Andrew Branch
Fall 2024 John Jay Fellow
Hometown: Forth Worth, TX
College: Texas A&M University
Degree: B.S. in Political Science
Hailing from the Lone Star State, Andrew graduated with honors from Texas A&M University in the spring of 2023, earning a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. While at A&M, he was an active member of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, a military-style organization dedicated to developing leaders of character, which fostered his appreciation for scholastic achievement and physical fitness. During his senior year, Andrew proudly served as both the chaplain and the athletics officer for his unit.
After graduation, Andrew moved to Glenwood Springs, Colorado, where he interned with the 9th Judicial District Attorney's Office. This first experience in the legal field confirmed his ambition to attend law school.
Andrew later left the Rockies for Washington, D.C., to work in the U.S. Senate for Senator Ted Cruz of Texas. This transformative chapter in his life offered him firsthand experience in the intricacies of politics, shaping his understanding of what it truly means to be both a Christian and a conservative. While in D.C., Andrew connected with a vibrant Christian community through King's Church, where he developed a deep and genuine relationship with God for the first time in his life.
In May of this year, Andrew left Capitol Hill to attend Marine Corps Officer Candidate School, where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant. In February of 2025, he will return to Texas to begin his legal education at Baylor University School of Law. After graduating in 2027, he plans to serve as a Judge Advocate in the United States Marine Corps.
As a fellow of the John Jay Institute, Andrew is thoroughly looking forward to deepening his faith and growing a deeper understanding of Christianity through the readings and discussions that will be had this fall.