The official page of the Frank Church Institute. Visit us at: https://www.boisestate.edu/sps-frankch
The goal of the Frank Church Institute is to build the endowment to fully fund the Frank Church Chair of Public Affairs, the annual Frank Church Conferences and the proposed Frank Church Scholarships at Boise State University. The Frank Church Institute was established in 1982 as the Frank Church Chair of Public Affairs at Boise State University, to honor the achievements and to carry forward the
06/10/2022
Today is the day! The 37th Annual Frank Church Conference on Public Affairs kicks off at 8:30 am MT. You can stream the morning session and afternoon keynote address here!
Beyond Left & Right: Democracy in the 21st Century The Frank Church Conference is an annual fall event hosted by the Frank Church Institute,...
29/09/2022
Dr. Sam Martin and Monica Carol Church were interviewed on Boise State Public Radio about the upcoming 37th Annual Frank Church Conference on Public Affairs. The conference will be held on October 6, 2022, 8:30 am - 2:30 pm in the Boise State University Student Union.
The 2022 Frank Church Conference would have made the late Idaho senator proud With days until what promises to be a high-profile midterm Election Day, the 37th edition of the Frank Church Conference at Boise State couldn’t be timelier.
16/09/2022
FCI met with 20 high schools across Idaho.
Can’t wait to see them all in January at the Idaho State MUN competition!
12/09/2022
Mark your calendars! The 37th annual Frank Church Conference on Public Affairs will be held on October 6, 2022, in the Boise State Student Union. The theme is "Beyond Left and Right: Democracy in the 21st Century". More information about the conference, our speakers and panelists, and registration for the luncheon can be found on our website.
Beyond Left & Right: Democracy in the 21st Century The Frank Church Conference is an annual fall event hosted by the Frank Church Institute,...
18/08/2022
Check out this exciting news about our new Frank and Bethine Church Chair of Public Affairs!
Frank Church Institute on Twitter “Check out this exciting news about our new Frank and Bethine Church Chair of Public Affairs!”
08/04/2022
What is the "Congress to Campus" Program?
Congressmen Brian Baird & Bob Goodlatte give a candid interview with Boise State Television about their tour: https://youtu.be/FwHW2tq0jeM
Presents: Congressmen Baird & Goodlatte Host Christy Amstutz visits with former Congressmen Brian Baird & Bob Goodlatte as they visit Boise State University as part of the Congress to Campus Progra...
03/03/2022
Happy Bronco Giving Day! Our students can’t wait to get out of the classroom and into the world beyond.
Through the Frank Church Scholars program, we can help make that happen.
This scholarship/internship combo gives proven School of Public Service students the resources to attend classes and pursue opportunities in Boise, in our nation’s capital, abroad, or anywhere else their desire to serve may take them.
Check out the School of Public Service on the Bronco Giving Day homepage to donate! https://broncosgive.boisestate.edu/giving-day/33690/donate?des=187153&dept=33703
22/02/2022
There's still time to join our virtual conversation titled "Preserving Democracy through Civil Discourse". Watch live on February 24 at noon (MT). Details: https://www.boisestate.edu/sps-frankchurchinstitute/virtual-conversation-preserving-democracy-through-civil-discourse/
Virtual Conversation: Preserving Democracy through Civil Discourse Register for Preserving Democracy through Civil Discourse February 24, 12:00 pm – 1:00 p, MT...
09/02/2022
Rod Gramer, Dr. Jen Schneider, and Dr. Vanessa Fry host a virtual conversation on Preserving Democracy through Civil Discourse. Live on February 24. Register today: https://www.boisestate.edu/sps-frankchurchinstitute/virtual-conversation-preserving-democracy-through-civil-discourse/
08/02/2022
Want to learn something new on February 24? Join our Virtual Conversation titled "Preserving Democracy through Civil Discourse" via Zoom. Details and sign up: https://cityclubofboise.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/cityclubofboise/eventRegistration.jsp?event=783
20/01/2022
A former congressional staffer from Idaho recalls the visceral reaction to Jan. 6 insurrection. Read more: https://www.idahostatesman.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article257012327.html?ac_cid=DM589192&ac_bid=-1440404859
Former congressional staffer from Idaho recalls visceral reaction to Jan. 6 insurrection Committee’s investigation is vital to find the causes and the culprits and to ensure an attack on democracy never happens again. │ Opinion
12/12/2021
"Democracy is on life support, and voters know it," Peter Fenn advises that things have gotten worse since the election. Details about the future: https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/582945-poll-democracy-is-under-attack-and-more-violence-may-be-the-future
Poll: Democracy is under attack, and more violence may be the future A recent poll from Boise State University raises the alarms, especially in the Mountain West.
