Name: Alexander McCobin
Position: Executive Director
School: University of Pennsylvania
Email: amccobin@studentsforliberty.org
Bio: Alexander McCobin recognized the formal principles of his beliefs after reading Atlas Shrugged, a birthday present from his father in 9th grade. Throughout high school, Alexander participated in Lincoln-Douglas debate, which allowed him to study philosophy and particularly those who advocated the philosophical principles of liberty. During college at the University of Pennsylvania, Alexander began the University of Pennsylvania Libertarian Association to promote discussion and education of libertarian ideas on campus. He also began Perspectives Debate Incorporated, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to promote youth debate education to underserved students in the greater Philadelphia and mid-Atlantic region. In May, 2008, Alexander graduated from Penn with a B.A. in philosophy and economics and a M.A. in philosophy.
Alexander is currently a Koch Associate at the Cato Institute focused on marketing and development. Alexander plans to pursue a Ph.D. in philosophy.
Favorite Figures in Liberty: Ayn Rand and Robert Nozick
On Students For Liberty: “After my first two years of college, I nearly gave up on my libertarian principles because I thought I was alone. It wasn’t until by luck I discovered others who believed in the same principles as myself that my passion to advocate for liberty was reignited. Students For Liberty exists to prevent other students who believe in liberty from feeling alone and empower them to pursue liberty whenever possible. Seeing Students For Liberty grow from a flicker of an idea into an incredible organization has only reaffirmed my passion for liberty and my belief that by bringing students together in a common effort for liberty, we can change the world.”