to read the set-up that your child read prior to Krogh's visit. You'll have to ask your child what really happened!). He sprinkled anecdotes about the early 1970s (sprinting back to the White House after learning of the Kent State shootings; Nixon's impromptu corned beef hash breakfast at the Mayflower Hotel, etc.) throughout his presentation. In the evening, we watched Ghosts of Rwanda, a powerful Frontline documentary about the 1994 genocide that produced some profound journal entries, earnest late-night conversations, and a few tears. The following morning we spoke with Carl Wilkens, the only American to stay behind during the genocide. He spoke about the reasons for his ethical choice and how he maintained hope and faith in dark times. "Genocide starts when you say 'my world would be better without you and your kind,'" he said. "We need to banish that thought, and realize that 'my world' is a fantasy between our ears."

This week we tackle global HIV/AIDS. Though the weather is not cooperating, we have several wonderful events and speakers planned, and you can see Heather's memorable introductory session on the photos page (see below for a link).

Please click here to see more pictures, including some happy images from our snowy weekend in DC.

Posted by Noah Bopp February 9, 2010 2:35pm

January 26, 2010: "Putting aside my pride"

The semester is underway and our first impression is unanimous: these students are amazing. They come with enthusiasm from 13 states and a wide variety of socio-economic, educational, and racial backgrounds. They are helpful, self-motivated, and clearly ready to learn. They are also a lot of fun.

Our opening ceremony was a mix of rules and icebreakers, highlighted in part by brief student reflections on what they are looking forward to this semester. ("I'm looking forward to putting aside my pride and asking 'stupid' questions," said one.)

After a morning run, church for interested students, and a tasty student-made brunch, our first full afternoon together required the students to work in groups to overcome four different leadership challenges. Each of these challenges (guiding blindfolded teammates through a "minefield"; transporting the group through a giant "spiderweb," solving a difficult logical problem, and falling backward off a sturdy table into the arms of eight classmates) required trust, teamwork, communication, and leadership. Reflection on what makes an effective team helped to solidify learning and point us toward an even more positive group dynamic.

On Sunday evening, we watched live CNN coverage of the September 11, 2001 attacks. It was a difficult 35 minutes (from five minutes before the first plane hit--when CNN was covering a maternity fashion show--until President Bush's first speech to the nation), and everyone agreed it was important to watch. The stakes here are high: at SEGL, we are educating leaders who will prevent and respond to the next generation of global challenges, and the students seem to understand that well.

Yesterday after our first morning meeting, students embarked on their first simulation of the semester, which we call "The Infamous Skittles Scenario." (You can view the handout we gave students to start the simulation here.) The scenario is a recreation of social contract theory's "state of nature": the imaginary condition of humanity prior to the introduction of rules, governments, norms, etc. After the exercise (for more, I invite you to ask your child!), one student reflected, "We think of ourselves as good and well-intentioned, but we saw this morning that with a little stress we may lose those good intentions." After the simulation, we gave the students a basic introduction to Western ethical philosophy: Aristotle, Immanuel Kant, and John Stuart Mill. You can watch a clip of the lecture here. View the graphic organizer used in the lecture here.

Tomorrow we will host our first guest speaker of the semester, Lt. Col. Anthony DeMartino. Col. DeMartino works at the Pentagon for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His specialty is Afghanistan; he was once responsible for an entire Afghan province of Wardak. Among other things, he will share the ethical decision making protocol he and his colleagues use as U.S. military leaders, including decisions involving humanitarian assistance. It should be interesting to compare his practical reasoning with the theories of Aristotle, Kant, and Mill. We will then travel to the American Enterprise Institute to hear the Haitian Ambassador and others speak (click here to learn more about the event), followed by visits to the UN Foundation, Brookings Institution, and State Department.

We will be posting more updates very soon. In fact, some may come from students--they asked us if they could guest author a few entries. In the meantime, please click here to view the first selection of photos from the semester. (Thanks to Heather for posting these pictures!)

Posted by Noah Bopp January 26, 2010 7:23pm

February 5, 2010: Second Semester Begins!

On January 23rd our second inaugural cohort of students arrived in DC. In our first 10 days we have met with a former platoon commander in Afghanistan, a leading policy researcher at the Brookings Institution, the Director of President Nixon's Special Investigations Unit (the famous "Plumbers" of the Watergate era), the Ambassador to Haiti, and Ronald Reagan's special counsel during the Iran-Contra crisis. We have also visited several museums and watched preparations for President Obama's first State of the Union Address (our residence is just two blocks away from the Capitol). We look forward to posting more updates soon.

September 10, 2009: The students are here!

On August 29th our first cohort of students arrived at SEGL. Our first two weeks have been a rousing success, and we look forward to posting more updates soon.

June 29, 2009: SEGL secures residential home

Please click here to learn the details!

June 18, 2009: Latest SEGL Current now online

Please click here to view the latest exciting news from SEGL.

April 20, 2009: Howard Gardner on SEGL

Legendary Harvard Professor and bestselling author Howard Gardner issued the following statement of support for The School for Ethics and Global Leadership today:

A school focused on ethics and leadership has always been welcome but now, in the wake of the epochal events of the first years of 21st century, it is essential. The plans for the new School for Ethics and Global Leadership are highly promising and I'm eager to follow its course in the coming years. I hope that the school chooses its students and faculty wisely, learns from its mistakes as well as its successes, and succeeds in building lifelong ties among its graduates. It could make an important difference for our world.

Gardner offered his words after meeting with SEGL Founder and Director Noah Bopp and SEGL Board Chair J. Matteson Ellis. For more on Gardner, click here.

April 13, 2009: SEGL on NewsChannel 8

Watch a six-minute interview with SEGL Founder and Director Noah Bopp below. "Let's Talk Live" is a noontime DC-area news and talk show on NewsChannel 8.

