About
We are a network of hundreds of students from among America's top universities who are interested in the values and policies that lead to human flourishing, especially from the Judeo-Christian tradition, and related first amendment rights. These values include the inherent dignity in every human life, the important role of Abrahamic religion undergirding civil society, and the institution of the family. We are sympathetic to various paths leading to this vision of human flourishing, including a robust defense of religious liberty and freedom of expression, and protections for the unborn and other vulnerable persons in society.
We value free speech and inquiry, on campus and beyond, and believe that substantial constructive progress can be made through student initiative. We welcome and include students who may not hold these values but are interested in the discussions and opportunities we provide.
We convene annually for a conference following the Washington DC March for Life, where students can learn about the architecture and underlying principles of the religious liberty and pro-life cause, the broader conservative movement, and its allies.
The David Network’s annual summit is an opportunity for students to meet peers, personally engage with leaders of the conservative movement, and return to their campus equipped to contribute to renewal on campus and in society.
We focus on how conservatives, akin to David, can thrive and effectively lead with great encouragement at our hostile progressive institutions, Goliath.
By providing ideas, substantive support, and the right connections, we intend for the students to return to campus and seize the initiative to effect substantive change within the Ivy League and the institutions we go to as alumni thereafter. By building a network of young conservatives leveraging their elite institutions, we hope to benefit the country long into the future.
Conference Highlights
02
40+
500
DAYS
SPEAKERS
STUDENTS
2023 Venue
Museum of the Bible
400 4th St SW
Washington, DC 20024
2023 Agenda
Saturday January 21st
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Hear keynote speeches from dozens of policy scholars, journalists, think tank leaders, and public officials.
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Personally engage with those leaders of the conservative movement during intimate breakfast and lunch discussions.
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Ask hard questions and hear from leading experts and doers during breakout sessions.
Previous Speakers
FEATURED EXPERTS
Mike Pence
Michael R. Pence served as the 48th vice president of the United States from 2017 to 2021 with President Trump. He previously served as the 50th governor of Indiana from 2013 to 2017. Pence was also a member of the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2013.
Dr. Ben Carson
Secretary Carson is the current United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Prior to his cabinet position, he was a candidate for President of the United States in the Republican primaries in 2016. As a pioneer in neurosurgery, Carson has received more than 60 honorary doctorate degrees, dozens of national merit citations, and written over 100 neurosurgical publications. In 2008, he was bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Eugene Scalia
Secretary Scalia has served as the 28th United States Secretary of Labor since September 30, 2019. He previously served as Solicitor of Labor, the Department of Labor's principal legal officer, working for Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao as a member of President George W. Bush's Administration. He also served as a speechwriter to U.S. Secretary of Education William J. Bennett during the Reagan Administration.
Alex Azar
Secretary Azar served as the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services from 2018 to 2021. He was the United States Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services under George W. Bush from 2005 to 2007. From 2012 to 2017, Azar was President of Eli Lilly and Company, a major pharmaceutical drug company, and was on the board of directors of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, a pharmaceutical lobby.
Betsy DeVos
Secretary DeVos served as the United States Secretary of Education from 2017 to 2021. She was Republican National Committeewoman for Michigan from 1992 to 1997 and served as chair of the Michigan Republican Party from 1996 to 2000, and was re-elected to the post in 2003. She has advocated for the Detroit charter school system, and is a former member of the board of the Foundation for Excellence in Education.
Ramesh Ponnuru
Ramesh Ponnuru is the editor of National Review, where he has covered national politics and policy for 20 years. He is also a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion, which syndicates his articles in newspapers across the nation. He is a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and he serves as a contributing editor to National Affairs, the quarterly journal of conservative ideas. His articles are frequently published in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.
Rusty Reno
R. R. Reno is the editor of First Things magazine. He was formerly a professor of theology and ethics at Creighton University. He is the author of several books including Fighting the Noonday Devil, a theological commentary on the Book of Genesis in the Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible series. His work ranges widely in systematic and moral theology, as well as in controverted questions of biblical interpretation.
Ryan T. Anderson
Ryan T. Anderson, Ph.D., is the William E. Simon Senior Research Fellow in American Principles and Public Policy at The Heritage Foundation, where he researches and writes about marriage, bioethics, religious liberty and political philosophy. Anderson is the author of several books and his research has been cited by two U.S. Supreme Court justices in two separate cases.