Forthcoming
30/11/2021
Last chance to join the FCI Conversation with Joe Weisberg! Register for the private event before it's too late!
Get a look into his journey and the making of the successful television series, The Americans. Details and more: https://www.boisestate.edu/sps-frankchurchinstitute/frank-church-society-conversation-with-joe-weisberg/
28/11/2021
How do Democracies Survive and Thrive in the 21st Century? You're invited to find out. Attend a Frank Church Society Conversation with Joe Weisberg, co-creator of the TV series, The Americans, and author of the new book "Russia Upside Down". If you're interested in this private talk (and future events), register here: shorturl.at/dlpP5
27/11/2021
Need something dramatic and historical to watch this weekend? "The Americans" highlights the complex marriage of two KGB spies posing as Americans in suburban Washington D.C.The show has recently been ranked number 8 on the top 100 greatest TV Series of the 21st Century by BBC. Plan to watch the show this weekend, written by future FCI guest Joe Weisberg. https://bit.ly/3D0HYEe
The 100 greatest TV series of the 21st Century BBC Culture polled 206 TV experts from 43 countries in order to find the greatest TV of the 21st Century – here’s the top 100
27/11/2021
Plan to attend a Frank Church Society Conversation with Joe Weisberg. This private event is filling up quickly. Learn more about Joe and how to join/RSVP for this rare opportunity! https://www.boisestate.edu/sps-frankchurchinstitute/frank-church-society-conversation-with-joe-weisberg/
Groundbreaking research on attitudes towards government in the Mountain West has been released. Find out the topics that emerged from the polling data in this survey from the Frank Church Institute. The full survey is available now: https://bit.ly/314kdxI
Frank Church Institute releases research on attitudes towards government in the Mountain West A large bi-partisan majority of Americans in a five-state swath of the Mountain West are...
20/11/2021
Couldn't attend this year's conference? But want the fast facts? Download key findings (for FREE) from the 2021 survey of key states:https://www.boisestate.edu/sps-frankchurchinstitute/files/2021/11/survey-summary.pdf
19/11/2021
Did you know that in the five US states surveyed, 71% of people believe things are headed in the wrong track? Download the survey details for free and explore:https://d25vtythmttl3o.cloudfront.net/uploads/sites/128/2021/11/Survey-Full-Results.pdf
18/11/2021
Part 2 of the 38th Annual Frank Church Conference "Democracy on the Brink: The View From the Mountain West" is available now. Carve out some time to watch it, in case you missed the live session. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCFr0HjdzV0
2021 Frank Church Conference: PM Session: The View From Idaho - Democracy on the Brink Dr. Vanessa Fry is the Interim Director of Boise State University’s Idaho Policy Institute where she leads research.She also serves as Associate Research Pro...
18/11/2021
In case you missed it, here's Part 1 of the 2021 Frank Church Conference. Catch up on this year's topic "Democracy on the Brink: The View From the Mountain West" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6E3-hADCFw
2021 Frank Church Conference AM Session - Democracy on the Brink: The View From the Mountain West Peter Fenn is the founder of Fenn Communications Group. Previously he served as Chief of Staff for Senator Frank Church; Executive Director of Democrats for ...
Dr. Vanessa Fry is the Interim Director of Boise State University’s Idaho Policy Institute where she leads research.
She also serves as Associate Research Professor in the School of Public Service where she leads the MPA Capstone. In addition, she is an Adjunct Faculty Member at Presidio Graduate School in San Francisco where she received her MBA in Sustainable Management. She holds a BA in Biology from Wittenberg University and a PhD in Public Policy and Administration from Boise State University.
