When Travis Shirkman (’12) first came to Liberty during College For A Weekend, he realized he couldn’t see himself going anywhere else.
“It was nothing like I expected,” he said. “The more I explored the campus and got to know the people, the more I knew there wasn’t a better place for me to grow professionally and in my faith.”
Shirkman had aspirations of living and working in Washington, D.C., a city he said draws people who have “some sort of greater purpose.”
“It doesn’t matter what side of the aisle they come from, they are all here to make a difference,” he said.
He knew Liberty’s Helms School of Government could get him to D.C., so he pursued a degree in criminal justice with a minor in strategic intelligence.
“The Helms School of Government had tremendous opportunities,” he said. “The professors come from all types of backgrounds and are at the top of their fields, whether in the legal profession, military, or working with government agencies.”
Shirkman developed a mentorship with Associate Dean Dr. Stephen Parke, who served on a joint task force that responded to weapons of mass destruction on short notice following Sept. 11, 2001. Parke also served as the Staff Judge Advocate for the Joint Task Force – Guantanamo through the U.S. Army.
“Dr. Parke is so humble, even though it’s clear he was a rock star in his field prior to coming to teach at Liberty,” Shirkman said. “He always brought everything back to being a leader of faith, and it really encouraged me to hear that you can uphold your faith in your job, especially in Washington, D.C. I always admired him for that.”
Shirkman did make it to Washington. After graduation, he landed a job with the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank that formulates and promotes conservative public policies. He serves as the manager of member services, connecting with foundation donors.
He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public policy and international affairs through Liberty’s online education program and said studying public policy has helped him to better navigate his position.
“My classes require me to understand public policy and how it fits into the politics happening in our country and around the world,” he said. “I love being able to share what I’m learning with our donors because they love talking about current events.”
Shirkman said the nation’s capital is an exciting place to live, but it comes with challenges, too.
“In D.C., it’s so easy to become power hungry and obsessed with moving up the career ladder,” he said. “It can be challenging not to get swept up in that. But if you stay rooted in your faith and surround yourself with the right people, you’ll end up exactly where you need to be.”
He said Liberty graduates stand out in Washington, even among Ivy League graduates.
“Liberty students are so well-rounded, and that’s all part of Liberty’s mission,” he said. “I think Liberty has done a great job of instilling fundamental values.
The Liberty alumni I know working in D.C. are outperforming, all around, with integrity.”
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