Charlie Mirsky-2023
Charlie Mirsky
Major: Government and Law
Minor: History
GPA: 4.0
PERSONAL STATEMENT
After spending two years lobbying Congress and building March For Our Lives’ (MFOL) federal policy arm, I left Washington for Easton, where I hoped to throw myself into a small college community. I’m thrilled to have made this happen.
While I continued my gun control work with MFOL part-time, I served on two Gov/Law faculty search committees, assisted Professors Clarke and Peleg in their research, and pursued independent research under Professor Silverstein. I also served on a History faculty search committee, participated in a History paper award committee, and supported the History department in an external review. I have received numerous awards recognizing these activities.
Outside of academics, I deeply enjoyed serving as Chess Club President and Squash Team member, though leading the McKelvy Scholars Program has been particularly rewarding. I ran McKelvy’s recruitment process last year, and as President, increased weekly discussion standards, obtained funding for an annual trip, and established partnerships with ISA, the History department, and Lafayette’s administration.
While managing classes and extracurricular projects, I built from scratch MFOL’s Judicial Advocacy Team. In under three years, I grew the team to six paid employees, including two full-time post-graduates. Together, we published five amicus briefs, three for the Supreme Court, featuring interviews from dozens of gun violence survivors with the help of appellate litigators from Hogan Lovells, a leading international law firm. Justice Stephen Breyer informed one of our team members that our brief influenced his opinion in NYSRPA v Bruen. I have also informed my network of nonprofit and corporate lawyers of the caliber of Lafayette graduates, and proudly described my experience in interviews I have given for the New York Times, Politico, and Bloomberg Law.
Lafayette’s staff, faculty, and administration have done so much for me. I look forward to leveraging their guidance at Harvard Law School next year.
ACADEMIC ACTIVITY/AWARD
Excel Scholar– 1 year
I have served as an Excel Scholar for Professor Ilan Peleg since the beginning of my senior year, assisting him in his research on West Bank occupation and international perspectives on the Israeli government.
History Department Seminar Paper Jury Member-Spring 2023
Selected to judge freshman and sophomore history seminar papers for qualification for an academic award.
Government and Law Faculty Search Committee Representative-Spring 2022
In Spring 2022, I interviewed and provided written feedback on prospective tenure-track Government and Law faculty members.
Phi Alpha Theta Member-Spring 2022 – Present
National Honors Society for History.
Pi Sigma Alpha Member-Spring 2022 – Present
National Honors Society for Political Science.
Diane Windham Shaw Prize for Excellence in Historical Methods-Awarded in February 2022
Awarded annually to a student in recognition for excellence in the theoretical and practical aspects of historical practice, as demonstrated by extraordinary achievement in the department’s required methods course.
Government and Law Research Assistant for Professor Andrew Clarke-2021
In 2021, I assisted Professor Andrew Clarke in designing an experiment to evaluate different voter turnout strategies in the United States.
Government and Law Faculty Search Committee Representative-2021
In 2021, I interviewed and provided written feedback on prospective Government and Law Visiting Faculty.
Eugene P. Chase Phi Beta Kappa Prize-Awarded in May 2021
Awarded to a second-year student at Lafayette for exhibiting academic excellence in their freshman year.
Academic Resource Hub Peer Tutor-Fall 2021
I served as a peer tutor for Spanish, Government, and Psychology classes in Fall 2021.
CAMPUS SERVICE ACTIVITY/AWARD
McKelvy Scholars Program-3 years
I have been an active member of the McKelvy Scholars Program since the beginning of my sophomore year. I served as Recruitment Chair throughout my Junior year, and have been acting President of McKelvy since the beginning of my senior fall semester.
Eugene P. Chase Government Prize
Granted to the Lafayette student who authors the best written exposition in a Government and Law Course
Minerva and Emil V. Novak Prize
Granted to one or more Gov/Law majors who demonstrate overall academic excellence and citizenship in the campus community.
Paul Tully Memorial Prize-Awarded in March 2022
Granted to the Lafayette student most committed to political service.
Lafayette College Chess Club-2 years
I joined the chess club in my freshman fall semester, and served as Vice President during the spring semester. I then served as President of the club through spring 2022.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
March For Our Lives Advisory Council Member-August 2018 – January 2021
Served on the Policy Committee. Interviewed and selected new Executive and Policy Directors. Set court reform policy goals.
ATHLETIC ACTIVITY/AWARD
Squash Club Member-1 year
Participated in club squash as an active member for the past year, and have played squash independently throughout college.
SPECIAL INTEREST ACTIVITY/AWARD
Legal Intern for Adams County Office of the Public Defender-Summer 2022
Conducted Westlaw research to support low-income clients with DUI, firearm, and murder charges.
March For Our Lives Judicial Advocacy Associate-May 2022- August 2022
Interviewed survivors and authored amicus brief narratives for Michigan Supreme Court case Wade v University of Michigan and United States Supreme Court case New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v Bruen. Wrote MFOL’s court reform policy plan, and led Second Amendment staff training workshops. Reviewed 15 years of tax documents for an investigation into the NRA’s state lobbying practices.
Policy Research Intern for the Green Party of Northern Ireland-Summer 2021
Authored policy briefings (1) advocating for a net-zero carbon emissions policy, (2) interpreting a major 2021 climate report, and (3) outlining the economic costs of weak environmental policy.
March For Our Lives Policy Director-March 2018 – August 2019
Set federal legislative priorities and organized lobbying campaigns resulting in the passage of two background check bills and the allocation of $25M for gun violence prevention research. Designed policy department structure: hired and designated responsibilities for policy staff. Planned and moderated Capitol Hill receptions and press events with legislators and staff.
State of the Union Address, Guest of Speaker Nancy Pelosi-January 2019
Invited to the State of the Union in recognition of my leadership in the gun violence prevention movement and for my efforts to convince incoming members of the Democratic Congress to vote in favor of Pelosi in her campaign for the Speakership.
Co-Author of NYT bestseller: “Glimmer of Hope: How Tragedy Sparked a Movement-Published in October 2018
Authored the chapter, “Direct Political Pressure,” on the March For Our Lives movement origins and my role in building out March For Our Lives’ policy department in the Capitol.