March 26, 2009: Leading girls school joins SEGL sending school team

Dana Hall School in Wellesley, Massachusetts became the latest SEGL sending school today. "As a school that prepares women for the challenges and choices they will face as citizens of the world, Dana Hall is very pleased to join The School for Ethics and Global Leadership," said Nancy Rich, Dana Hall's Academic Dean. "SEGL complements Dana Hall's program and shares with it an emphasis on promoting global education and leadership skills." "Dana Hall is one of the most outstanding institutions in the country, with a vision for its graduates that meshes uncommonly well with ours," said SEGL Director Noah Bopp. "We eagerly await the opportunity to welcome Dana Hall students to our Dupont Circle campus." For more information about Dana Hall, please click here.

February 27, 2009: SEGL and Breakthrough Collaborative ink key nationwide agreement

SEGL has reached an important agreement that will significantly increase the socio-economic diversity of its student body. The Breakthrough Collaborative, formerly called Summerbridge, has 34 sites around the country that increase educational opportunities for "high-potential, low-income students." The agreement will publicize SEGL throughout the Breakthrough network and provide scholarships to Breakthrough students. "Diversity--ethnic, socio-economic, and geographic--is at the heart of SEGL's mission," said SEGL Founder and Director Noah Bopp. "The Breakthrough Collaborative, with its nationwide network of outstanding educators and students, is a terrific example of our commitment to that mission." For more information on Breakthrough, please visit www.breakthroughcollaborative.org.

January 27, 2009: SEGL secures academic site; hires Academic Dean

SEGL Founder and Director Noah Bopp announced today that the school has reached two key milestones as it prepares for its fall, 2009 opening: signing a lease on an extraordinary building in historic Dupont Circle and hiring an experienced educator as its founding Academic Dean.

Please click here to read more about 1528 18th Street NW and Gray Pedersen.

January 25, 2009: SEGL announces two position openings

Please click for information about our Physics/Chemistry position and Spanish/Development position. Both positions begin July 1, 2009.

December 19, 2008: SEGL: Opening Soon!

The SEGL Board of Trustees has unanimously endorsed a fall, 2009 start date for The School for Ethics and Global Leadership! Read SEGL Director Noah Bopp's letter to the SEGL community here.

December 18, 2008: SEGL Development Manager Position Opening

SEGL is seeking an outstanding Development Manager. Please click here to read the position description.

December 6, 2008: Two Experienced Leaders Join SEGL Board of Trustees

The SEGL Board unanimously elected two dynamic leaders to its membership today, announced SEGL Board Chair J. Matteson Ellis. The two new board members are Dudley Lacy of Durham, North Carolina, and Jason Reed of Arlington, Virginia. "With these experienced professionals on our team, SEGL takes another giant step forward toward securing its future," said Ellis.

Lacy is President and COO of O'Brien Atkins Associates, one of North Carolina's most respected architecture firms. O'Brien Atkins' recent work includes the new Raleigh, NC Convention Center, as well as major academic and research facilities for a variety of universities. Dudley is also the parent of a former student at SEGL Director Noah Bopp's Duke University summer program--the pilot for SEGL. Reed is a senior managing Director at Acumen Solutions, a technology consulting firm he helped to launch in 1999. He now leads the Consumer & Commercial Products Practice, where his portfolio includes a variety of Fortune 1000 companies and leading nonprofits. "Dudley and Jason have already begun to fill several key roles for SEGL," said Bopp. "With Jason's entrepreneurial and technological expertise, we can expand our outreach and ensure graduates (and their service leadership projects) stay connected. Dudley's wealth of expertise will allow us to secure and renovate our facilities efficiently and with confidence."

November 14, 2008: Ashoka's Youth Venture joins SEGL Curriculum Support Team

The largest association of leading social entrepreneurs in the world has put its resources behind SEGL, announced SEGL Director Noah Bopp. The agreement brings SEGL together with Youth Venture, the youth initiative that stems from Ashoka: Innovators for the Public. Beginning in fall, 2009, Youth Venture will provide students with critical mentoring as they plan and implement their "Capstone" Service Leadership organizations. These capstone organizations, a critical piece of the SEGL curriculum, will return students to their local communities as empowered, changemaking leaders. Each student who successfully completes the planning process will receive a $1,000 seed grant from Youth Venture and their organization will become an official part of the Youth Venture network.

"Joining Ashoka and Youth Venture means that our students will be exposed to the 'best and brightest' social entrepreneurs in the world," said SEGL Director Noah Bopp. "Perhaps our most important goal is to have each of our students return home as a 'changemaker.' There is no better organization than Youth Venture to help ensure we meet this goal."

“We envision a world of everyone a changemaker,” said Youth Venture Director of Global Fellowship Marco Davis. “We are pleased to partner with SEGL, and support its students to take part in the global movement of young changemakers who are taking initiative and creating Ventures that contribute to social change.”

About Ashoka and Youth Venture: Ashoka is the world’s community of leading social entrepreneurs—individuals with innovative and practical ideas for addressing social needs. Youth Venture is a global movement of young changemakers. Youth Venture inspires and invests in teams of young people to start their own sustainable social Ventures and connects them into a powerful global network. Collectively, these young changemakers are redefining the youth years as a time of initiative and positive change. For more information, please visit www.genv.net.

October 27, 2008: Jack Kent Cooke Foundation to offer SEGL to "Young Scholars"

SEGL and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation joined forces today to offer SEGL as an officially sanctioned option for the Foundation's Young Scholars. The Young Scholars Program is one of the nation's most prestigious scholarship opportunities for high potential students with financial need. The program "cultivates their talents and abilities throughout high school by providing the personalized advising and financial support needed to secure challenging academic opportunities," according to the Foundation.