Rod Gramer is president and CEO of Idaho Business for Education. Previously he was a reporter and editor for the Idaho Statesman; and Executive News Director for KTVB in Boise and television news executive for stations in Portland, OR and Tampa, FL. He co-authored “Fighting the Odds: The Life of Senator Frank Church.” He represents Idaho on the Education Commission of the States and Chairs the WAMI Idaho Advisory Board for the University of Washington. He is a graduate of the University of Idaho.
Jennifer Macdonald is a Senior Director for Morning Consult, leading a team in survey research. She focuses on guiding advocacy and messaging strategy for nonprofits across industries, including healthcare, finance and environment. Prior to joining Morning Consult, Jen managed a portfolio of trade and professional association clients for a D.C.-based consulting firm, focusing on qualitative research to inform their advocacy and strategic initiatives.
17/11/2021
How do you address the decline in trust in institutions (such as government, politics, and the media)? Here's what a survey of 1,900+ residents concluded: https://www.idahostatesman.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article255869946.html#storylink=cpy via Idaho Statesman
Frank Church conference looks at eroding trust in institutions and effect on democracy Poll of Intermountain West respondents shows 85% of respondents are concerned about the health of democracy in the U.S. │ Opinion
Celinda Lake is the founder and President of Lake Research Partners in Washington, D.C., a national public opinion and political strategy firm.
She is one of the Democratic Party’s leading political strategists and one of the two lead pollsters for the Biden for President campaign in 2020. Lake Research is known for its accuracy and cutting-edge research on issues including the economy, health care, the environment, and education. Her firm has served as tacticians and advisors to a wide range of advocacy groups, labor unions, non-profits, government agencies, companies and foundations, as well as dozens of elected officials in the U.S. and abroad.
Lake is one of the nation’s foremost experts on electing women candidates and on framing issues for women voters. American Politics called her a “super-strategist or, better yet, the Godmother;” and Working Woman said that she is "arguably the most influential woman in her field." Her interviews and statistics have been quoted in numerous publications including The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, and she has appeared on numerous news programs to discuss her work and provide expert commentary.
A native of Montana, Lake was born and raised on a ranch. She earned her master's degree in political science and survey research from the University of Michigan, and a certificate in political science from the University of Geneva. She graduated summa cm laude from Smith College, which awarded her its Distinguished Alumna Medal in 2002. She received the lifetime achievement award from the American Association of Political Consultants, and she is the co-author of "What Women Really Want."
Peter Fenn is the founder of Fenn Communications Group. Previously he served as Chief of Staff for Senator Frank Church; Executive Director of Democrats for the 1980s; and co-founder and first Executive Director for the Center for Responsive Politics. He has been a surrogate spokesman for several Presidential campaigns including President Obama. He serves on the boards of both the Frank Church and the Robert Dole Institute.
William H. Fish retired from financial services including positions as Managing Director of Aladdin Capital Management; Dresdner Kleinwort, and Citigroup in London; among numerous others. He was a legislative assistant to Senator Church. He holds degrees from Lewis and Clark College and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University.
Jennifer Macdonald is a Senior Director for Morning Consult, leading a team in survey research. She focuses on guiding advocacy and messaging strategy for nonprofits across industries, including healthcare, finance and environment. Prior to joining Morning Consult, Jen managed a portfolio of trade and professional association clients for a D.C.-based consulting firm, focusing on qualitative research to inform their advocacy and strategic initiatives.
17/11/2021
Hear from keynote speaker Celinda Lake, a respected pollster and leading strategist for national political groups and candidates, including President , about her remarks on the health of our democracy. Tune in at 11 a.m. (MT): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvaGsAtiabq9KJCJhA3vs0w/featured
Today is the 38th annual Frank Church Conference at Boise State University! Join us as we explore "Democracy on the Brink: The View from the Mountain West." Where we will dive into research conducted by Morning Consult and The Idaho Policy Institute.
Follow our social media pages or subscribe to our YouTube page to be notified when our sessions start. Our first session is in two hours and will detail this exciting new research.
Our keynote address will be delivered by renowned pollster Celinda Lake at 11am Mountain Time
17/11/2021
Details from the latest ground-breaking research from the Frank Church Institute reveals "an overwhelming concern about and its spread on social media". Don't miss our 38th annual conference TODAY for in-depth presentations: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvaGsAtiabq9KJCJhA3vs0w
The Frank Church Institute - YouTube The Frank Church Institute was established in 1982 as the Frank Church Chair of Public Affairs at Boise State University, to honor the achievements and to ca...
