Ole Miss Student Joins National Presidential Fellows Program

The West Point native and first-generation college student was named an at-large presidential fellow as part of the Presidential Fellows Program run by the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress.

"I've always been interested in politics and law," he said. "And I love to get connected and expand my network."

Those interests and determination initially took him this summer to Kentucky, where he was part of the Henry Clay Center's College Student Congress. While studying public policy and bipartisanship there, Hunter learned of the opportunity with the Presidential Fellows Program.

"That program really made me want to apply for the fellowship because I really became interested in this whole concept of bipartisanship and compromising," he said, noting those lessons could have come straight from Aaron Burr and Hamilton's own world of "talk less, smile more" politics.

His interest and passion were apparent to others, too.

"Advising him through the application process gave me the opportunity to witness his commitment to understanding the complex roles of the presidency, Congress and national policy," said Whitney Woods, assistant director of the Office of National Scholarship Advisement.

"With his commitment to public policy, leadership and service, Edward is deeply engaged in addressing the pressing issues facing our democracy."

The Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College student hopes to carry what he learned in Kentucky with him to this new experience.

"I want to learn as much as I can to be bipartisan because we live in a divided nation, and I want to ensure that I'm able to produce policies that benefit people, but also do it in a way that it's not conflicting their own values and morals," he said.

Hunter will study the inner workings of the federal government's executive and legislative branches, learn about leadership, sharpen his research skills and interact with public officials, policy experts and peers.

"He is someone who recognizes the flaws in our system but does not shy away from them," Woods said. "Instead, he uses his understanding of those flaws to create opportunity for change and growth, leading with integrity, humility and openness to listen and learn."

Working with a program mentor, Hunter will have monthly meetings and receive guidance concerning his research that will incorporate the 250th anniversary of the United States' founding.

His research will focus on executive agreements, the constitutional implications of unilateral presidential withdrawal and rejoining of those agreements, and the scope of congressional oversight in such cases. It also includes examination of whether these practices uphold or undermine the framers' intent and the Constitution's principles of checks and balances and separation of powers.

After honing his research and writing skills, Hunter will present his results to other participants, policymakers and program officials in Washington, D.C., in March.

"Being from Mississippi, Edward brings a valuable and underrepresented perspective to national dialogue," Woods said. "His understanding of how partisanship plays out at the local level, combined with a drive to improve it, makes his voice especially timely and needed."

Hunter feels this experience will prepare him to attend law school and give back to his community and state.

Like Burr and Hamilton, he wants to become an attorney – a constitutional lawyer.

"At first, I wanted to be a criminal defense lawyer, but I realized that I could make a bigger impact by protecting people's constitutional and civil rights," he said.

Ultimately, he would like to become a statesman.

"I want to start small by one day being a state legislator for Mississippi and eventually become one of the two U.S. senators for the state," he said.

"I would love to represent Mississippi."

Top: Edward Hunter named an at-large presidential fellow as part of the Presidential Fellows Program. The senior political science major is studying the operation of the executive branch of the government and how recent tests of that power have tested the Constitution's principles of checks and balances and separation of powers. Photo by Hunt Mercier/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services