In Spring 2025, Blackburn students visited Washington, DC, on a 5-day Washington, DC Government Experience. Please use the itinerary below as an example of the range of activities that students engage in during this trip.
Monday, March 10
3:30 p.m. − Tour at U.S. Capitol Visitor’s Center with Nick Tolbert (Staff Assistant, Senator Katie Britt)
5:30 p.m. − Individual Networking Meetings
Tuesday, March 11
9 a.m. − Session 1: International Relations and Trade at the Australian Embassy with Patrick Fitzgerald (Trade Practice Associate, Australian Trade and Investment Commission)
11 a.m. − Session 2: Public Policy Think Tanks at the Cato Institute with Isabella DeSheplo (Manager of External Affairs), Chad Davis (Vice President of Government Affairs), Jennifer Huddleston (Senior Technology Fellow), Noah Greene (Research Assistant for the Artificial Intelligence Safety and Stability Project, Center for a New American Security), and TBD (Brookings Institution)
12:15 p.m. − Lunch at Cato Institute
2:30 p.m. − Session 3: Local Government at the John Wilson Building with Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6, Council of the District of Columbia)
4:30 p.m. − Individual Networking Meetings
Wednesday, March 12
8 a.m. − Individual Networking Meetings
10:30 a.m. − Tour at Supreme Court of the United States
1 p.m. − Session 4: United States Naval Research Laboratory with William Bounds (Electronics Engineer)
3:30 p.m. − Session 5: Fireside Chat with Senator Katie Britt
5 p.m. − Networking Reception with Blackburn Advisory Board members and Fellows
Thursday, March 13
9 a.m. − Session 6: Political Campaigns at Targeted Victory with Seth Morrow (Executive Vice President) and Ian Sams (Former Senior Spokesperson and Senior Advisor, Harris for President)
10 a.m. − Individual Networking Meetings
6 p.m. − Millennium State Show at (John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts)
7 p.m. − Dinner with Amber Scales (Public Programs Coordinator for Social Impact)
Friday, March 14
10 a.m. − Student Reflections
11:30 a.m. − Individual Networking Meetings