Matthew Schick
Spring 2025 John Jay Fellow
Hometown: Abington, PA
College: Cairn University
Degree: B.A. Politics, Minor in Bible
Matt is a graduate of Cairn University. His time at Cairn prepared him for the semester at the John Jay Institute. In the 3.5 years he studied at the university he grew in both grace and truth. From the many Bible and theology courses to his core politics courses, Matt benefited from serious teaching on the Christian faith and how his faith informs his political activity. This process culminated in him writing his senior Honors thesis which explored various political theories within the Reformed tradition.
Despite being a commuter, Matt was active in the Cairn community. While not a member of resident groups—like the Souder Housing Community—he served two terms as the Student Government Association’s Commuter Representative, participated in the University’s Honors Program, and tutored philosophy. He also had the opportunity to participate in the Intercollegiate Studies Institute’s 2024 summer school on Rhetoric and Debate.
Matt is truly thankful for the opportunity to be a Spring 2025 John Jay fellow. He believes that the Institute is aligned with his values and goals. As a student of theology, he is excited to mature in his faith and in virtue with a community of like-minded individuals. As a student of politics he is excited to explore topics related to political philosophy, culture, and history. As a believer, he is excited to promote the good news of Christ Jesus to a society increasingly devoid of goodness, truth, and beauty; he is excited for the opportunities that the Lord will open by His sovereignty and believes that the John Jay Institute will prepare him for whatever the future holds.
Matt is interested in studying and defending institutions, such as the church, family, the market, and the state; with that, he is a strong proponent of limited government and free markets. He is also interested in Reformed theology, and strongly supports the use of historic confessions within the church as a means of teaching historically articulated and defined truths. With these two broad and wide reaching interests, he hopes to work on issues that impact the church, family-unit, market, and the state.
Outside of the academic realm, Matt enjoys spending time with family, reading, and thinking about significant issues, or simply watching YouTube or listening to podcasts. He is also a member of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Beyond all vocational goals, Matt sincerely hopes to glorify God, spread the gospel, and positively impact a culture in decline.