Students from Hampton and Liberty gather for discussion in the heart of D.C.

Liberty University joined with Hampton University at the Library of Congress Wednesday for the exchanging of ideas with some of the nation’s leading public servants and media professionals for the second Washington Symposium. 

The idea for the Washington Symposium sparked from a U.S. Senate Town Hall last year where Liberty and Hampton students were both in attendance. The two institutions decided to rally together in Washington, D.C. to discuss policy and form a relationship between the schools. 

One hundred and fifty students from Liberty’s Helms School of Government, the Washington Fellowship, the Center for Equity and Hampton’s William T. Harvey Leadership Institute joined  for this semester’s Symposium.

The two universities may come from different backgrounds, but their goal to train the next generation of leaders is the same. 

“There are a lot of differences (in the universities) in terms of their perspectives…,” Dean of the Helms School of Government Robert Hurt said. “I just look at it as two different schools with two different histories with students that ought to know each other.”

William R. Harvey Leadership Institute Director Dr. Jarris Taylor Jr. said that the students in attendance would soon be leaders both domestically and internationally. 

“Your character will build bridges for you. … this partnership here (brings together) like-minded young adults, future leaders, who happen to come from different institutions of higher learning,” Taylor said. 

The discussion ranged from career paths and the media to the unique structure of American government and bipartisan engagement. The Symposium featured Brain Cola, deputy chief of staff for Sen. Tom Cotton(R-AR), Rep. Elaine Luria (D- VA), Fox News host Shannon Bream and Sen. James Lankford (R-OK). 

“When you listen to other people, you’re always going to be sharpening yourself…,” Hurt said. “The college experience is all about discovering yourself, testing your own philosophies and ideas against the different perspectives and ideas that you are offered.” 

Students Jehlan Williamson and Paul David Steele, from Hampton University and Liberty University respectively, said they appreciated the opportunity to have their perspectives expanded and get to know students from the other school. Events like this allow for important conversations to occur.

A topic that dominated the conversation was choosing a career path, as the speakers shared their unique career journeys that led them to where they are now.  

Hurt said his path to public service began around the dinner table from a family who taught him love and appreciation for history and his country. Hurt served at both the state and local levels of government as well as in U.S. Congress before coming to serve as a dean. 

Hurt never had the desire to serve in Washington, but he felt that it was his responsibility to do so and could not say no to the calling on his life. He said to keep a broad horizon, always prepare for the next step and listen to God’s calling, which is not always easy to do.  

The four guest speakers offered a glimpse into their professional and personal journeys as both citizens and public servants. 

Liberty graduate Brian Colas (’07) serves as the deputy chief of staff for Cotton. Colas went to law school and assumed the he would spend his career as an attorney. Instead, he is serving on Capitol Hill. This worked out, he said, because he was flexible and kept an open mind about his career.

Rep. Elaine Luria began her career in the U.S. Navy, where she served for two decades and retired as a commander. Luria mentioned the importance of bipartisan engagement and shared that Virginia is one of the only states on Capitol Hill that holds a meeting each month with all members of the delegation. 

Liberty alumna and Fox News host Shannon Bream shared her unique and unforeseen path into journalism. A career change from law in her late 20s brought her to the media profession where she was told that she would never make it as a television reporter. Bream went on to hold the coveted position of host of the prime time program Fox News @  Night and is a chief legal correspondent for Fox News Channel.   

Sen. James Lankford emphasized the importance of following God’s path, wherever it may lead. Lankford began his career youth ministry and camp ministry but heard God’s undeniable call on his life to run for elected office, and he surrendered to this call in March 2009. 

“We’re not called to an occupation; we’re called to a person…,” Lankford said. “He assigns tasks along the way, but the calling remains the same — following him.”

Even though Lankford no longer serves as a pastor, he said he is still doing the same thing he did in youth ministry years ago: getting up every morning trying to follow Christ.

Lankford encouraged students to “know (Christ’s) voice” so they will be able to understand how to follow God with their lives and when he is calling them to take a leap of faith. 

Each speaker engaged with the students in a question-and-answer session, opening the floor to a variety of topics. At the conclusion of the event, Hurt gave the group a private Capitol tour, allowing them to go to the rotunda inside the Capitol dome. 

The third Washington Symposium is scheduled for April 2020 where Hampton and Liberty will reconvene to continue the discussion.