Commonwealth Foundation

Matthew J. Brouillette (pronounced "Bree-Yet") is president and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy, an independent, non-profit public policy research and educational organization located in Harrisburg. The Commonwealth Foundation is dedicated to advancing state-level public policies based on our nation’s founding principles of limited government, economic freedom, and personal responsibility.

Through regular print, television, and talk radio appearances across the commonwealth, Matt is a prominent voice in statewide public policy debates bringing the free-market, pro-liberty perspective to today’s political and policy discussions.

Matt is a board member of the REACH Alliance, a Pennsylvania school choice advocacy organization, and the Joshua Group, a Harrisburg nonprofit ministry serving at-risk youth. He serves on an advisory council of the E. G. West Centre for Market Solutions in Education at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne in England, and is on an advisory committee for the New York City-based Atlantic Legal Foundation. Matt is also an advisory board member for the American Academy for Liberal Education in Washington, D.C., a national organization dedicated to strengthening and promoting liberal education through accreditation and research.

Matt received his undergraduate degree in U.S. History and Education from Cornell College and earned post-graduate degrees from Azusa Pacific University and the University of San Diego. Matt is currently working on his Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration.

He is married to DanaRae and has four children, Miles, Liberty, Lindy Joy, and Samantha. The Brouillettes are members of Trinity Presbyterian Church of America in Harrisburg, and they live in Hershey.

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Thomas A. Shakely is a Penn Stater and has been actively involved in the student and town community as a State College resident. He has served as president and general manager of The LION 90.7fm (WKPS), has worked in student government, and area political campaigns.

In 2007, he founded Safeguard Old State, an advocacy group focused on preserving and advancing Penn State as a classically liberal, intellectually diverse university, dedicated to its land-grant heritage and its duty to educate the working people of the Commonwealth.

Tom is a contributing editor and recurring columnist for The Philadelphia Bulletin, a frequent panelist on Penn State Radio’s daily public affairs program, “Radio Free Penn State,” and a contributor on energy, economics and education to American Solutions, a tri-partisan citizen action network founded by former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

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Samuel Settle is the Penn State Chairman for Young Americans for Freedom. This past winter Samuel led a protest promoting academic integrity: Encouraging the university to allow an independent investigation of Dr. Mann. The protest drew over 50 students and citizens of Centre County, several reporters, two local TV stations, and was featured on the popular news site RedState. Mr. Settle has also spoken at CPAC and hopes to one day serve in elected office.

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Pericles Niarchos studies history and political science at Drexel University and is President of the Drexel Student Liberty Front. Under his leadership the group has hosted a number of high profile events including Judge Napolitano's weekly "Freedom Watch" webcast. SLF was recognized as the 2010 Student Group of the Year by the national Students For Liberty organization.

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