"When I taught with the Duke University TIP program, I worked with a number of Jack Kent Cooke Young Scholars," said SEGL Director Noah Bopp. "They are terrific young men and women, and their voices will add a great deal to SEGL's community. Furthermore, SEGL has a strong commitment to racial, socio-economic, and geographic diversity, and I cannot imagine a better partner to help us reach that goal." Added Young Scholars Program Manager Rebecca Stover: "We're always looking for new, challenging programs to make available to our Young Scholars. As such, we're delighted to introduce our Scholars to SEGL. With this partnership, we look forward to reemphasizing the message that ethical leadership is vitally important."

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is a private, independent foundation established by Jack Kent Cooke to help exceptionally promising students reach their full potential through education. More information is available at www.jkcf.org.

October 15, 2008: $100,000 in 100 Days begins!

Please click here to read a special message from SEGL Board Chair J. Matteson Ellis announcing the grassroots phase of our fundraising strategy. Visit our Support page to join the campaign.

October 13, 2008: Latest SEGL Current available for download

Read all the latest positive news here, including three new case studies.

September 30, 2008: Honorary Leadership Council Adds Weapons of Mass Destruction Expert

The SEGL Honorary Leadership Council has a new distinguished member: Ambassador (ret.) Donald Mahley. His service to the United States spans over four decades. A retired U.S. Army officer and former professor at the U.S. Military Academy and Naval War College, Ambassador Mahley’s expertise on chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons is widely respected. From 1990-92, he led U.S. efforts to conclude the Chemical Weapons Convention. In 2000, President Clinton tapped him to serve as Ambassador for his tenure as Special Negotiator for Chemical and Biological Arms Control Issues. He is perhaps best known as leader of the U.S. team that ensured WMD removal from Libya in 2004. “I believe [SEGL] has great potential to discover, motivate, and inspire future generations of leadership for our country,” Ambassador Mahley said in a letter to SEGL Director Noah Bopp. “I believe the mission of the school is an important element in refurbishing American global leadership, and directing the energies of the United States to ends that will make us all proud.” “Learning expert negotiating skills will be a key aspect of an SEGL education,” said SEGL Director Noah Bopp. “Ambassador Mahley's extraordinary experience and expertise in this area will be a terrific benefit to our students.”

July 18, 2008: Read the latest SEGL Current!

Click here for all the latest news about SEGL! The case study referenced in the newsletter is available here.

June 25, 2008: President of Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs joins SEGL Leadership Council

Dr. Joel H. Rosenthal, President of the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, is the newest member of the the SEGL Honorary Leadership Council. The Carnegie Council is the leading voice promoting ethical leadership on issues of war, peace, religion in politics, and global social justice. Rosenthal, who is also the Editor-in-Chief of Ethics & International Affairs, spoke highly of SEGL in a note accepting SEGL's invitation. "I consider it a privilege to join SEGL's Honorary Leadership Council. You are on the frontier of education, preparing students to understand the global forces that shape their lives, and anchoring them in the moral and philosophical traditions that will empower them as ethical leaders. I have no doubt that SEGL will make a great contribution to our country and to the world," Rosenthal said. "I have taken the motto to heart: 'Change Yourself. Change the World.' Exactly! I am working on it every day, as I expect everyone in the SEGL community will do as the community grows and as we all learn together." Added SEGL Director Noah Bopp, "The Carnegie Council's mission resonates deeply with our own, and Joel's leadership in elevating and spreading the discussion of ethics in international issues has been extraordinary. I look forward to a long, productive, and mutually beneficial relationship."

For more information about Dr. Rosenthal, please click here.

May 14, 2008: Former NATO Ambassador and Special Counselor to President Reagan joins SEGL Leadership Council

Dr. David Abshire, former NATO Ambassador and Special Counselor to President Ronald Reagan, joined the SEGL Honorary Leadership Council today. Dr. Abshire, who now serves as President and CEO of the Center for the Study of the Presidency (a member of the SEGL curriculum support team), is one of the nation's outstanding experts on leadership. In addition to his roles as Ambassador and Special Counselor, he is the co-founder of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), President of the Richard Lounsbery Foundation, and was a co-convenor of the Iraq Study Group.

"David Abshire is one of our country's most distinguished public servants," said SEGL Director Noah Bopp. "His wisdom and character will be an extraordinary inspiration to our students and faculty, and we look forward to welcoming him to campus." "I continue to be most impressed with your efforts to establish the School for Ethics and Global Leadership," Dr. Abshire wrote in a note accepting his appointment. "[I] would be honored to participate."

For more information about Dr. Abshire, please click here.

May 10, 2008: Applications for SEGL Summer Fellowship closed

Applications for the 2008 SEGL Summer Fellowship are now closed. Thanks to everyone who applied or helped to locate outstanding candidates. We will announce our three fellows to the public in the next edition of the SEGL Current.

April 25, 2008: Webber Family Foundation makes $50,000 grant to SEGL

SEGL Director Noah Bopp announced a $50,000 gift from the Webber Family Foundation today. "We're delighted to have such a terrific boost to our fundraising efforts," Bopp said in a videotaped announcement. "We look forward in the months and years ahead to working with the Webber Family Foundation to achieve our mutual goals." "SEGL's innovative approach to engaging youth in some of the world's most pressing issues inspired this gift," said Webber Family Foundation Executive Director Jessica D'Arcy. "With the leadership of Noah Bopp and SEGL's board of advisors, we're confident the school will provide exceptional educational opportunities that will help a diverse group of students become thoughtful, passionate leaders." SEGL has now raised over $550,000 toward its $1.2 million start-up goal, including $150,000 from foundations.

To learn more about the Webber Family Foundation, visit www.webberfoundation.org.

