The Elshtain Fellowship is an eight-month long educational program for serious professionals in governmental, academic, military, intelligence, ecclesiastical, and related vocations who want both a deeper understanding of Christian Realism and greater insight as to how this great tradition of Hebraic intelligence informs public life in its widest aperture.
Elshtain Fellows will meet for evening salons the second Wednesday of every month from October through May at the Providence offices in Washington, D.C., housed at the Institute on Religion and Democracy. Conversations will be frank though convivial, supported by dinner and postprandial drinks, and will center around monthly readings in political and moral theology. Topics will include the ethics of war, the nature of the good society, the family and public life, love, the politics of responsibility—and its limits, and much else. While many of our readings will be drawn from the work of the late political theorist Jean Bethke Elshtain (1941-2013), we will also pay attention to those to whom she paid attention: Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Albert Camus, Reinhold Niebuhr, Vaclav Havel, and others. Our “texts” will include books and selected essays, case studies, film, experiential activities, and whatever other combustibles might fuel the mind and conversation.
After an initial orientation providing a broad introduction to Jean Elshtain and her commitment to Christian realism, our monthly salons will focus on exploring the fundamental principles of Christian realism—while staying mindful of differences in its expression, contrasting these principles with Christian realism’s more idealistic and cynical alternatives, and applying Christian realist principles to contemporary challenges to see how they stand up.

