Mike Johnson, other legislators join Liberty students at Peaceful Transition of Power event in D.C.

Nearly 200 Liberty University students, alumni, and faculty heard from some of our nation’s leaders in Washington, D.C., at a Celebration of the 47th Peaceful Transition of Power event on Jan. 22.

The event was organized by Liberty’s Office of Business Relations, led by former U.S. Rep. and Liberty Vice President of Business Relations Dr. Dave Brat, who served as moderator.

The four-hour celebration featured several representatives and legislators, including a keynote speech from Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. Other speakers included Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA), Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT), Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ), Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), and Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations Michael McCaul.

“With the massive changes in Washington, D.C., over the past couple weeks, I was surprised to see the incredible turnout of senators and congressional leaders and their excitement to reach out and support our Liberty University students,” Brat said. “We also had a good turnout of Liberty staff on the Hill, Liberty alumni, and CEOs and donors in the audience as well.”

Speakers weighed in on multiple key issues facing America, including how Christians and conservatives should approach inflation, illegal immigration, international unrest, national security, and other hot-topic issues during the 2024 presidential election.

Brat said the main objective of the event was to expose students to our country’s national political leadership so they may learn firsthand the incredible challenges America faces moving forward.

“These external travel events help to connect the dots in the liberal arts education as we Train Champions for Christ,” Brat said. “And then these champions see other champions in leadership roles, and those leaders give great counsel to our students on what to read and how to think and learn and grow in all realms of life as they make their way out into God’s world.”

“The academic and intellectual life can become isolated, and so it is crucial for students to hear about the overwhelming challenges that we face as an economy with issues of borders and sovereignty,” Brat added. “And with 14 hot spots and four wars at present all wrapped in a huge debate over the role of the government and administrative state, many of our students are in the government school and contemplating jobs in national security, intelligence, defense, and statecraft.”

Liberty’s Office of Business Relations seeks to connect students to career professionals for real-world experience by organizing events and networking opportunities for Liberty’s diverse student population. The office has organized and implemented the annual CEO Summit, which welcomes hundreds of high-profile CEOs and C-Suite executives to campus.