April 15, 2008: SEGL inks affiliation with leading DC think tank

Yet another leading policy organization joined the SEGL curricular support team today, announced SEGL Director Noah Bopp. The Center for the Study of the Presidency, led by David Abshire, endeavors to "promote leadership in the Presidency and the Congress to generate innovative solutions to current national challenges" and to "educate and inspire the next generation of America’s leaders to incorporate civility, inclusiveness, and character into their public and private lives and discourse." "This important addition to our curricular support team will ensure that our students have the best possible information about arguably the most important global leadership role: that of the President of the United States," said Bopp. "We are delighted to partner in this exciting new initiative," added Melanie D'Evelyn, Project Director of the National Consortium for Character-Based Leadership at CSP. "SEGL's mission corresponds with the Center's own commitment to inspire a future generation of leaders and prepare them with the ethical reasoning skills they will need as they get older and assume careers."

Click here for information about The Center for the Study of the Presidency.

April 1, 2008: SEGL Summer Fellowship Application

Click here for information about an 8-week paid Summer Fellowship at SEGL. Applications are due soon.

March 30, 2008: Latest SEGL Current now available for download

Click here for all the latest news about SEGL!

February 15, 2008: The Hockaday School becomes SEGL sending institution

The largest all-girls school in the United States joined the SEGL sending community today, announced SEGL Director Noah Bopp. The Hockaday School, located in Dallas, joins its all-boys counterpart, St. Mark's, which became a sending school last year. "We are very excited about this new opportunity and look forward to a long-lasting partnership, as your mission mirrors our own," said Karen Drawz, Hockaday Assistant Head for Academic Affairs and Strategic Planning. For more information about Hockaday, visit www.hockaday.org.

February 13, 2008: Sage Hill School joins sending school team

The Sage Hill School in Newport Coast, California signed on as the 21st SEGL sending school today, announced SEGL Director Noah Bopp. "SEGL's mission mirrors Sage Hill's beautifully," said Sage Hill head of school Judith Glickman. "Thus, we wish to offer the SEGL opportunity to one of our many intellectually talented students, engaged fully in the pursuit of service to others in a global community. The opportunity to be with other like minds and souls, intent to be ethical, thoughtful leaders of the future is compelling." For more information about Sage Hill, visit www.sagehillschool.org.

December 10, 2007: Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter School to send students

Thurgood Marshall Charter School, located in the Anacostia neighborhood of Washington, DC, became the newest member of the SEGL sending school family today. "I look forward to expanding the minds of our young leaders through our collaboration," said TM Academic Director Alexandra Pardo. Founded in 2001 to provide a human rights and law-based curriculum to some of DC's most educationally disadvantaged young people, the school already boasts some of the highest test scores in the District. For more information about Thurgood Marshall, please visit www.thurgoodmarshallacademy.org.

December 5, 2007: SEGL to present at NAIS Annual Conference

Please join SEGL Founder and Director Noah Bopp at the year's National Association of Independent Schools Annual Conference! Noah will present SEGL at the conference on Thursday, February 28th from 1:45-2:45pm alongside Rich DiBianca, Upper School Principal at Newark Academy. Newark Academy was SEGL's first sending school. View the complete session description here.

November 30, 2007: Oregon Episcopal School becomes first Oregon sending school

Oregon Episcopal School, one of the Pacific Northwest's most outstanding schools, added its name to the long list of SEGL sending institutions today. "OES is thrilled to participate as a sending school for the School for Ethics and Global Leadership," said OES Head of School Matthew Hanly. "We expect the experience will be enriching not only for the attendees, but also for the school communities to which they will return following completion of the program." SEGL is now represented by sending schools in 16 different states. To find out more about OES, please visit www.oes.edu.

November 5, 2007: Overlake School latest to join list of SEGL sending institutions

SEGL picked up another outstanding sending school today, Director Noah Bopp has announced. The Overlake School, a prestigious K-12 institution in suburban Seattle, becomes the first Washington State school to offer SEGL as an option to its students. "Overlake is one of the most dynamic and respected schools in the Northwest," Bopp said, noting that Nicholas Kristof praised Overlake (for building a school in Cambodia) in a recent column. "This is a very timely program in light of the ever-expanding list of ethical issues confronting our society," said Overlake Head of School Francisco Grijalva. More information about Overlake is available at at www.overlake.org.

October 8, 2007: SEGL Benefit Information

Please click here for more information about the SEGL benefit on Sunday, October 21st at 3pm, hosted by Mandu Restaurant at 1805 18th Street in Washington, DC. Our featured speaker is Dr. James Thurber, Distinguished Professor and Director of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, American University. Space is limited; please RSVP to RSVP@schoolforethics.org.

August 31, 2007: Latest SEGL Current now available for download

Click here for all the latest news about SEGL! Click here to read Cabell King's behind-the-scenes account of working for SEGL this summer.

August 29, 2007: Friends Seminary joins distinguished list of SEGL sending institutions

Friends Seminary, a leading Quaker school located in New York City, is the latest outstanding institution to join the SEGL community. "I am a big fan of Friends Seminary, as I spent time working with its administration and parents while studying at Columbia University," said SEGL Director Noah Bopp. "I have long been impressed with the teaching philosophy of Friends schools, which I believe closely matches SEGL's." "Friends Seminary is excited about the opportunity SEGL will provide our students and how they, in turn, will positively influence our community," said Upper School Head Wendy Wilderotter. "Friends, long committed to the values of experiential and global education, sees [SEGL] as a natural fit to our philosophy that a Friends education does 'more than prepare students for the world that is: we help them bring about the world that ought to be.'" More information about Friends Seminary is available at www.friendsseminary.org.

August 17, 2007: THE NAIS FELLOWSHIP IN GLOBAL EDUCATION

The School for Ethics and Global Leadership is proud to announce its key role in the NAIS Fellowship in Global Education, a new initiative whose goal is to help reshape schools for the 21st Century.