17/11/2021
The 2021 "Democracy on the Brink" conference starts tomorrow. Hear from experts about the state and health of our democracy. View the full schedule and plan to attend: https://www.boisestate.edu/sps-frankchurchinstitute/
17/11/2021
50% of the surveyed US residents are concerned about the health of our . Join the (virtual) 38th annual Frank Church Conference titled "Democracy on the Brink: the View from the Mountain West" for an in-depth view - https://www.boisestate.edu/sps-frankchurchinstitute/conferences/
Frank Church Conference - Nov. 17, 2021 Frank Church Conferences -- The Frank Church Institute, established in 1982 at the Frank Church Chair of Public Affairs at Boise State University, combines both an endowed professorship and an annual conference on the issues of the day.
Dr. Marlene Tromp is the 7th president of Boise State University. She is committed to supporting students and faculty, serving and advancing the state of Idaho, and helping the university foster research excellence to increase discovery for its students and the world.
Before joining Boise State in July 2019, Dr. Tromp was the campus provost and executive vice chancellor at the University of California at Santa Cruz, ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the 26th best public university in the country. Before joining the University of California system – broadly recognized as the premier public university system in the country – Dr. Tromp was the dean of Arizona State University’s New Interdisciplinary College of Arts and Sciences and the vice provost of the university’s West Campus.
Former Congressman Brian Baird (D-WA) served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Washington's 3rd Congressional District
from 1999-2011. He served on the House Transportation and Infrastructure; Science; and Budget Committees; as well as the
Democratic Steering Committee and Senior Regional Whip. He is the former chairman of the Department of Psychology, Pacific
Lutheran University. He holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Wyoming and is a licensed clinical psychologist.
Former Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Virginia's 6th Congressional District
from 1193-2019. He served on the House Agriculture and Judiciary Committees, where he was Chairman; as well as Co-Chairman of
the bipartisan Congressional Internet Caucus. He currently represents the Project for Privacy & Surveillance Accountability. He holds
a Juris Doctor degree from Washington and Lee University School of Law.
Former Congressman Larry LaRocco (D-ID) served two terms as U.S. Representative from Idaho’s First District, where he was on the House Banking and the Interior Committees. Previously he was North Idaho Field Director for Senator Church. Subsequent to Congress, he was a managing director of the American Bankers Association and founder of LaRocco and Associates. He serves on the boards of the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress where he was president; and the Frank Church Institute.
Fridays with Frank is excited to present "Congress to Campus" on Nov. 12, 12:00 pm. Former Congressmen Brian Baird (D-WA) and Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) will be interviewed by former Idaho Representative Larry LaRocco.
Former Congressman Brian Baird (D-WA) served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Washington's 3rd Congressional District from 1999-2011. He served on the House Transportation and Infrastructure; Science; and Budget Committees; as well as the Democratic Steering Committee and Senior Regional Whip. He is the former chairman of the Department of Psychology, Pacific Lutheran University. He holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Wyoming and is a licensed clinical psychologist.
Former Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Virginia's 6th Congressional District from 1993-2019. He served on the House Agriculture and Judiciary Committees, where he was Chairman; as well as Co-Chairman of the bipartisan Congressional Internet Caucus. He currently represents the Project for Privacy & Surveillance Accountability. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from Washington and Lee University School of Law.
Larry LaRocco served two terms as U.S. Representative from Idaho’s First District, where he was on the House Banking and the Interior Committees. Previously he was North Idaho Field Director for Senator Church. Subsequent to Congress, he was a managing director of the American Bankers Association and founder of LaRocco and Associates. He serves on the boards of the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress where he was president; and the Frank Church Institute.
07/10/2021
FCI Board Member and former Frank and Bethine Church Chair of Public Affairs provides insightful commentary on the Facebook whistleblower accusations.
How Does Facebook Subvert Democracy? Plus, What to Do About It The leaks from the Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen reveal just how damaging actors can use Facebook to subvert democracy and promote authoritarian stat...
