The Ben Franklin Fellowship hosted an event in Lynchburg, Virginia, on September 9, 2025, at Liberty University’s Helms School of Government in partnership with their Journal of Statesmanship & Public Policy.

Organized by BFF Fellow and Liberty University Adjunct Faculty Member Dr. Patrick T. Slowinski and members of our Recruitment Working Group, the half-day conference — “U.S. Diplomacy Today” — brought BFF Fellows and Members together with Liberty students to discuss our foreign policy guiding principles and ways the next generation of leaders can engage with BFF’s work in international affairs.

Dr. Patrick T. Slowinski is an adjunct faculty member of Psychology at Liberty University. He is also a retired Senior Foreign Service Officer, serving in Poland, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Russia. From 2019 to 2022, he led the U.S. Consulate in Krakow, Poland as Consul General, and also held successful domestic assignments at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, including Director for South and Central Asia, Eurasian Senior Energy Diplomacy Officer, and Poland Desk Officer.

Joining him at the event were BFF Co-Founders and Board Members Simon Hankinson (on-site) and Matthew Boyse (via remote video), among other BFFers.

Stay tuned for more upcoming JUNTO Outreach Initiative programs from The Ben Franklin Fellowship.