The project brings together three respected organizations who are leaders in their field: The National Association of Independent Schools, The Institute for Global Ethics, and SEGL. Each semester, the Fellowship will bring experienced educators to Washington, DC, where they willcollaborate and learn from colleagues at SEGL, NAIS, and IGE. In addition to living and teaching at SEGL, Fellows will design and implement an SEGL-inspired satellite program. Upon return, they will receive follow-up support (and a seed grant) for their efforts. The program will begin during the 2009/10 school year (with a pilot version in 2008/9). For further information about the program, download the planning document here.

"This is an auspicious, exciting day for us at SEGL," said SEGL Director Noah Bopp. "Our relationship with these two organizations will enrich our school enormously, and the Fellowship will help us bring our innovative educational model to scale. I can't wait for our Fellows to arrive!"

"NAIS is delighted to partner with SEGL in this important and exciting new program," said Paul Miller, NAIS Director of Global Initiatives. "It will facilitate the growth of global education in our member schools. Equally importantly the different school -within- a- school concepts that will be developedare key aspects of the School of the Future: a top priority for NAIS as our schools prepare students for the new and coming realities."

"IGE is so pleased to be working with the School for Ethical and Global Leadership!" added Paula Mirk, IGE Vice President for Education. "The project promises to contribute continuous learning to the field of education, and to start a great ripple effect. We need schools to be graduating students with expertise and with ethics. SEGL certainly promises to do that, and to help other schools do the same."

NAIS represents approximately 1300 independent schools across the United States and abroad. Its mission is "to be the national voice of independent schools and the center for collective action on their behalf." More information about NAIS is available at www.nais.org. IGE is a nonsectarian, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization whose mission is "To promote ethical behavior in individuals, institutions, and nations through research, public discourse, and practical action." More information about the Institute for Global Ethics is available at www.globalethics.org.

August 15, 2007: Hathaway Brown becomes SEGL sending school

Hathaway Brown, a highly respected all-girls school in Shaker Heights, Ohio, became an SEGL sending school today. SEGL "fits Hathaway Brown's focus on international education and the issues associated with it, and we are very excited that our girls will have the opportunity to participate." said Upper School Director Missy Rose. SEGL now has sending schools in 14 states and the District of Columbia. For more information about Hathaway Brown, please visit www.hb.edu.

August 13, 2007: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace joins SEGL curricular support team

The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, one of the world's leading think tanks, has pledged important academic support for SEGL students, SEGL Director Noah Bopp announced today. The Carnegie Endowment's involvement will allow SEGL students to receive important guidance from leading experts as they draft their "capstone" policy document each semester. "Carnegie is one of the most respected think tanks in the world," Bopp said, "and we cannot imagine a better organization to help shepherd our students through one of their most important academic experiences."

The "capstone" policy document, researched and written entirely by students, is a hallmark of SEGL's academic program. Each semester, students will choose one current international challenge, draft practical solutions to that challenge, and send their recommendations to world leaders. SEGL Director Noah Bopp pioneered this approach during his six years as creator and lead instructor of the Duke University TIP International Affairs Institute (see www.duketipsummer.org/IAI.html for more information).

The mission of the Carnegie Endowment--a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization--is to advance cooperation between nations and promote active international engagement by the United States. The oldest institution of its kind, it is also the first truly multinational think tank, with offices in Moscow, Bejing, Beruit, and Brussels, in addition to Washington, DC. The think tank also publishes Foreign Policy, one of the world's leading international politics and economics magazines. For more information about the Carnegie Endowment, please visit www.carnegieendowment.org.

July 25, 2007: Arent Fox to provide legal assistance to SEGL

Arent Fox LLP, one of DC's most respected law firms, has agreed to provide pro bono legal assistance during SEGL's facility search. This assistance will allow SEGL to negotiate a purchase or lease agreement with enormous confidence, said SEGL Director Noah Bopp. "Our search for a suitable facility is evolving quickly," Bopp said. "Having Arent Fox represent us means SEGL will get the best possible deal completed efficiently and effectively." The Arent Fox legal team includes attorneys Lisa Pilnik and Sean Glynn. More information about Arent Fox is available at www.arentfox.com.

June 29, 2007: SEGL welcomes Collegiate School to its sending school community

Collegiate School of Richmond, Virginia joined the SEGL sending school family this week, becoming the latest in a list of prominent schools across the United States to support the program. "We are thrilled to join the School for Ethics and Global Leadership as a partner and sending school," said head of school Keith Evans. "The mission of the School is a perfect match for Collegiate and the objective of teaching young people about obligations in a global community could not be more timely. We are excited to watch the School grow and have our students be a part of this unique community." SEGL Director Noah Bopp echoed Evans' sentiments, calling Collegiate "an obvious and significant partner for SEGL." For more information about the school, please visit www.collegiate-va.org.

June 23, 2007: Harpeth Hall joins sending school family

Harpeth Hall, one of the most accomplished schools in Tennessee, became an SEGL sending school this week. The move adds the Volunteer state to SEGL's growing national portfolio. "Harpeth Hall has one of the most compelling and timely mission statements I have seen," said SEGL Director Noah Bopp, "and we look forward to a long partnership with such an outstanding school." Harpeth Hall, which serves Nashville-area girls in grades 5-12, is led by Head of School Ann Teaff. For more information about the school, visit www.harpethhall.org.

June 11, 2007: Latest SEGL Current now available for download

Click here to read the most recent good news! Note: A revamped version of the SEGL Podcast will be available for download this weekend. Please check back then!

June 4, 2007: IRS GRANTS SEGL 501(C)(3) TAX EXEMPT STATUS

The Internal Revenue Service granted The School for Ethics and Global Leadership full tax-exempt status today, in what SEGL Director Noah Bopp called "one of the most important developments in our young history." The decision makes contributions to SEGL tax-deductible under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. SEGL's application was submitted by attorney J. Matteson Ellis of Miller & Chevalier, the oldest tax law firm in the United States and a leading international law firm. "Obtaining tax-exempt status is a major undertaking that can only be appreciated by those who have experienced it," said Bopp. "Matt and his colleagues at Miller & Chevalier were expert, tireless, and proactive throughout, and SEGL owes them a deep debt of gratitude."