For each session, fellows will receive the necessary readings (roughly 25-50 pages) well in advance, along with suggested questions for discussion. Discussions will be led by Providence’s McDonald Scholar of War, Ethics, and Public Life Marc LiVecche and invited guests. Salons will begin with hospitality and food at 6PM, with formal discussion from 6:30-8:30PM. They will occur the second Wednesday of each month: October 9th, November 13th, December 11th, January 8th, February 12th, March 12th, April 9th, and May 14th. Attendance, preparation, and active participation in each of the sessions is expected. Other ad hoc gatherings, bull sessions, cocktail hours, and field trips might be proposed, for which your participation will be welcomed. Applications are now closed and will open for 2025-26 in Summer 2025.
To apply for the fellowship, candidates can submit the following materials to Providence Managing Editor James Diddams at [email protected]:
Resume (as an attached Word Document or PDF).
Writing Sample (as an attached Word Document or PDF). In their writing sample, candidates should answer the following prompt in less than 500 words: “Why is Christian Realism missing in today’s parlance and why is it needed?”
Two References.
2024-25 Fellows:
Alexandra Adair
Alexandra Adair is a legislative aide for Representative Michael Rulli, focusing on foreign policy and healthcare. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in two years, majoring in public health with a nutrition focus and minoring in neuroscience. Alexandra came to Washington, D.C., to work for a consulting firm dealing with food additive regulation. She also participated in the Philos Project’s fellowship program, which connects Christians to the Hebraic roots of the faith and a vision of pluralism for the Near East. Prior to her work in Congress, Alexandra attended the John Jay Institute, a program aiming to prepare public servants, through vigorous residential, faith-based training, to approach modern issues in light of America’s foundational structure. Alexandra intends to continue her work on the Hill while participating in educational programs, such as the Elshtain Fellowship, which challenge her to apply and defend her worldview, leading to a deeper understanding and a more expansive appreciation.
Collin Bastian
Collin Bastian serves as a Research Assistant with the United States House Committee on Homeland Security, where he performs research for its Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology and assists in conducting Member Services for the entire Committee. Before working on Capitol Hill, Collin worked at The Institute on Religion and Democracy as its Campus Outreach and Events Director. He is an alumnus of the Fall 2021 cohort of the John Jay Institute and the inaugural cohort of the Richard John Neuhaus Fellowship. Collin graduated summa cum laude from Wheaton College (IL) in May 2021 with a B.A. in Political Science and Economics, minoring in Mathematics.
J. Daryl Charles
J. Daryl Charles is an affiliate scholar of the John Jay Institute and has served as the Acton Institute Affiliated Scholar in Theology & Ethics. He is author, co-author or editor of 21 books, including (with Eric Patterson) Just War and Christian Traditions (University of Notre Dame Press, 2022), (with Mark David Hall) America and the Just War Tradition: A History of U.S. Conflicts (University of Notre Dame Press, 2019), (with David D. Corey) The Just War Tradition: An Introduction (ISI Books, 2012), (with Timothy J. Demy) War, Peace, and Christianity (Crossway, 2010), and Between Pacifism and Jihad (IVP, 2005).
Michael DiCianna
Michael C. DiCianna is a national security analyst. Alongside his work with the U.S. government, he is also a non-resident research assistant with the Yorktown Institute and a visiting fellow with the Kyiv-based Transatlantic Dialogue Center. In 2023, he was a New Whiggery Fellow with the Institute on Religion and Democracy. His areas of research are Europe-Eurasia, military technology, cybersecurity and cyberwarfare, counter-terrorism, and prevention of crimes against humanity. In the Summer of 2024, he traveled to eastern Ukraine to report and conduct research on the Russo-Ukrainian war. His foreign policy commentary has been published with Providence Magazine, The Telegraph, The National Interest, Kyiv Post, and Europe’s Edge, the journal of the Center for European Policy Analysis. He graduated from Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit with a Bachelor of Arts in History of Political Science, and he is currently a Master of Arts candidate at the Institute for World Politics. He is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Chris Eberle
Christopher J Eberle is Professor of Philosophy at the United States Naval Academy where he has taught since 2001. He specializes in the areas of religion, politics, and war. He has two books on related topics: Religious Conviction in Liberal Politics (Cambridge, 2002) and Justice and the Just War Tradition (Routledge, 2016). His published articles include: “Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom: Religious Reasons in Public Life,” Journal of Legal Commentary (2007); “Religious Conviction in the Profession of Arms,” Journal of Military Ethics (2012); “Just Cause and Cyber War,” Journal of Military Ethics (2013); “Rights, Goods, and Proportionate War,” The Monist (2016); “The Continuing Question for the Grail: Michael Perry on Religion in Politics,” Emory Law Journal (2022). He is currently working on a third book: Love and Faith at War: Reflections on a Platoon Commander in Fallujah.
Lillian Gillespie
Lilly is a senior research analyst at The RXN Group, where she conducts qualitative and quantitative research projects for clients in the private sector. Her work primarily focuses on tech disruptors, artificial intelligence, antitrust law, and small business advocacy. She also contributes to independent projects for RXN and their associated think tank, The Data Catalyst Institute. Before joining RXN, Lilly worked at Public Opinion Strategies, where she analyzed political and private sector polling data for an election cycle. She was previously a 2023-24 Woodhouse Public Policy Fellow at The Fund for American Studies and an intern at the Religious Freedom Institute. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude, from Washington and Lee University in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in politics and romance languages.
Yesica Goblirsch
