Nate Wertjes
Fall 2021 John Jay Fellow
Hometown: Olympia, WA
College: John Brown University
Degree: B.A. Theology
Nate Wertjes attended John Brown University where he majored in Theology and Biblical Studies and graduated with honors in 2020. During his time at John Brown he participated in ENACTUS, and was part of the presentation team that won the 2017 ENACTUS Nationals, going on to compete in the 2017 World Cup in London. Following his freshman year, after securing funding and support from the John Brown University administration, he founded Ground Floor Coffee, an on campus, full-service coffee shop. He managed the coffee shop each of his remaining three years at college, which usually employed 15 students. Nate spent two summer terms studying in Jordan and Egypt, respectively. He also spent a summer as an AIPAC Policy and Governmental Affairs intern. In addition, he participated in JBU Athletics, as a cross-county and track athlete at the slower end of the speed spectrum.
After graduation, he worked as Deputy Campaign Manager for the successful Mike Moon State Senate campaign in SW Missouri. Under the direction of the Campaign Manager, he helped organize and implement volunteer and campaign operations across a five-county district. Following the close of the campaign, he returned to his home state of Washington, where he has been working as a paralegal at his father’s law firm, Wertjes-Atkission Law. He hopes to attend law school after the John Jay Fellowship, and eventually return and serve his local community. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, skiing, fishing and mountaineering.