Within the next week, visitors to the SEGL website will be able to make contributions online; please check this space soon for more information. Click here to view the official IRS letter.

May 28, 2007: Two leading independent schools to send students to SEGL

SEGL Director Noah Bopp announced today that Christ Church Episcopal School in Greenville, South Carolina, and Colorado Academy in Denver, Colorado have became the latest SEGL sending schools. CCES, a K-12 International Baccalaureate World School, is a pedagogical leader in promoting "international understanding and an appreciation of the diversity of persons and cultures." CCES, which is led by Head of School Lee Cox, "welcome[d] the privilege of participating as a sending school," said Associate Head of School Leonard Kupersmith. Colorado Academy, one of the state's finest educational institutions, is a leader in innovative experiential education, and dedicated to "the development of reflective citizens concerned with their physical, social, and political environments." "These two schools are not only incredible learning environments, they are institutions who aspire to similar principles and outcomes," noted Bopp. "It is wonderful to have them aboard."

SEGL now has sending schools in nine states and the District of Columbia. More information about these two schools is available at www.cces.org and www.coloradoacademy.org.

May 24, 2007: Greenhill School continues sending school surge

Greenhill School in Addison, Texas hopped aboard the SEGL train today, pushing the total number of sending schools into double figures. "We are excited at the opportunity SEGL provides for our students and see it as a great fit within our own school mission and program," said Greenhill Head of School Scott Griggs. "I'm confident the experience will be a remarkable one for all involved." "SEGL can now claim two of the most renowned schools in the great state of Texas as partners," said SEGL Director Noah Bopp. "We can't wait to bring Greenhill students to DC." More information about Greenhill is available at www.greenhill.org.

May 22, 2007: SEGL adds two new sending schools

SEGL Director Noah Bopp announced today that two more prestigious institutions have agreed to join the expanding group of sending schools: Nightingale-Bamford School, one of New York City's most admired all-girls schools; and the Blake School, a longtime leader in educating Minneapolis-area students. "These two schools are impressive academic beacons in their respective geographic regions," said Bopp, who also noted that SEGL now boasts sending schools in seven states plus the District of Columbia. "This is a great day for SEGL." Added Claire duNouy, Nightingale Dean of Upper School Students, "We are delighted to be part of this new program. The mission of SEGL isa perfect complement to Nightingale's commitment to graduating global citizens who, in addition to being versed in literature, mathematics and the other core disciplines, are able to effectively participate in the world at large."

More information about Nightingale, which is led by head of school Dorothy Hutcheson, is available at www.nightingale.org; more information about Blake, which is led by head of school John C. Gulla, can be found at www.blakeschool.org.

May 18, 2007: Johns Hopkins SAIS to provide mentors for SEGL students

SEGL and the D.C. Student Outreach (DCSO) program at the Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) announced today that they will collaborate on a special mentoring initiative. The initiative will bring SAIS graduate students to SEGL for formal and informal sessions, allowing SEGL students to gain important insight and advice from some of the world's most distinguished young leaders. "SAIS looks forward to engaging with SEGL students through DCSO," said John Harrington, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at SAIS. "SEGL is an important program, and we are pleased to be associated with it in this way." "This partnership is a perfect complement our academic program," said SEGL Director Noah Bopp. "Bringing SEGL and SAIS students together will show our students how to connect their learning with meaningful careers in international service."

The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, D.C., is a leading graduate school of international affairs, educating students for professional careers in government, business, journalism, international law and non-profit organizations. More information about SAIS is available at www.sais-jhu.edu.

May 10, 2007: Chadwick School is latest SEGL sending school

The Chadwick School in Palos Verdes Peninsula, California joined the SEGL sending school cohort with enthusiasm today. "This brings one of the most outstanding schools in southern California into our sending family," said SEGL Director Noah Bopp. "I am very impressed with Chadwick's commitment to experiential, global education, and I am convinced that its students will bring an important perspective to our intellectual and interpersonal dynamic." 36 percent of Chadwick students are students of color; the school is the only coed K-12 independent day school in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County. More information is available at www.chadwickschool.org.

May 7, 2007: Head-Royce School brings West Coast perspective to SEGL

SEGL gained its first West Coast sending school today when the prestigious Head-Royce School in Oakland, California signed on as the latest SEGL team member. "Head-Royce's mission states the school's goal 'to encourage active and responsible citizenship,'" said SEGL Director Noah Bopp. "We are very pleased that the school sees SEGL as a viable way to fulfill that objective." Dr. Paul Chapman is head of Head-Royce. More information about the school can be found at www.headroyce.org.

May 4, 2007: Sewickley Academy joins SEGL sending school ranks

Sewickley Academy, the oldest independent day school in the greater Pittsburgh area, becomes the first SEGL sending school from the state of Pennsylvania this week. The school's students have completed nearly 20,000 community service hours in the last five years, and boast the highest average SAT scores in the region. "Sewickley Academy brings an impressive mix of scholarship and service to our sending school pool," said SEGL Founder and Director Noah Bopp. "Like SEGL, they are committed to providing students with outstanding opportunities to become citizen leaders, and we are honored to have them with us." Founded in 1838, the school is led by Head of School Kolia O'Connor. More information is available at www.sewickley.org.