Yesica is a dedicated professional with a strong foundation in public policy, international relations, and national security. She holds two master’s degrees from Pepperdine University: one in Public Policy and another in Dispute Resolution, where she received training in negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and facilitation. She has contributed to the development and establishment of a nonprofit, led fundraising efforts, and created youth programs for refugees in Greece. Recently accepted into the Elshtain Fellowship, Yesica is eager to apply her skills and deepen her understanding of the ethical and political challenges in national security.
Dr. Michael Good
Dr. Michael Good is Robert T. Herres Distinguished Military Professor of Ethics at the United States Naval Academy. A retired Surface Warfare Officer, Dr. Good retired from the United States Navy after nearly 21 years of service. He is a 2009 recipient of the Navy and Marine Association Leadership Award in the Department Head category, an award given to outstanding leaders nominated by their peers and subordinates.
He holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Maryland as well as a Master of Arts in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics from Biola University, Talbot School of Theology. Dr. Good’s primary area of research is moral development, moral education, and practical knowledge in the military context. He is author of “Tempering Corruption” in Military Virtues, a short reflection on the “Fat Leonard” scandal.
Perhaps most importantly, he is husband to an amazing wife, father to an amazing daughter, uncle to many nieces and nephews, and he enjoys spending time adventuring with them all. When they are unavailable, he finds ways to bless others through his culinary experiments, co-managing the family business, home improvement projects, or otherwise building into others.
Laura Gorceac
Laura Gorceac is a recent graduate of Biola University, where she majored in Political Science and Biblical Studies. Since her graduation, she has been a fellow at the John Jay Institute, exploring interdisciplinary topics from theology to jurisprudence in preparation for a career in public service. Upon her arrival in Washington, DC, Laura interned at the Heritage Foundation, where she gained valuable insights into policy issues. She has also amassed experience working in both local and federal government, including in various offices within the House of Representatives. Originally from Northern California, Laura now resides in Virginia.
Alexander Hibbs
Alex Hibbs is an assistant editor at National Affairs. He previously served as the founder and editor in chief of Christo et Doctrinae, a student journal of Christian thought, and as an assistant editor of Ad Fontes. From 2021 to 2023 he was a fellow of Furman’s Tocqueville Center and is a 2024/25 ISI journalism fellow. Alex holds a B.A. in religion from Furman University and lives in Arlington, VA with his wife Naomi.
Andrew Jose
Andrew Jose is a Washington DC based news reporter covering politics, war, and national security with bylines in Daily Caller, Western Journal, and Times of Israel. He is a Master of Security Policy Studies candidate at the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs, and received his bachelor’s in international politics from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in Qatar. Andrew currently works as a Research Assistant with Capital Research Center.
Mark Jumper
Mark Jumper is an associate professor at the Regent University School of Divinity in Virginia Beach, where he leads the Chaplaincy Concentration program. Ordained in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC), he is an experienced pastor and denominational leader. He is a retired Navy Chaplain who served twenty-four years with the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, participating in Operations Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and Hurricane Katrina relief, designing and providing an initial Warrior Transition program for the Marine Corps and serving as an Endorser for Chaplains for the EPC. He earned the Ph.D. in Humanities at Salve Regina University with the dissertation, “Jus Post Bellum (Justice After War): Contours of Construction,” the M.Div. at Columbia Theological Seminary, and the B.A. in History at Oral Roberts University, with further studies at the Naval War College, the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity, and various state universities. He is author of Presbyterian Prophet: The Life and Ministry of J. Rodman Williams, coauthor of Chaplaincy: A Comprehensive Introduction, coeditor of The Holy Spirit and the Reformation Legacy, and has written numerous articles and chapters regarding war, religion, culture, and politics. He is a native Texan and a compatriot of the Sons of the American Revolution. He and Ginger have been married for thirty-three years and have seven adult children.
Alexandra Lightfoot
Alexandra Lightfoot is originally from Kissimmee, Florida. She has worked for the U.S. House and Senate, including the House Committee on Homeland Security, where she assisted with arrangements for the site visit to Butler, PA, and hearing on July 23, 2024. Alexandra’s past roles include policy and advocacy work for Concerned Women for America and Family Research Council. She was a judicial law clerk for the Supreme Court of Virginia. Alexandra graduated from the College of William & Mary in 2014 and from Regent University School of Law in 2017. She and her husband attend McLean Bible Church in Arlington, Virginia.
Jeremiah Luttrell
Jeremiah Luttrell is an analyst for the Department of Defense. He is also a doctoral student studying public administration at Liberty University, where he holds an M.S. in National Security. His current research interests are at the nexus of public governance, national security, social enterprises, innovation systems, and critical infrastructure. He resides in Northern Virginia, where he enjoys watching movies with his wife and long-distance backpacking.
Blake Mueller
Blake Mueller graduated from Columbia College in 2023 with a B.A. in History, with foci on the British Empire, US diplomacy during the 20th century, and Western intellectual history. Before moving to DC, he worked as a consultant & a paralegal. He currently works on Capitol Hill. Mueller is interested in questions that stem from the balance between liberty and security and the moral basis for American diplomacy during this secular age.
Justin Roy
Justin Roy is a Program Manager with the International Republican Institute (IRI) and holds a Master’s in history from the University of San Diego. Previously, he worked with a humanitarian organization in Greece and Croatia during the European Refugee Crisis and in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. Finally, Justin has written for multiple outlets, including Providence, The Christian Post, The Federalist, and The National Interest.
2023-24 Fellows:

