Wheatley Institution

{{Primary sources|date=December 2019}}

The Jack and Mary Lois Wheatley Institute of Brigham Young University (BYU) is a think tank whose mission is to "lift society by preserving and strengthening its core institutions".[https://wheatley.byu.edu/about/ "About the Wheatley Institution"] {{As of|2022}}, the institute's director is Paul S. Edwards,{{Cite web|url=https://wheatley.byu.edu/author/pedwards/|title=Paul Edwards, Author at Wheatley Institute|website=Wheatley Institute|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-20}} who succeeded Richard N. Williams,{{Cite web|url=https://wheatley.byu.edu/farewell/|title=Farewell|date=2019-06-11|website=Wheatley Institute|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-20}} its first director.{{Cite web|url=https://www.deseret.com/2019/6/11/20675418/byu-s-wheatley-institution-to-be-led-by-member-of-utah-gov-gary-herbert-s-staff|title=BYU's Wheatley Institute to be led by member of Utah Gov. Gary Herbert's staff|last=Walch|first=Tad|date=2019-06-11|website=Deseret News|language=en|access-date=2019-12-20}}

The organization started in 2007 and was founded through the efforts of Jack Wheatley. Wheatley previously spent more than 20 years on the board of Stanford University's Hoover Institution and wanted BYU's Wheatley Institute to fulfill a similar role.

The Wheatley Institute regularly invites outside speakers. In 2021, speaker-guests included Mitt Romney,{{Cite web |title=Search Results for "mitt" |url=https://wheatley.byu.edu/?s=mitt |access-date=2022-03-11 |website=wheatley.byu.edu}} Robert D. Putnam,{{Citation |title=A Conversation with Robert Putnam & Shaylyn Romney Garrett on their book "The Upswing" |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_8EiFkuJ_E |language=en |access-date=2022-03-11}} and Rabbi Meir Soloveichik.{{Cite web |title=2021 Truman G. Madsen Lecture: Rabbi Meir Soloveichik |url=https://wheatley.byu.edu/soloveichik/ |access-date=2022-03-11 |website=wheatley.byu.edu|date=6 October 2021 }}

Previously, the Wheatley Institute hosted guests such as Zbigniew Brzezinski and Condoleezza Rice. These visits were organized by former senior fellow at the Wheatley Institute, Amos Jordan.

In October 2009, the Wheatley Institute sponsored a symposium opposing the New Atheism.Michael De Groote, "What's so new about the 'new atheism'", Deseret News, [https://www.deseret.com/2009/11/5/20377289/what-146-s-so-new-about-the-new-atheism November 5, 2009]

The Wheatley Institute's Executive Council consists of:{{cite web | url=https://wheatley.byu.edu/executive-council/ | title=Executive Council }}

• Charles S. Wheatley, Principal, Wheatley Financial Consulting LLC
• Kim B. Clark, a NAC Professor of Business Management at BYU's Marriott School of Business (MSB)
• Brigitte C. Madrian; Dean and Marriott Distinguished Professor in BYU's MSB
• C. Shane Reese; President of BYU
• Justin M. Collings; BYU's Academic Vice President