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Angela Smith has over 20 years’ experience in the private and nonprofit sectors with expertise in philanthropy, organizational leadership, marketing and events. She is the inaugural Executive Director of Princetonians for Free Speech, responsible for driving strategic growth and impact to promote free speech and academic freedom at Princeton, as well as other universities.
Previously, she served as Executive Vice President of the Badger Institute, a Wisconsin-based think tank, building visibility, brand awareness and financial resources, and a donor-advised fund, leading communications, events, philanthropic relationships and strategy to help facilitate charitable giving conversations. Prior to her tenure in nonprofit, Smith spent 10 years in the private sector, executing business-to-business marketing strategies in banking, manufacturing and SaaS.
She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. She is a Southeastern Wisconsin native and lives in the area with her two children.
Kaleigh Cunningham graduated from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania in 2017 with degrees in Political Science and Environmental Geography. While in school, Kaleigh became a leader on her campus by founding a Young Americans for Liberty chapter. Throughout college and in the years to follow she traveled the country working on everything from local issues to presidential campaigns. Now residing in Montana, Kaleigh can be found getting outdoors as much as possible with her dog, Slevin, and empowering young people to act on behalf of the environment as the president of ACC-Missoula. Her favorite things to do outside of work hours include mountain biking, photography, cooking, skiing, and working on her yoga teaching certification.
"Freedom of expression and inquiry are crucial features that underpin any intellectually serious institution of higher learning. The highest mission of a university—the pursuit of truth—is not possible in a campus environment where censorship, marginalization, and 'cancel culture' abound for those with unpopular ideas. Ensuring that Princeton remains a place where academic freedom is protected is a responsibility of every member of the University community—from current students to faculty and alumni."Matthew X. Wilson graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University in 2024 with an A.B. in political theory as well as certificates (minors) in Medieval Studies and Hellenic Studies. At Princeton, he was awarded the Stephen Whelan ’68 Senior Thesis Prize for Excellence in Constitutional Law and Political Thought. In addition to working as PFS's Programs Associate, he is the Public Discourse Fellow at the Witherspoon Institute as well as the research assistant to Robert P. George.
"Within a university setting, all students and faculty should feel free to express themselves, challenge orthodoxies and pursue truth. In keeping with the mission of a university such as Princeton, we all have a special responsibility to preserve free speech and free expression."
Khoa Sands is a student at Princeton University, concentrating in History. He is currently a General Officer of the American Whig-Cliosophic Society and Vice President of the Princeton Human Values Forum.
" The University is uniquely positioned to facilitate an exchange of intellectual ideas in order to fulfill its truth-seeking mission. This mission can only be fulfilled in an environment where free speech is encouraged and students feel comfortable to share their views and challenge each other’s opinions in honest, civil conversations. It is our duty as Princetonians to stand up for free speech at Princeton and beyond."
Alba Bajri ’25 is a Politics major at Princeton. She was born in Albania, but she moved to Queens, New York with her family when she was 15 years old. On campus, she serves as the President of the Princeton Federalist Society, Recruitment Chair for the Princeton Legal Journal (for which she previously served as Associate Editor), Behrman Undergraduate Society Fellow, Western Humanities Sequence Mentor, and James Madison Program Undergraduate Fellow.
"Universities have a duty to shape responsible and inquisitive citizens, individuals that cultivate their own critical beliefs and contribute to the pluralism which underlines the strength of our democracy. When we neglect or hinder free speech we hamper our ability and confidence to have the difficult and often uncomfortable conversations which I believe are the backbone of personal growth and what it means to truly have a transformative educational experience."
Anuj is from Edmonton, Canada pursuing a major in the School of Public and International Affairs with minors in Italian and History. On campus, he is a member of the Princeton Debate Panel, Hindu Satsangam and a U-Councillor on the Undergraduate Student Government.
"If Princeton students are to effectively serve humanity, we must be willing and able to listen to one another, critically consider issues in all their complexity, and dissent when necessary. These skills form the very foundation of our democracy."
Marisa Hirschfield is studying History and Creative Writing. On campus, she serves as the Education and Social Action Chair for the Center for Jewish Life, edits for the Nassau Weekly, and writes musical comedy with the Triangle Club. She is from New York City.
