Hadley Bodell
Editor in Chief
The International Affairs Council (IAC) at Idaho State University organizes the annual Frank Church Symposium, an event designed to allow people conversation and information about the most pressing global issues while honoring the legacy of senator Frank Church.
The two-day event brings scholars from outside the state to contribute speeches and answer questions as part of panel discussions. This year’s theme is “Our New Normal? Evaluating Global Futures,” and features panel topics like National Security, Art and Expression, Local Economics, Data Privacy, and Journalism and Media.
Unlike other scholarly conferences, the Frank Church Symposium is more interactive and accessible for community members. IAC member and ISU student Russell Storms said the event is entirely student-led.
“The IAC is unique in that it is not only a club; members earn college credit for participating,” Storms said. “Any student who is willing to put in the work can join the IAC, something I would recommend.”
Students in the IAC get hands-on experience in organizing the event. They choose the topics and reach out to speakers, meaning each year’s symposium is new and interesting. The 2026 keynote speaker is Laura Galante.
“She has experience in cyber intelligence and national security, advising senior leaders on some of the most complex digital risks they face today,” Storms said. “She served as the U.S. Intelligence Community’s Cyber Executive, reporting to the Director of National Intelligence and leading federal coordination on major cyber incidents.”
Galante has advised the National Security Council and testified before Congress. Her keynote address will be given at the Bilyeu Theatre at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 2nd.
While all the panels and speeches are modern and compelling, the symposium is ultimately held in honor of Frank Church. Church was Idaho’s U.S. senator from 1957 to 1981.
“Frank didn’t let the fact that he was from Idaho hold him back from getting involved in international issues,” Storms said. “He was outspoken against Vietnam, one of the first senators to take this position. Frank Church believed in doing the right thing, even if he could lose his office.”
Church was also the driving force behind the Church Committee, a Congressional oversight body created to investigate U.S. intelligence agencies.
“The Frank Church Symposium seeks to remember the values that Frank Church demonstrated throughout his career: institutional accountability, integrity, intellectual courage, global diplomacy and international respect,” Storms said.
The event will be April 2 and 3 in the ABC suites in the Rendezvous Building at ISU. Both days, the panels and lectures will begin at 9 a.m. The first day will continue until 5:15 p.m. and until 3:15 p.m. on April 3. The symposium is also available remotely over Zoom. It is free to the public, no tickets need to be purchased in advance.
The final schedule for the event can be found on the IAC website. The Zoom link to join virtually is also available at isu.edu/frankchurchsymposium.