Joseph Chapa
Joseph Chapa is an officer in the U.S. Air Force and holds a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Oxford. His areas of expertise include just war theory, military ethics, and especially the ethics of remote weapons and the ethics of artificial intelligence. He is a senior pilot with more than 1,400 pilot and instructor pilot hours. He currently serves as the Department of the Air Force’s first Chief Responsible AI Ethics Officer and the DoD’s liaison to the Special Competitive Studies Project. His book, Is Remote Warfare Moral? was published in July, 2022.
Samuel Fouad
Samuel Fouad is a political analyst, writer, journalist, and editor. He has worked extensively on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East at think tanks and media outlets, and has experience working on political campaigns. He is also a PhD Candidate in Political Science at the Catholic University of America and holds an MPA in International Relations. His writings have appeared in many outlets, including Real Clear Defense, The National Interest, Responsible Statecraft, and Newsweek. He is also endorsed by the Progressive Talent Pipeline. Sam lives with his wife in Virginia.

Jason Fallin
Jason Fallin (Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary) is the Director of Worship and Liturgy at Grace Church at West Shore in St. Leonard, MD. His research interests center on the intersection of aesthetics and moral formation. In particular, he is interested in the formational effects of aesthetic texts and material culture on people’s affections, imaginations, dispositions, and practices. Jason lives in Chesapeake Beach, MD with his wife and two children.

Kyle Hansen
Kyle Hansen earned his Master of Defense and Strategic Studies from the University of Texas-El Paso, and a B.A. in International Relations with a minor in theological-historical studies from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He has previously served as a staff assistant to a U.S. Senator, various roles in the fields of education and non-profit work, and as a security analyst/watch officer covering Uber’s global operations. He has served as an analyst for the Department of Defense, where he currently works as an international affairs officer/specialist.

Porter Harlow
Porter Harlow graduated from the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina and served as an operational law attorney for the Second Marine Aircraft Wing deployed to the Anbar Province of Iraq. Porter taught the law of war at The U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General’s School in Charlottesville, Virginia, and served in the Pentagon as the Head of the Operational Law Department for the Department of the Navy’s Judge Advocate General. He later attended Reformed Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. and was ordained as a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and is the founding pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Burke, Virginia. While preaching and pastoring, Porter is also an adjunct professor at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government. Porter posts on X as @porterharlow and @ramseyonjustwar
Will Kielm
Will Kielm is a recent graduate from the University of Michigan who majored in Public Policy from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy with a concentration in U.S. Grand Strategy and International Relations Theory. He has previously interned for Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars, Center for European Policy Analysis, the Institute for the Study of War, and Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
Emeline McClellan
Emeline McClellan is a Senior Associate at Keybridge Communications. She earned a Master’s of Philosophy in Classics with Distinction at the University of Cambridge and graduated summa cum laude from the University of Georgia with a B.A. in Classical Languages. While at Cambridge, she served consecutively as Secretary and Communications Officer for the Cambridge University Conservative Association (CUCA) and interned remotely for the James Wilson Institute. She is a 2022 Claremont Speechwriters Fellow and a 2021 Hertog Political Studies Fellow.

