Samford University Brock School of Business students Lauren Bielstein and McNeil Honea participated in the Philosophy, Politics, Economics and Law (PPEL) Undergraduate Summer School in San Diego, California, this summer.
PPEL Summer School is a program hosted by several institutional partners: Chapman University’s Smith Institute for Political Economy, the University of Arizona’s Center for the Philosophy of Freedom, and the University of San Diego’s Center for Ethics, Economics, and Public Policy. Within this program, students focus on addressing practical issues facing society. Students participate in conversations discussing political institutions, market insights, other topics that sharpen their critical thinking skills and foster professional connections.
Bielstein said, “We had the privilege to attend lectures from experts in fields of study such as corporate law, political economy and moral science. I especially enjoyed the lecture by Vernon Smith [the 2002 Nobel prize-winning economist] on Adam Smith’s Theory of Society. Another highlight of this experience was getting to work with two other attendees on a ‘Big Question’ presentation, which we presented to professors, faculty and other students at the end of the week. Attending this program helped broaden my scope of how to think about and tackle present day issues using tools within the interdisciplinary world of philosophy, politics, economic and law. Special thanks to Dr. Carden for sharing this opportunity.”
Honea said, “The University of San Diego’s PPEL Program provided an invaluable opportunity to network with accomplished undergraduate students, converse with highly recognized economists and scholars, and discuss some of the deepest underlying ideas of Western culture. Our involvement in the program illustrates the quality of Samford’s liberal arts tradition and Samford’s economics faculty.”
Honea was also invited to the Public Choice Outreach Seminar hosted by George Mason University earlier this summer. This program aims to help students navigate the complexity of the economical and legislative world.
Professor of economics Art Carden also attended the Public Choice Outreach Conference in 2000 and commented on the transformative experience. He said, “These are fantastic opportunities for our students to enrich themselves in multidisciplinary environments that draw students from all over. I’m thrilled that they get to have opportunities like these."