Initiatives

CLASS

MEMORIAL

SPECIAL

Memorial Initiatives

Fred Hood
Research Fund

Current Total	285764.9200
Goal	$300,000
View Donors List	DONATE

Donors

Upon his sudden and tragic death on December 24, 2008, former classmates and friends of Frederick Hood decided to launch, in his memory, an initiative connected to the Bologna Center, a place he loved and was associated with for so many years.

A core group of Fred's closest friends and compatriots from the Bologna Center convened at his funeral in New York on January 10, 2009 and decided that the best way to commemorate Fred's love for his research, the Bologna Center and the city itself was to create a fund in his memory. The "Frederick Hood Research Fund" supports research activities of PhD and MAIA students at the Bologna Center, contributing towards research costs such as travel to conferences or the purchase of research publications.

The initial goal was to raise $100,000 over a period of five years. In little over a year, pledges exceeded the goal. Moved by the generosity and affection of his friends, Fred's family decided, in December 2009, to add a significant contribution to the Fund by matching the amount pledged at the time, with the aim to perpetuate Fred's memory and reflect his great affection for the Bologna Center. The Family's donation has given a terrific push to the initiative and it has allowed for the Fund to become operative starting in the current academic year.

"The Bologna Center was very much Fred's home for most of the last seven years of his life. My children, Stephen and I are happy to support this initiative, and hope that the Fund will help to keep our beloved Fred's memory alive at the Bologna Center for years to come." - Ms. Maya M. Hood

On the occasion of their Class 15th anniversary celebration in Bologna in 2018, the leaders decided to push the goal further toward $300,000. If this new goal is reached, this will be the most successful Class initiative conducted in such a short timeframe. To date we have raised US$285,765.

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Academic Year 2024

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Aina Turillazzi (Italy/Spain)

In March 2024, Ms. Aina Turillazzi traveled to Tokyo, Japan, to conduct a war game centered on the East China Sea for her Master's Thesis. Focusing specifically on a crisis involving the Senkaku Islands, Turillazzi leveraged the expertise and collaboration of students from the University of Tokyo. During her visit, Turillazzi explored the National Museum of Territory and Sovereignty, an institution entirely dedicated to the Senkaku Islands. Engaging with government officials and conducting interviews further enriched the depth of her thesis.

This immersive experience not only yielded insightful findings from the war game but also deepened Turillazzi's comprehension of Japanese history and politics.

Jonathan van de Gronden (Holland)

From March 8 until March 13, I made a short trip to Amman in the context of my thesis research on EU funding in Jordan and Lebanon. I conducted several interviews with officials from the Jordanian Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, the EU Delegation, and a former high diplomat. These interviews proofed to be of high importance for my research, as they increased the quality of my data collection tremendously. Because I had the opportunity to go to Amman and speak with people in person, the conversations became much more vivid. Additionally, on several occasions, people were willing to share stories with me on the basis of confidentiality and anonymity. This was possible because of the face-to-face contact, which I would have never been able to realize if it weren’t for the support from the Fred Hood Research Fund. Moreover, I experienced the benefits of the informality of the in-person interview setting because of the fact that I got to meet other people during the interviews, who I hadn’t been in contact with initially, that also shared relevant information with me. This was something that I couldn’t have foreseen beforehand. Furthermore, this trip made my research come to life in a new way. I had the opportunity to better understand what kind of projects the EU is funding on the ground in Jordan and what the negotiation structures with the relevant ministries in Jordan look like.

All in all, I look back with gratitude on this trip and I am very thankful for the generous financial support I have received from the Fred Hood Research Fund. I believe the work of the fund is great and truly enriching for students at SAIS in doing their fieldwork.

Olivia Salberg (USA)

In June 2023, Ms. Olivia Salberg, under the guidance of Professor Tommaso Sonno, visited Accra, Ghana to continue their research exploring a causal relationship between increased financial literacy and the mitigation of financial constraints among Ghanaian students undergoing the employment transition. As the study aims to employ a randomized control trial (RCT) methodology with users of a local fintech platform, Olivia’s time on the ground played a pivotal role in assessing the technical feasibility of this approach. Additionally, while in Accra she was able to ensure a smooth implementation of the baseline surveys and obtain necessary insights for the study.

Jack Kennedy (Ireland)

In January 2024, Mr. Jack Kennedy made a research trip to Yorba Linda, California, to conduct research for his MAIA thesis. Jack’s research focuses on the use of nuclear weapons in coercive diplomacy, analysing the Nixon administration’s use of US nuclear forces for signalling during the Vietnam War in comparison with Vladimir Putin’s nuclear threats during the ongoing war in Ukraine. With support from the Fred Hood Research Fund, he was able to consult original historical documents stored in the archives of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library, providing valuable insight into the decision-making processes and risk calculus of leaders who engage in nuclear sabre-rattling.

Sara Moussavi (USA/Iran)

During 2023, Sara Moussavi, a Doctoral of International Affairs (DIA) candidate, utilised this generous Fred Hood grant to conduct key informant interviews with influential policy makers and experts in Washington D.C. and New York, focusing on the intricate dynamics of international sanctions and their impact on food security target nations. These interviews have been pivotal in deepening the understanding of the multifaceted nature of sanctions. The insights gathered from these discussions are not only enriching this doctoral thesis but are also contributing to the broader discourse on the efficacy and consequences of sanctions as a foreign policy tool. Additionally, the grant facilitated participation in an advanced sanctions course, significantly enhancing expertise in this complex field. The knowledge and skills acquired through this course have been invaluable in analysing the nuances of sanctions policy and its real-world implications. Furthermore, the grant was utilised to collect quantitative and qualitative data in one of the research case study countries, Somalia. These interactions have offered an unprecedented level of access to the thought processes and considerations behind sanctions decisions, greatly enriching the quality and depth of the research. Overall, the Fred Hood grant has been fundamental in advancing the academic and professional development in the field of international sanctions and their effect on food security amongst vulnerable populations.

Joseph Fraley (USA)

Mr. Joseph Fraley made a research trip to Florence to use the Historical Archives of the European Union at the European University Institute. For the second half of SAIS Europe’s spring break, Joseph spent 3 days and 2 nights in Florence. He wrote his thesis on the EU othering of Turkey during the period of 1999-2007 and 2015-2016. The European University Institute’s archives provided him with historical documents in relation to this topic. Joseph used money from the Fred Hood Research Foundation to support this journey, as it helped pay for housing, food, and transportation.

See all the research projects since 2011

Those who are interested in joining the initiative can click here and make an online contribution or learn more about tax effective giving. The SAIS Europe Development Team is available at sais.eu.development@jhu.edu for any further question you may have and to discuss multi-year commitments. Also, you can get in touch with the class leaders:

Bologna Class of 2003:
• Saverio Grazioli-Venier
• Pete O'Brien
• Headley Butler

Bologna Class of 2004
• Yoshi Funaki
• Lucy Payton

Bologna Classes of 2005 through 2007 and Ph.D students:
• Timo Behr

SAIS Europe - Via Beniamino Andreatta, 3 - 40126 Bologna, Italy
© 2025

SAIS Europe
Via Beniamino Andreatta, 3
40126 Bologna, Italy
© 2025