Connor Merk

Connor Merk is a Special Advisor for Policy at the U.S. Department of Education. He is a recent Master of Public Policy graduate from Pepperdine University specializing in American Politics. At Pepperdine, he was the Class of 2025 Tocqueville Scholar, managing editor of the Pepperdine Policy Review, and a graduate assistant in the Dean’s Office. In 2023, Connor graduated summa cum laude from the Batten Honors College of Virginia Wesleyan University, where he studied Business and Political Science. His diverse experiences include the Mercatus Center’s Frédéric Bastiat Fellowship program, The Fund for American Studies summer program, multiple internships in Washington, DC, serving as Editor-in-Chief of his undergraduate newspaper, and volunteering with the Lions Club. Connor was born and raised in Stafford, Virginia, and currently lives in the DC area.