April 12, 2007: SEED School joins list of SEGL sending schools

The SEED charter school in Washington, DC announced today that it is joining the growing list of SEGL sending schools. The SEED School in DC is the flagship program of the SEED Foundation, which seeks to revolutionize urban education through innovative educational opportunities in a boarding environment. "Ourstudents are currently learning about the issues of poverty, racism,genocide, consumption and waste, and political and social freedom intheir own communities and around the world," said SEED School Development Manager Robin Lewis. "They must have a foundation in ethics and leadership skills in order to address the community and global challenges that will certainly face them when they are adults. We are delighted to partner with SEGL and look forward to SEED students benefiting from this important program." Added SEGL Director Noah Bopp, "The SEED School is nationally and locally recognized for its outstanding educational model, and we are encouraged by their endorsement. Not only will this agreement provide us with outstanding students who have unique experiences; it helps to demonstrate our commitment to serving the local DC community as we change the wider world." More information about the SEED Foundation and the SEED School in Washington, DC can be found at www.seedfoundation.com.

April 2, 2007: New SEGL Podcast available for download

Please click here to download the second SEGL Podcast. (Total time 15:00).

March 29, 2007: SEGL Newsletter available

Please click here to download the latest copy of the SEGL Current.

March 27, 2007: SEGL and leading DC foreign policy magazine to co-develop online publication

The School for Ethics and Global Leadership and The American Interest magazine have agreed to co-develop a unique online magazine, tentatively titled The American Student Interest. The new magazine will provide SEGL students, and students around the world, with a unique forum--the first of its kind--for learning, sharing, and discussing cutting edge foreign policy ideas. SEGL participants will serve as the primary student editors and contributors to the publication, which will also draw input from interested students across the country.

The American Interest is an independent, nonpartisan bimonthly magazine dedicated to exploring America's role in the world. AI's editorial board includes Francis Fukuyama, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Walter Russell Mead and other leaders in international policy, academia and journalism.

"We are delighted to join with SEGL on this groundbreaking endeavor," said AI publisher Charles Davidson. “The American Interest has established itself as a must read for adults interested in foreign and domestic policy. With the students of SEGL, The American Student Interest will do the same for the young people who will be making those policy decisions in the future.”

"AI is just the right magazine for our students," said SEGL Director Noah Bopp. "It mixes the academic and policy worlds in an accessible and fascinating manner, and it is committed to nonpartisan, editorial independence. The American Student Interest will become an essential, compelling facet of our academic program, and of our mission to the greater public. We are thrilled."

The American Student Interest is scheduled to launch in the Fall of 2008, along with the first class of SEGL. For more information about AI, visit www.the-american-interest.com.

March 26, 2007: Center for Global Development joins SEGL curriculum team

The School for Ethics and Global Leadership has agreed to animportant curriculum partnership with one of DC's leading thinktanks. The Center for Global Development is an independent,nonpartisan organization that works to reduce global poverty andinequality by encouraging policy change in the U.S. and other richcountries through rigorous research and active engagement with thepolicy community. Each semester, CGD will partner with SEGLfaculty to design exclusive student workshops with CGD experts thatexplore global development issues. These experts, who are leadersin their field, will engage students in conversations about a widevariety of cutting edge research findings and policy recommendations. "The Center for Global Development is one of the most respected think tanks in Washington, DC," said SEGL DirectorNoah Bopp. "We are extraordinarily pleased that our students will benefit from the Center's expertise." "SEGL has set out to educate the next generation of global leaders who will one day be the decision makersthat CGD seeks to inform," said CGD Director of Communications andPolicy, Lawrence MacDonald." We look forward to interacting with SEGLstudents, helping them to understand the challenges faced by poor people in developing countries, and demonstrating that change for the better is possible when one approaches problems with a hard head and a soft heart." More information about CGD is available at www.cgdev.org.

March 16, 2007: Concord Academy becomes SEGL sending school

Concord Academy in Concord, Massachusetts joined the growing group of SEGL sending schools today in a move that SEGL Director Noah Bopp called "an outstanding development." Concord Academy, led by head of school Jake Dresden, has long been a leader in supporting semester program opportunities. "During my time at the Mountain School in Vermont, I could always count on CA to send bright, energetic, and reflective students to study with us," said SEGL Director Noah Bopp. "I look forward to the wonderful things that future generations of CA students will bring the SEGL campus." For more information about Concord Academy, please visit www.concordacademy.org.

March 6, 2007: SEGL and American University Center for Global Peace pledge collaboration

The School for Ethics and Global Leadership gained a key ally today in the American University Center for Global Peace. The Center is an internationally-recognized institution committed to "the study and understanding of world peace." The agreement will allow SEGL faculty to collaborate each semester with the Center on educational initiatives that increase students' understanding of international peace issues and nonviolent conflict resolution. To solidify the relationship, Professor Abdul Aziz Said has agreed to join the SEGL Honorary Leadership Council. Dr. Said, the senior ranking professor at American University, is Director of the Center for Global Peace and Mohammed Said Chair of Islamic Peace at AU. He was also instrumental in founding the AU Washington Semester Program, which brings hundreds of undergraduates to DC each semester for a unique learning experience. "This is a terrific step forward for our program," said SEGL Project Coordinator Noah Bopp," and I am excited about what this special arrangement will bring to our campus." Special thanks are due to Betty Sitka, the Associate Director of the Center, for her hard work in forging this important connection. Click here to read Dr. Said's letter of support.

February 19, 2007: First SEGL Podcast debuts

Click here to download the first SEGL podcast, which features an interview with SEGL Project Coordinator Noah Bopp. The interview was conducted by Jenny Marder, a Bollinger Presidential Fellow at the Columbia University School of Journalism and good friend of Noah's. The podcast lasts about 20 minutes. Click the "XML" logo below to subscribe via RSS (available soon).

February 13, 2007: Latest edition of the SEGL Current now available

Click here to download the second edition of the SEGL newsletter, which includes several important new developments. To be added to the SEGL mailing list, contact us at info@schoolforethics.org.

