Contact TFAS

U.S. Programs Staff

U.S. Programs Staff

Ms. Shane Mazzella
Vice President, U.S. Programs
smazzella@tfas.org
Shane Mazzella has over twelve years of program management experience in the nonprofit sector. As Director of U.S. Programs for The Fund for American Studies, her responsibilities include overseeing all of the TFAS summer and semester academic internship programs. Prior to that, she directed the organization’s programs in philanthropy including the summer Institute on Philanthropy and Voluntary Service and programs for professional leaders in the philanthropic sector. Previously, Shane served as Vice President of Legal Affairs & Administration for the Center for Individual Freedom, where she managed the organization’s legal programs. She also worked as a program manager for a Michigan volunteer center where her primary responsibility was promoting volunteerism and charitable activities on college campuses. Shane currently volunteers with a number of community nonprofit organizations including the Junior League of Northern Virginia and Stop Child Abuse Now! of Northern Virginia where she serves on the Boards of Directors. Originally from Michigan, she graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in psychology from Western Michigan University and is an avid Detroit Red Wings fan.

Recruitment and Admissions

Ms. Mary Connell, Director, Recruitment and Admissions
mconnell@tfas.org
Mary Connell serves as the Recruitment and Admissions Director and is responsible for organizing the recruitment efforts and overseeing the admissions process for the Washington, D.C. programs. Mary came to The Fund for American Studies five years ago as its Admissions Assistant and then served as the Georgetown Institutes Coordinator. Mary is a graduate of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA where she earned a bachelor’s degree in history and a minor in art history. During her junior year of college, Mary studied at University College London in England for a semester. Mary grew up in New Hampshire, but has called Arlington, VA home for the past five years.

Ms. Dana Faught, Coordinator, Recruitment and Admissions
dfaught@tfas.org
Dana Faught serves as the Coordinator for Recruitment and Admissions for TFAS’s Washington, DC programs, specializing in the four Georgetown summer Institutes as well as Capital Semester. She is responsible for our website content, student communication and serving as an admissions & financial aid counselor to incoming students. She previously interned for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources where she worked within the office of communications to organize and promote the Ohio State Fair. She is a graduate of Northeast Ohio's Mount Union College, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in media studies and writing. While in college, Dana was actively involved in her sorority, worked on her campus newspaper and volunteered with the local Habitat for Humanity chapter by designing the organization’s promotional materials. She enjoys exploring D.C., cooking and cheering on the Ohio State Buckeyes.


Program Management

Mr. Joe Starrs, Director, Institute on Political Journalism (IPJ) & Engalitcheff Institute on Comparative Political and Economic Systems (ICPES)
IPJ@tfas.org
Joe Starrs came to TFAS as Director of the Institute on Political Journalism after a number of years working in radio, television and public relations. He formerly served as Vice President of Communications for Veritas Media Group where he produced documentaries and radio as well as television commercials. He also provided on-camera media training for government officials and business executives. In addition, Joe worked as a senior correspondent for FCF News where he interviewed members of Congress, White House officials, political candidates and policy makers. He produced over 2,000 hours of various television broadcasts dealing with Capitol Hill, the Supreme Court, and Privacy and Technology issues. Joe has appeared on Fox News, CNN, Good Morning America, the BCC and numerous other print and broadcast media outlets. He resides in South Riding, VA with his wife and six daughters. Joe enjoys reading, hiking, and playing with his mini-Australian Shepherd, Bella.

Ms. Haley Heieck, Coordinator, Engalitcheff Institute on Comparative Political and Economic Systems (ICPES)
ICPES@tfas.org
Haley Heieck first joined the staff in 2008 to assist in the recruitment and admissions efforts for Washington, D.C. based programs and now acts as the Coordinator for the Engalitcheff Institute on Comparative Political and Economic Systems. Haley first came to The Fund for American Studies as a student in its Institute on Business and Government Affairs (IBGA) in 2007. During that summer she interned with Koch Industries. Originally from California, Haley is a graduate of the University of Oregon with a degree in business administration and a minor in political science.  In her free time she enjoys traveling, black and white photography, and is an avid college football and basketball fan.

Mr. Jonathan Tilley, Coordinator, Institute on Business and Government Affairs (IBGA)
IBGA@tfas.org
Jonathan Tilley joined TFAS as the program assistant for Capital Semester and now serves as the Coordinator for the Institute on Business and Government Affairs. Before coming to TFAS, he worked for two years in Germany with Campus Crusade for Christ. He first came to Washington in 2003 as a State Department intern, where he helped coordinate public diplomacy exchanges for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. He grew up in Florida and is a graduate of Florida State University. As a student at FSU, he was enrolled in the FSU honors program and helped out at both the Episcopal Coffee House and the International Student coffee hour.

Ms. Emily Hill , Manager, Institute on Philanthropy and Voluntary Service (IPVS)
IPVS@tfas.org
This is Emily Hill’s second year serving as the Manger of the Institute on Philanthropy & Voluntary Service. Emily first came to TFAS in 2005 as a student in IPVS. During that summer she interned with First Book, an international nonprofit organization that works to address one of the most important factors affecting literacy – access to books. She returned the following summer to serve as the IPVS Program Advisor and has been with TFAS ever since. Emily recently completed her master’s degree at The George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. She volunteers as a recruitment advisor for the Kappa Alpha Theta chapter at the University of Maryland. Emily grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and is a graduate of Oklahoma State University with a degree in political science. Go Pokes!

Ms. Lily Pascucci, Director, Capital Semester (CS)
Semester@tfas.org
Lily Pascucci serves as the Director of the Capital Semester program. She previously worked as the policy and internship coordinator for the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in Washington, D.C. She also served as a legislative assistant for ALEC's policy department, where she pursued issues of information technology, telecommunications, taxes and health care. She is a graduate of Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, Ind., where she double majored in theoretical mathematics and economics.

Ms. Patricia Nichols, Coordinator, Special Programs
pnichols@tfas.org
Patricia Nichols is a 2005 IPVS alumna and former institute program adviser. She returned to TFAS full-time in the summer of 2008 to work as the special programs assistant for U.S. Programs where she is responsible for special events, the mentor program and continuing education programs for TFAS alumni. Patricia is a graduate of the University of Florida where she received her Bachelor of Arts in political science and family, youth and community sciences. At UF, Patricia served as director of IDEAL, a peer advising organization that works to promote student involvement and fosters organizational development. She also worked for the Career Resource Center and was involved with the Center for Leadership and Service. In her free time, Patricia enjoys reading, a good cup of coffee, exploring D.C. and cheering on the Florida Gators.

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The Fund for American Studies
1621 New Hampshire Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20009

P: 800.741.6964 or 202.986.0384
F: 202.318.0441

For admissions questions please contact:
admissions@tfas.org