Rebecca Munson
Rebecca Munson is an associate professor and department chair in Liberty University’s School of Government. Within the School of Government she oversees the doctoral program in public policy and teaches a range of courses on international relations, foreign policy, human rights, and research methods. Her current book project is on US foreign policy on human trafficking.
Haydon N. Parham
Haydon Parham splits his time working in mortgage finance and on American foreign policy while living in Washington D.C. He was a Spring 2023 New Whiggery Fellow at the Institute on Religion and Democracy, 2024 Public Policy Fellow at the Fund for American Studies. He is an active member of both the American Conservation Coalition and the Cicero Debate Society. His writings have appeared in Providence Magazine and The National Interest, focusing primarily on Philosophy, Economics, and History.
Stephen Perry
Stephen Perry (Ph.D. in Mass Communication, University of Alabama) currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Communication Studies at Regent University in Virginia Beach. He previously served as the Interim Dean of the Robertson School of Government from 2018 – 2020. He was an elected School Board member in Illinois from 2007 to 2014 and a Fulbright Scholar to the Republic of Mauritius in 2004-2005. He edited the 2019 book Pro Football and the Proliferation of Protest: Anthem Posture in a Divided America. His research includes a focus on healing political division in America. He and his wife, Rev. Kay Lynn Perry, have been married for 33 years and they have 3 adult children.

Anton Sorkin
Anton Sorkin is the director of Law Student Ministries at Christian Legal Society and an Affiliate Professor at Trinity School of Law. His work and writing focus on helping law students integrate their faith with the study of law. He previously practiced employment law and religious freedom litigation. Anton earned a doctorate (SJD) at Emory University School of Law under the supervision of Professor John Witte. He also received an LLM from Emory in law and religion, a JD from Regent University School of Law, and an engineering degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio. In his free time, Anton is an avid cinephile, podcaster, and writer.

Clint Taylor
Clint Taylor is a senior analyst for the US Navy. He is interested in corruption, transnational crime, terrorism finance, and money laundering worldwide. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Stanford and was a Boren Fellow in 2001. He is a member of the state bar of Oklahoma and has been a freelance journalist and a country music DJ.
Sarah Thomas
Sarah Thomas is a writer on the science of liberty portfolio at Stand Together, a classical liberal philanthropic network, and is also pursuing an M.A. in Human Rights at The Catholic University of America. She is a graduate of Stanford University, where she earned a B.A. in Philosophy and Religious Studies and a minor in Data Science. She also studied theology at the University of Oxford, and philosophy at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. Sarah has presented conference papers at the University of Oxford, the University of Dallas, Saint Francis University, and the Eric Voegelin Society. She has held fellowships from Stanford University, the North American Paul Tillich Society, the Zephyr Institute, and the Thomistic Institute and Institute for Human Ecology. She has interests in metaphysics, natural law and natural rights, political theology, and the intersection of theology and classical liberalism.

Christopher Welsh
Christopher Welsh is a CPA based in Washington, DC who provides financial consulting and leadership advisory services to corporations with The Siegfried Group. He has delivered audit, tax, and tailored consulting services to companies large and small in various industries including real estate and private equity, among others. He enjoys travelling with an emphasis on exploring the United States.

Rev. Christopher M. Wise
Christopher Wise currently serves as the Senior Pastor of First Methodist Church in Carrier Mills, Illinois. Rev. Wise entered the pastoral ministry in 2004 and has served in various parish contexts. His formal education includes a Bachelor of Science in Leadership and Ministry from Asbury University and a Master of Divinity with an emphasis in systems of theology from Asbury Theological Seminary. He is currently completing a Doctor of Ministry with a focus on Classical Christology and Living the Historic Faith at United Theological Seminary under the Mentorship of Bishop Mike Lowry, Rev. Dr. David Watson, and Dr. Justus Hunter. Additionally, Rev. Wise has taken vows as a Benedictine Oblate for Saint Meinrad Archabbey in Saint Meinrad, Indiana, participates as a member of the Order of Saint Luke, and has received training in deliverance ministry/exorcism. In addition to ministry, Rev. Wise has been trained in classical vocal music performance with formal training at Southeast Missouri State University and has performed with groups such as the St. Louis Symphony Chorus, the Springfield Choral Society, and the Southeast Missouri Choral Union. Rev. Wise is finalizing two publications: How Is It with Your Soul: A 30-Day Devotional and Death Brings Life: A Christian Perspective of Life, Loss, and Gain. Rev. Wise lives with his wife and five children in Harrisburg, Illinois.