The couple annually sponsors Bush School students’ attendance at the Aspen Security Forum, leading to career advancement and personal growth.
The Bush School of Government and Public Service takes a holistic approach to ensuring its students succeed, including connecting students to assistantships, scholarships and fellowships. Supporters of The Bush School are vital to these efforts for students. Melanie ’76 and Bill Toler ’76 are a perfect example of how The Bush School’s community of generous supporters invest in student success by granting access to one-of-a-kind opportunities outside the classroom. For the past three years, the Tolers have provided funding for the Aspen Security Forum Fellows, which gives Bush School students the opportunity to attend the Aspen Security Forum (ASF), a premier national security and foreign policy conference. Bill shared, “In 1984, former Secretary of Defense Bill Perry, Brent Scowcroft and Joe Nye formally created the Aspen Security Group. Since The Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs is a research institute housed in The Bush School, it is an interesting link between the Aspen Security Forum and The Bush School.”
Paul Kroeger ’23 and Victoria Gallegos ’23
“We fully embrace President George H.W. Bush’s philosophy that ‘public service is a noble calling’ and The Bush School’s vision to inspire excellence in fulfilling that noble calling and making a difference,” Bill said. “We feel the Aspen Security Forum provides an opportunity for exceptional Bush School graduate students pursuing careers in international affairs and national security to significantly advance their academic journey and make beneficial networking connections.”
The forum is an annual, nonpartisan conference set in Aspen, Colorado. Over the course of four days, domestic and global leaders discuss contemporary national security and foreign policy issues through panels, presentations, film screenings, book talks, fireside chats, lectures and more.
What makes ASF so monumental is the high caliber of speakers and guests. For example, attendees of ASF 2024 heard from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. as well as a former CEO of Google, the minister of defense from Singapore, the secretary general of INTERPOL, various former U.S. ambassadors and many more. This forum provides Bush School graduate students unique insight and opportunities for networking.
“We have sponsored two Bush School graduate students to attend the Aspen Security Forum for each of the past three years,” Melanie said. “We see the immediate impact on these exceptional students and future leaders during the four days of the annual conference as they are exposed to a broad range of topics and perspectives from current and former officials who have firsthand knowledge and experience.”
The Aspen Security Forum Fellows is designated to support 2nd-year Bush School graduate students pursuing public service careers in international affairs and/or national security. The Tolers began the fellowship in 2023 with Victoria Gallegos ’23 and Paul Kroeger ’23 as the inaugural recipients.
Gracia Luo ’24 and Keilly O’Reilly ’24
“Attending the Aspen Security Forum was one of the highlights of two amazing years at The Bush School,” Kroeger said. “Thanks to the Tolers’ generosity, I listened to interviews with leading journalists, diplomats, directors of federal agencies, generals, and political and business leaders. I met several of the academics and practitioners who wrote the textbooks we read at The Bush School. Between events, I spoke to young professionals about their careers in public service and international affairs.”
Since attending ASF, Kroeger has applied what he learned and advanced in his career as a field officer for the Conflict and Development Foundation, a nonprofit corporation that studies the relationship between conflict and international development.
“Russia’s war on Ukraine was a major topic of discussion at ASF,” Kroeger said. “The discourse inspired me to pursue my current position in Ukraine where I manage humanitarian projects with government and civil society partners.”
In 2023, Gracia Luo ’24 and Keilly O’Reilly ’24 were recipients of this opportunity. After graduating from The Bush School with her Master of International Affairs degree in National Security and Diplomacy, Luo became a fellow with The Cohen Group, a global business consulting service that advises on tactical and strategic opportunities in several markets headed by former U.S. Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen.
“As I think back on my Bush School experience, I am filled with immense gratitude to have been supported by the Toler family to attend the Aspen Security Forum,” Luo said. “My time in Aspen was a pivotal moment in how I analyzed the factors affecting the United States’ security environment. It also broadened my understanding of the many interconnected elements that influence U.S. national security missions. The opportunity to listen and observe our national leaders’ commitment to service in an intimate environment was something I knew I couldn’t experience elsewhere as a graduate student.”
The positive effects from attending ASF are not lost on the Tolers as they support the latest round of Aspen Security Fellows in Morgan Conville ’25 and Andrew Martin ’25.
“We see what students achieve in their final year at the Bush School and the impact they make after graduation, ranging from White House internships, Presidential Management Fellows Program finalists, NGO service in Ukraine to policy consulting groups in Washington, D.C., and Houston,” Melanie said. Bill added, “We feel fortunate to be able to help contribute to their academic journey while at the Bush School, and hopefully, reinforce their commitment to pursue a long, highly successful career in public service.
About the Tolers
Melanie and Bill Toler graduated from Texas A&M University in 1976, both going on to various accomplishments in their respective careers that resonate today with students as they continue to support Aggieland.
“Bill and Melanie Toler are exemplars of humble stewardship, embodying the values of Texas A&M University and the legacy of George H.W. and Barbara Bush,” Luo said. “The Tolers’ grace and generosity toward us students are reminders to press on, return one day to Texas A&M and equip the next generation of aspiring public servants with the support and tools they need to pursue careers in public service.”
The Tolers either serve or have served on several boards and development councils independently and together, including College of Education and Human Development Dean’s Development Council, Friends of the TAMU Libraries, Division of Student Affairs Development Council, Mays Business School Advisory Board, Association of Former Students Board of Directors and Texas A&M Foundation Board of Trustees. Though they support Texas A&M in various ways, it’s their continued investment in the personal relationships the Tolers build with students that rise to the top.
“One of the best parts of being at the Aspen Security Forum was getting to know Bill and Melanie, the best Aggies I know. Because of this relationship, Bill presented me with my Aggie ring. Having them as a part of this celebration was the most meaningful part of the day,” Kroeger said. “Their kindness, curiosity and dedication to the Texas A&M community are exceptional.”
