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The Hayek Friedman Fellowship in International Economics has been awarded to four students during the 2025-2026 academic year: Roane Aidane, Robin Bessler, Alexander “Alec” Bullough, and Ian Everhart.
Established in August 2025 through a $100,000 grant from the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, the Hayek Friedman Fellowship supports students pursuing an International Economics specialization or certificate at The Institute of World Politics. Named by Dr. Anne Bradley in honor of economists Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman, the fellowship encourages the study of economic freedom, international economics, and economic statecraft within the context of diplomacy, national security, and international affairs.
More details about the recipients are as follows:
Ian Everhart
Awarded $5,200
“IWP has an outstanding curriculum in economics, with a focus on the free market philosophies of Friedrich Hayek, Ludwig von Mises, and Milton Friedman. The training I am receiving at IWP is of invaluable benefit to my professional endeavors.”
Ian Everhart, the first recipient of the Hayek Friedman Fellowship during the Fall 2025 semester, is pursuing an M.A. in Statecraft and International Affairs with a specialization in Economics at IWP. He recently began a new position at The Washington Times, where he is responsible for expanding the organization’s reporting infrastructure on Asia and developing its network of contributors and supporters, with a particular focus on Taiwan.
Everhart hopes to make meaningful contributions to his new role and to support the continued development of The Washington Times as a leading source of news, analysis, and policy coverage on Asia. He is particularly interested in strengthening public understanding of regional developments while remaining grounded in the enduring principle of the American founding. He also seeks to draw on his analytical abilities and communication skills to engage audiences with complex international issues and contribute to informed discussion of the expansion of freedom worldwide.
Roan Aidane
Awarded $13,000
“I am sincerely grateful for the Foundation’s support, which has made it possible for me to study issues that are both timely and essential to the future of American foreign policy and national security. It is imperative that the next generation of policy leaders be armed with a sober and rational understanding of economic principles to guide impactful future decisions.”
Roan Aidane is pursuing an M.A. in Statecraft and International Affairs at IWP with a focus on International Economics. His experience as an analyst in the geopolitical risk sector has brought to light the growing importance of the intersection between private industry and national security imperatives.
Aidane was drawn to IWP because of its emphasis on international economics and economic statecraft. Through both his professional experience and graduate studies, he has developed a strong interest in the role economics plays in strategic alliances, great-power competition, and coercive diplomacy. He believes economic statecraft has become increasingly important in an era shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, emerging technologies, and the expanding influence of private-sector organizations in areas traditionally reserved for sovereign states.
Looking ahead, Aidane hopes to further investigate the future implications of private-sector investment and the role of technological innovation within the evolving global landscape.
Robin Bessler
Awarded $9,000
“The Hayek-Friedman Fellowship is an opportunity for me to deepen my understanding of economics, which will directly enrich the learning experiences I provide to my students. The fellowship will help support my academic goals and has strengthened my commitment to understanding how economic ideas can contribute to human flourishing.”
Robin Bessler is an educator and graduate student with interests in economics, history, and public policy. She teaches high school history courses while pursuing graduate-level studies in economics at IWP. One of her professional goals is to teach dual-enrollment economics classes to her students so they can earn college credit while still in high school.
Ms. Bessler has developed classroom simulations and interactive activities designed to help students better understand economic concepts such as trade, tariffs, and market signals. She hopes that her continued studies at IWP will enable her to develop more rigorous lessons that help her students better understand economics.
Alec Bullough
Awarded $8,200
“The fellowship has really enabled me to truly get an education worthy of the title of ‘statecraft.’ By going through these economic courses, I’ve come to realize how much of an impact economic freedom has on political freedom. It’s changed how I see our world’s problems and pointed me toward truly effective solutions.”
Alec Bullough is pursuing an M.A. in Statecraft and International Affairs at IWP. Originally from Indiana, he has deep roots in the Hoosier farming communities of the Midwest, an upbringing that has shaped his interests in economics, public policy, and political institutions.
His research at IWP has primarily focused on Russian activities in the Middle East and irregular warfare. Through his coursework in international economics, Bullough has become increasingly interested in the relationship between economic freedom, political liberty, and effective statecraft. He believes a deeper understanding of economics is essential for addressing many of today’s most pressing international challenges.
Bullough hopes to pursue a career on Capitol Hill, working where policy meets politics. He views the Hayek Friedman Fellowship as an opportunity to strengthen both his academic preparation and practical understanding of the economic and political forces that shape international affairs.
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Four students receive the 2025-2026 Hayek Friedman Fellowship in International Economics – The Institute of World Politics
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