We’re excited to announce the selection of our new policy analyst here at Libertas Institute: Josh Daniels!
In looking to hire for this position, we sought out candidates with educational backgrounds in economics, political science, or law. Josh’s broad educational experience is in all three! Needless to say, we were immediately impressed.
Josh began his studies at BYU in pursuit of an economics degree. As he proceeded through the technical upper-level coursework his interest became more focused on economic theory and policy. He decided to switch to political science where he took courses in American politics and statistical research. During that time he served on the student team for the Utah Colleges Exit Poll where he participated in a large-scale statewide study of voter opinion and analyzed large data sets to prepare a major policy research paper. For another of his papers, he argued that the colonial-era emphasis on property rights was due to the belief that individual liberty was inextricably linked to private property, and that liberty could not exist in a government that did not respect the primacy of property rights.
Josh also served as a Teaching Assistant for the BYU American Heritage course helping students learn a mix of political philosophy, founding principles, and economics. He also served in a variety of leadership roles with student organizations including the College Republicans and The Intercollegiate Studies Institute.
Josh served in the Marine Corps for eight years, including a one-year deployment to Iraq in 2007-2008. For the past three years, Josh has been working as a senior aide to U.S. Congressman Pete Olson in Texas. He also managed Rep. Olson’s campaign in 2012 in addition to other campaign experience in previous years. A recent graduate of the University of Houston Law Center, Josh will soon be taking the bar in Utah and will thus be of additional service to the Institute through his educational efforts in the law.
We are very excited to begin working with Josh and look forward to the work he’ll be performing. Throughout the lengthy interview process he offered a long list of exciting ideas for policy advocacy, projects, and educational efforts that the Institute may soon be implementing with his assistance. Stay tuned!
