Hillsdale College Alumna Receives Buckley Award
2007 graduate Christina Sandefur recognized for key contributions for the “right to try” movement
Hillsdale, Mich. — Hillsdale College congratulates 2007 graduate and Goldwater Institute executive vice president Christina Sandefur on her receipt of the prestigious Buckley Award. Named for American conservative William F. Buckley, the award honors the work of young conservatives under the age of 40 who have made key contributions to the liberty movement.
“We are always proud of our students’ successes, especially when their good work advancing liberty is properly recognized,” said Dr. Matthew Spalding, associate vice president and dean of educational programs for the Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship.
After graduating from Hillsdale, Sandefur earned her J.D. from Michigan State University. She played a vital role in the Goldwater Institute’s Right to Try initiative, which not only led to right-to-try legislation being passed in 41 states, but also culminated in the passage of a federal Right to Try law this year. The law enables terminally ill patients to pursue experimental treatments before they have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
In addition to serving as executive vice president at the Goldwater Institute, Sandefur takes legal cases that expand individual rights and free enterprise. She is the co-author of Cornerstone of Liberty: Private Property Rights in 21st Century America. She has acted as a legal advisor to legislative committees and is a frequent guest on national television and radio programs.
Founded by the Young Conservatives Coalition in 2010, the Buckley Awards are presented by the America’s Future Foundation, a nationwide network of liberty-loving young professionals. The awardees, selected by a distinguished committee of committed conservatives, were honored at a reception held at Hillsdale College’s Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship in Washington, D.C. on October 24, 2018.