Government students take part in Stanford’s Hoover Institution boot camp

Two Liberty University Helms School of Government students participated in the Hoover Institution Summer Policy Boot Camp at Stanford University Aug. 13-17, gaining valuable instruction and advice from prominent professionals as they prepare to enter the field of government themselves.

Graduate student Henrique Krigner and senior Giana DePaul joined about 100 students from multiple universities to hear presentations on topics such as economics, climate change, innovation, artificial intelligence, and education. Speakers included former Secretary of State and current Hoover Institution Director Condoleezza Rice, former Adviser to the President Scott Atlas, and Stanford economist Dr. John B. Taylor.

The Hoover Institution, which is located on Stanford’s campus, conducts scholarly research through its distinguished fellowship program. The organization’s website defines it as, “a public policy think tank that seeks to improve the human condition by advancing ideas that promote economic opportunity and prosperity, while securing and safeguarding peace for America and all mankind.”

Students were also encouraged to ask the presenters questions and participate in breakout sessions.

“It was so fascinating that (Condoleezza Rice) has so much expertise and she was so eloquent in how she spoke. It was truly an honor to get to hear from her and meet her,” DePaul said, noting that Rice spoke on the danger that Russia poses to America.

“(The speakers) really challenged you to disagree (with them), and I loved that,” she added. “With these high-profile people, it made me realize that everyone in government is always going to disagree with each other. You’re going to always have someone in government who believes in the exact opposite thing than you do. (It’s about) learning how to work together in that and find the commonalities.”

Hearing diverse points of view forced the students to better understand why they held their own personal convictions and challenged them to articulate those beliefs. This discussion between the students (many of whom were from Ivy League schools) and speakers occurred frequently throughout the week and often overlapped with scheduled breaks.

“I think it was amazing to have those conversations,” said Krigner, who is earning his Master’s in Public Policy. “My conversations during the coffee breaks were the best because they would involve theology, government, politics, and biblical worldviews. It was a huge thing.”

Instead of prioritizing academic research and loading students with assignments, the boot camp emphasized the importance of active discussion.

“I liked that we didn’t just keep our noses in books,” said DePaul, who will graduate in December with a bachelor’s degree in Government: Politics and Policy. “It was challenging because when you are writing a paper, you have the world at your fingertips, but to have a conversation with them about what you believe and why you believe it is fascinating. As a believer who is talking to different people about the more controversial issues like abortion and America’s role in being the world’s police, (it is important to come) at that from a biblical perspective.”

Students were encouraged to write a 2,000-word policy proposal once they returned to school and submit it to the Hoover Institution in September for review.Because of the openminded atmosphere at the event, Krigner and DePaul were able to evangelize and share their faith with their peers. Krigner recalled speaking with a student from the University of Michigan and demonstrating to him about the important role that Christianity plays in American politics.

“(The other students) were very open (to Christianity) and they were curious how that combines with our approach to public policy and government and whether that is a limiting or shaping factor,” Krigner said.

He added he was constantly asked about his time in the Helms School of Government and how it compared with those at other universities.

“(The other students) wanted to know about Liberty and that was something that made me very proud and thankful for the university,” he said. “I was so thankful for Liberty and feeling proud of it because we were not the biggest school there, we were not the most famous school there, but it was the only school that everybody kept asking about. We did a good job representing our school.”

After spending the week studying government on another university campus, DePaul said that she appreciated Liberty’s heavy emphasis on application.

“Some of the people speaking (at the boot camp) were very academic and some of the students I talked to, their schools are very academic,” she said. “Liberty has a lot of practitioners, and it made me incredibly thankful that I have been taught by people who have been in the scene, they know what’s going on; they’re talking about policy because they are engaging in policy, not reading about it in a textbook. While it did challenge me and give me a broader scope, it did bring me back to why I love and am glad God put me in the program at Liberty.”

DePaul is currently interning with the Heritage Foundation, concentrating on school choice policy. Upon graduation,  DePaul hopes to return to her home state of Pennsylvania to begin a career in public policy writing. Krigner, who is from São Paulo, Brazil, plans to continue studying at Liberty and pursue a doctorate degree. He hopes to eventually return to Brazil and run for political office.