Walker Wright

About Walker Wright

I am the manager of Academic Programs at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). Before joining AEI, I was a program manager for Academic & Student Programs with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Prior to that, I spent a decade in logistics, working in both operations and linehaul management. I also serve as an adjunct faculty member at Brigham Young University-Idaho, where I teach international business.My writing spans economics, politics, and religion, with academic work appearing in peer-reviewed journals such as Economic Affairs, Faith & Economics, BYU Studies, and others. My popular writing has been featured in Law & Liberty, Econlib, Human Progress, and Deseret News. My first book, ‘In Trade We Trust: How Commerce Makes Us More Social’, is under contract with Bloomsbury Academic.I hold an MA in government from Johns Hopkins University, an MBA in strategic management, and a BBA in organizational behavior & human resource management from the University of North Texas.

Experience

1. Manager, Academic Programs

   American Enterprise Institute

   Feb 2023 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   Develop, manage, and coordinate the AEI Honors Programs, a series of intensive, fully-funded educational and professional development opportunities for top undergraduate students. Participants in the programs have the chance to connect with the ideas, research, and network of AEI by participating in an intensive seminar with an AEI scholar or partner instructor. The programs aim to provide students with a deeper understanding of contemporary public policy challenges, a greater appreciation for substantive dialogue across ideological divides, and the knowledge and networks to pursue a future career in the policy world. These programs consist of the Summer Honors Program—a one-week seminar in Washington, DC—and the Winter Honors Program—a thematic multiday program held offsite. • Develop and manage student seminars that align with AEI scholar and supporter interests, and support campus and student recruitment for AEI programs.• Develop and manage faculty outreach programs that cultivate networks of faculty, administrators, and people of AEI through professionally enriching opportunities in DC, regionally, and online.

Education

• University of North Texas

  Master of Business Administration - MBA

  2012 — 2015

• University of North Texas

  Bachelor of Business Administration - BBA

  2009 — 2011

• Johns Hopkins University Advanced Academic Programs

  Master of Arts - MA

  2019 — 2020