On November 19,听2025,听two students selected for 麻豆传媒鈥檚 (PBA)听Freidheim听Fellowship presented their research from the past semester at the Warren Library to Senator George S. Lemieux, founder and chair of听PBA鈥檚听LeMieux Center for Public Policy, their academic advisors, peers, and community members. Their topics focused on growing concerns over social security stability and artificial intelligence regulation.听听
The fellowship is named for well-known philanthropists and former elementary school teacher Marguerite 鈥淢itzi鈥� and her husband, Cyrus听Freidheim, who work together through charitable efforts to make education more accessible for the next generation. The fellowship is a prestigious opportunity听managed by听PBA鈥檚听LeMieux Center for Public Policy. Every year, the LeMieux Center chooses two scholars to conduct in-depth research on an area of public policy in the national or international realm. After a semester of research and writing听under the advisement of a PBA faculty member, the two fellows present their听research on a specific听public policy听problem听and propose solutions.听
Anna Foreman Explores the Strain of Social Security 听
Anna Foreman is a master’s student in听accountancy with a minor in听politics. She has represented PBA on the women鈥檚 soccer team for four years, completed an audit internship with Ernst & Young, and is studying for the CPA exam. After听completing her program this听December,听she will intern at Andersen Tax.听听
Foreman decided to combine her education in accounting and politics to tackle the ever-growing issue of social security in the United States. Foreman explained that social security has put a strain on national debt, and if over-reliance on the program continues, it will lead to听benefit听cuts.听
The primary reason social security is not sustainable is changing demographics; the听population is living longer听and听reproducing听less,听resulting in a diminished number of听taxable听workers.听The longer the program stays, the deeper the U.S. digs itself into a financial hole.听听
鈥淭here are three options to fix the program,鈥� Foreman said. 鈥淥ne, we raise taxes. Two, we cut听the benefits.听Three鈥攚hich I think is the most听feasible鈥攚e monetize the program with structural reforms.鈥澨�听
In her research, Foreman discovered that Australia鈥檚 social security program experienced problems听similar to听those in the U.S. in the 1990s. However, by restructuring their program, they achieved significant returns that听benefited听their economy.听
Foreman proposes that the U.S. adopt a model like Australia’s. A starting point would be to implement a means-tested welfare program to target specific individuals and prevent elderly poverty. This type of program would help provide resources to those who, due to unfortunate circumstances, have been unable to contribute to a retirement fund. A second pillar of the program would enforce mandatory, individually owned retirement accounts for citizens that would take 9% of every paycheck. Foreman argues that having an individual account that reflects the individual鈥檚 earnings encourages fiscal responsibility, is self-sustaining (unlike social security), and allows a person鈥檚 benefactors to inherit their money if they die before retiring.
Leah Wilhoit听on the听Fragmented Governance of A.I.听
Leah Wilhoit is a senior majoring in pre-law,听with minors in criminal justice and biology. She has听participated听in several research projects in partnership with PBA faculty, has been on the mock trial team, and will study abroad in听spring听2026. Wilhoit鈥檚 goal is to attend law school and become a litigation lawyer working on issues she is passionate about in the areas of the constitution and justice.听听
Wilhoit focused her research on the issues that surround existing and emerging A.I. technology. Questions about encouraging technological innovation, privacy rights, and copyright law have been raised worldwide in response to A.I., which is becoming increasingly prominent in individuals’ day-to-day lives. She found that several countries and international organizations have different approaches to regulating A.I. An example is the European Union, which categorizes A.I.听use听in听accordance with听its perceived risk to fundamental and private rights, and is strictly policed. On the other end of the spectrum, the U.S. has recently favored encouraging innovation to spur economic growth.听
鈥淗aving different standards for A.I. in all these countries has made it hard for developers to abide by regulation,鈥� Wilhoit explained.听
Wilhoit proposes a global implementation of the regulation of A.I. that would balance technological invention with ethical concerns. Wilhoit believes a unified regulatory framework across several countries will enable developers to听operate听more effectively on an international scale, thanks to consistent standards. For ethics and accountability, she suggests adaptive regulation, in which the use of A.I. can be听monitored听by听objective听third parties who are not susceptible to corruption within a company. She also advocates for more precise definitions in terms of copyright law regarding A.I.听
鈥淚t鈥檚 a double-edged sword,鈥� said Wilhoit. 鈥淎.I. is a very useful technology with many benefits, but it also has many legal and ethical risks.鈥�听
The fellows for fall 2026 have been selected after concluding the rigorous application process, which includes a student proposal, a letter of support from a faculty mentor willing to be their advisor, and being interviewed by an application review panel. The presenting fellows will research topics including growing government surveillance, abortion rights across state lines, and the consequences of children鈥檚 online presence.
To learn more about听PBA鈥檚听Lemieux Center for Public Policy, visit听here.