January 22, 2007: SEGL revises start-up schedule

The School for Ethics and Global Leadership announced today that it intends to welcome its first cohort of students for the fall, 2008 semester, rather than the spring, 2008 term (as previously announced). SEGL will continue to accept and review applications this spring, but offers of admission will be for the fall, 2008 semester. "I am sorry to disappoint the many students who have written to say that they are hoping to attend next spring," said Project Coordinator Noah Bopp. "However, our facilities search has taken longer than expected, and our 501(c)(3) status, which is important for fundraising, is still pending due to a record backlog at the IRS. The Board of Advisors and I feel that revising our start date will allow us more time to locate a facility, fundraise, and recruit outstanding teachers. Postponing our opening was a hard decision, but I think it's the ethical thing to do." More information will be available in the upcoming issue of the SEGL Current.

January 10, 2007: New SEGL recruiting postcard debuts!

SEGL is excited to present its new recruitment postcard, which will be distributed to thousands of prospective students in the coming months. The piece was designed by Benjamin Shepard, a graphic designer based in St. Louis, Missouri. Click here to see the front, and here to see the back. Tell us what you think!

January 9, 2007: St. Mark's joins SEGL as sending school

St. Mark's School of Dallas, Texas made its support of The School for Ethics and Global Leadership official today by signing on as the latest SEGL sending school. St. Mark's, led by Headmaster Arnie Holtberg, boasts 24 National Merit Semifinalists this year and has long been recognized as one of the most outstanding independent schools in the U.S. "Among many other benefits, having St. Mark's students at SEGL will lend added rigor to our intellectual life," says SEGL Project Coordinator Noah Bopp. "We are delighted to have them on board."

December 21, 2006: Teaching/Administrative position descriptions now available online

SEGL has released preliminary position descriptions for all teaching and administrative positions. The school will begin reviewing applications in late January for positions starting in June, 2007 (Assistant Director) or August, 2007 (all other positions). See below for links to all position descriptions.

UPDATE 1/22/07: All positions will begin JULY, 2008.

Administrators (Academic Dean, Residential Dean, and Lead Teacher; one of these three administrators will also serve as Assistant Director)

History Teacher

English Teacher

Physics/Chemistry Teacher

Mathematics Teacher

Languages Teacher/Coordinator

November 17, 2006: Applications online

Applications for the Spring, 2008 semester are now online! Please download your application from the Admissions page. Applications are due March 1st.

November 6, 2006: SEGL secures additional pro bono legal representation from leading firm

The School for Ethics and Global Leadership welcomed the internationally recognized law firm of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene, and MacRae to the SEGL team today. The firm will provide critical corporate legal assistance, complementing the pro bono tax law assistance now offered by Miller & Chevalier. "We're excited and honored to be working with SEGL on such an important project," said Jean Y. Lee, who will lead LeBoeuf's legal team. Project Coordinator Noah Bopp adds, "We are enormously grateful to Jean and her colleagues for taking us on as a client. It gives me great confidence going forward to know that we have such an excellent legal team in place." More information on LeBoeuf is available at www.llgm.com.

October 12, 2006: SEGL releases first newsletter

The SEGL Current contains the latest information on our progress. Download your copy here.

October 4, 2006: Newark Academy makes SEGL official off-campus program

The administration of Newark Academy has made official its support of The School for Ethics and Global Leadership. SEGL was unanimously approved as the school's newest off-campus study option today, making Newark Academy the first official SEGL sending school. Upper School Principal Rich DiBianca stated, "We are happy to support a program whose aims and practices so closely mirror our own educational philosophy. To steal a line from Casablanca...I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." For more information about becoming a sending school for SEGL, please contact us at info@schoolforethics.org.

September 5, 2006: SEGL launches new website!

The new website is the work of Michael Williams, who served on the faculty of the Duke University TIP Global Dialogues Institute with SEGL project director Noah Bopp. Michael is currently a student at The George Washington University School of Law. Please send us a note and tell us what you think!

August 3, 2006: SEGL Incorporated!

SEGL received its certificate of incorporation from the the District of Columbia today. It is an exciting step forward for all of us who have been working hard on the project. Though the school's 501(c)3 nonprofit application will remain pending for several months, tax-deductible contributions can now be made to the school. An online donation form will soon be linked to the "Support SEGL" page. Every contribution counts!

July 6, 2006: Miller & Chevalier to provide SEGL with pro bono legal counsel

Miller & Chevalier, the oldest tax law firm in the United States and a leading international law firm, has agreed to represent SEGL with respect to its application for tax-exempt status. The firm has assigned J. Matteson Ellis and Shane T. Hamilton to work on the matter. More information about Miller & Chevalier is available at www.milchev.com.

June 30, 2006: Duke University TIP Global Dialogues Institute releases "In Pursuit of Peace"

The Duke University Talent Identification Program's Global Dialogues Institute released its collaborative document this afternoon after a challenging mock Congressional subcommittee meeting. GDI, created by SEGL Project Coordinator Noah Bopp, has served as a pilot program for SEGL for the last five years. The document, entitled "In Pursuit of Peace: Preventing Genocide in Cote d'Ivoire," can be downloaded on the GDI Graduates page here.

May 23, 2006: SEGL forms strategic partnership with Civic Concepts International

SEGL's partnership with Civic Concepts International will provide an unprecedented opportunity for students to attend leadership conferences with students from across the globe in prague, Czech Republic, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Cape Town, South Africa. Students can receive college credit for attendance. Click on the logo below for more information about CCI!

May 17, 2006: SEGL completes Business Plan

SEGL Project Coordinator Noah Bopp announced the completion of the school's Business Plan today. "This document gives those of us who are excited about SEGL a blueprint for success," Noah said. "I am immensely grateful to the many experts who gave me extremely helpful feedback as I completed this document." The entire 27-page plan, which was finished as Noah completed his Ed.M. in Private School Leadership at Columbia University, is available here.