For Lowell Brown, growing up in the Sugarhouse neighborhood of Salt Lake City offered little exposure to the world of politics. That changed dramatically when he became involved with the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah. Through internships, forums, and hands-on political experiences, Brown developed a lifelong passion for American politics and government that continues to shape his life and career.

Brown graduated from the University of Utah in 1980 with a B.A. in Political Science and went on to earn his J.D. from the S.J. Quinney College of Law in 1982. But it was his time with the Hinckley Institute that set the foundation for his professional journey.

During his time with the Hinckley Institute, Brown completed a local internship with the Salt Lake City Office of Senator Jake Garn, a legislative internship with the office of Lieutenant Governor David Monson and a Washington, DC, internship with the United States Chamber of Commerce.

Each of his internships proved to be deeply impactful for Brown.

After my Hinckley experiences my life was never the same—and in so many good ways.  I had grown up in the Sugarhouse area of Salt Lake City with no political connections and very little experience in politics.  You can imagine how fascinated I was, and how much practical education I soaked up, as I worked on legislation in the Utah State Capitol; publicly interviewed national political figures while hosting Coffee and Politics; visited Washington, D.C., for the first time in my life; and worked in the office of a U.S. Senator I deeply admired.

Brown has great memories from his many Hinckley experiences, but one of his favorite memories is hosting Coffee and Politics in 1978 when Senator Robert F. Bennett was the guest. At the time, Bennett was working for the Howard Hughes organization in Los Angeles. During the forum, Bennett refuted a Utah Holiday Magazine claim that he was the infamous “Deep Throat” of Watergate fame. Years later, Brown’s connection with Bennett came full circle when Bennett joined Brown’s law firm, ArentFox Schiff. Adding to the seeming coincidence, Bennett’s expertise included healthcare policy, Brown’s own legal specialty. “We worked together,” says Brown, “and Bob was a wonderful, wise, and thoughtful colleague.”

The Hinckley Institute’s influence on Brown extended far beyond his undergraduate years. A mentor at the Institute encouraged him to think not about what he wanted to do, but who he wanted to be. That advice guided him toward a legal education and a career that has kept government and politics at the forefront for over four decades.

 I have had a lifelong love of American politics and government that is 100% attributable to the Hinckley Institute…my involvement continues even now. I cannot imagine my life without my Hinckley experiences.

From a student with no political connections to a professional deeply engaged in public policy, Lowell Brown’s story exemplifies the transformative power of the Hinckley Institute of Politics.