Helms School of Government to host ‘Promise of the Declaration’ public policy conference April 12-14

For the third consecutive year, Liberty University’s Helms School of Government will host a public policy conference with an impressive slate of guest speakers who will address the pressing policy issues of our time. The conference, “Promise of the Declaration: Building on theLegacy of ‘Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness,’” runs from Wednesday, April 12, to Friday, April 14, in the Montview Student Union, Alumni Ballroom.

The conference will feature seven plenary sessions and multiple panels focusing on Constitutionalism, national security, family and social policy as it relates to questions of gender and school curriculum, economic policy in support of free enterprise, and questions of international policy, human trafficking, and national security. Participants will have the opportunity to hear from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during Convocation on Friday. (To view the full schedule and register, visit the Helms School webpage).

Over 50 research papers, written by students, faculty, and guests, will be presented in six breakout sessions throughout the conference.

Other special guest speakers and presenters include Dr. Jennifer Bauwens, Director of the Center for Family Studies at Family Research Council; Scott Copple, Senior Director of Government Relations at BWX Technologies, Inc.; Col.Benjamin W. Bishop, Special Assistant to the Director, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and Operational Liaison to the Department of the Air Force; Mike Harasimowicz, Director for Artificial Intelligence Innovations at LockheedMartin’s AI Center; numerous leading experts in national security and government affairs; and many professors, alumni, and members of Liberty’s leadership, including Liberty School of Law Dean Morse Tan, who served as Ambassador-at-Large for the U.S. State Department’s Office of Global Criminal Justice.

“We have an outstanding lineup of guests who will be presenting on many critical law, government, and policy matters over three full days,” said Helms School Dean Robert Hurt.“From pressing national security issues such as growing Chinese influence in the global arena to domestic issues such as the War on Drugs, human trafficking, regulatory burden and challenges of excessive spending, this year’s conference will provide a biblical and nuanced perspective as we discuss and wrestle with these important topics.”

North Korean defector, human rights activist, and TED speaker Yeonmi Park is a keynote speaker on Thursday. Park has shared the story of her family’s daring escape to China and the evils of human trafficking; her online talks have gone viral with nearly 350 million views. She has quickly become a leading voice of oppressed people around the world.

A special reception to honor Thomas Jefferson’s 280th birthday will also be held on Thursday.

The School of Government and its Journal of Statesmanship and Public Policy are cooperative sponsors for the conference. All conference sessions will be available in-person and remotely.