The Institute for Governance and Civics (IGC) at Florida State University hosted the 2026 Florida Statewide Finals of the National Civics Bee® on Tuesday, June 30, at the Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center, where 12 middle school students from across Florida competed in a live, quiz-style civics championship.

Araoluwakiitan A., an 8th-grade student at Voyager K-8 in St. Cloud, Florida, was named the 2026 Florida Statewide Finals winner and will advance to the National Civics Bee® championship in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 13-14. The national championship will bring together state champions to compete for the national title and a first-place 529 education award of $100,000.

Presented in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and chambers of commerce across Florida, with Kinder Morgan serving as the presenting sponsor, the nonpartisan competition encourages students in grades 6-8 to deepen their understanding of American government, civic responsibility and community engagement.

During the statewide finals, students demonstrated their civic knowledge through multiple rounds of live competition, answering questions about government, civic responsibility and public life while engaging with judges, audience members and community leaders.

“It feels amazing, and I can’t believe I’m going to D.C.,” said Araoluwakiitan A., 2026 Florida Statewide Finals winner of the National Civics Bee®.

Statewide finals winners received prizes up to $1,000. Georgia W., a 7th grade student at Julia Landon College Preparatory in Jacksonville finished in second place, and Orion A., an 8th grade student at Pine View School in Osprey, Florida, came in third place.

“The National Civics Bee gives students a meaningful opportunity to strengthen their understanding of government, think clearly about their communities, and see themselves as active participants in civic life,” said Ryan Owens, director of the IGC. “We are proud to welcome these outstanding students to Tallahassee and celebrate the curiosity, leadership and civic responsibility they represent.”

Student participants, who advanced through regional essay competitions hosted by local chambers, included:

Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce

• Orion A., Pine View School, 8th grade
• Zeke C., Pine View School, 7th grade
• Tristan R., Pine View School, 7th grade

St. Pete Chamber of Commerce

• Viacheslav B., Farnell Middle School, 6th grade
• Sayed H., Liberty Middle School, 7th grade
• David M., Safety Harbor Middle School, 7th grade

The Osceola Chamber of Commerce

• Araoluwakiitan A., Voyager K-8, 8th grade
• Avinoor J., Abraham Lincoln Middle School, 8th grade
• Georgia W., Julia Landon College Preparatory, 7th grade

Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce

• Emma C., Liza Jackson Preparatory School, 7th grade
• Arianna N., Northwest Florida Ballet Académie, 8th grade
• Rishi T., Florida State University Schools K-12, 7th grade

The statewide finals reflect the IGC’s broader mission to advance the principles of liberty through research, education, and discourse. Through the National Civics Bee®, students are encouraged to learn, lead and contribute to their communities while gaining a deeper understanding of the role informed citizens play in a strong democracy.

For more information about the Florida Statewide Finals of the National Civics Bee®, visit the IGC’s event website.

About the Institute for Governance and Civics: The Institute for Governance and Civics (IGC) at Florida State University is dedicated to creating the next generation of effective citizens and responsible leaders. Established in 2023, the IGC supports a variety of initiatives that promote constitutional liberty, economic liberty, conscience liberty, and educational liberty through data-driven research, excellence in teaching, and intellectually diverse exchange. To learn more about the IGC, visit igc.fsu.edu or follow on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

The post Florida’s state champion crowned at 2026 National Civics Bee® Statewide Finals at FSU appeared first on Florida State University News.

As Florida State University celebrates its 175th anniversary, the milestone coincides with the national observance of America 250, offering an opportunity to reflect on how the university’s history has unfolded alongside that of the United States.

Since its founding, FSU’s evolution from a regional seminary into a preeminent public research institution has been closely connected to many of the defining events and transformations that shaped the nation.

The post FSU’s 175-year journey along the road to America 250 appeared first on Florida State University News.

As the United States prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its independence July 4, Florida State University’s Institute for Governance and Civics is making experts available to discuss the nation’s history, constitutional traditions, civic culture and future challenges.

The institute has four faculty members available for interviews on topics ranging from the U.S. Supreme Court and constitutional government to education policy, free speech and the role of states in American democracy.

The available experts include:

Ryan Owens, IGC Director

• Email: owens@fsu.edu
• Areas of expertise: Civics and higher education; law and courts; U.S. Supreme Court; judicial behavior.
• Story angles:
  • How has America thrived for 250 years?
  • What does the Supreme Court need to do to ensure another 250 years?
  • What does higher education need to do to sustain America for another 250 years?
  • Is patriotism bipartisan?
  • What trends do we see regarding upcoming generations of Americans?

James Strickland, Constitutional Liberty Branch Head; Associate Professor of Political Science

• Email: jms25s@fsu.edu
• Areas of expertise: Interest groups; legislatures and subnational politics in the United States.
• Story angles:
  • He can discuss the recent student-run constitutional convention.
  • Was James Madison correct about interest groups?
  • What is the role of states today versus states earlier in America’s 250 years?

James V. Shuls, Educational Liberty Branch Head

• Email: jvs24b@fsu.edu
• Areas of expertise: K-12 finance; teacher policy; education reform.
• Story angles:
  • How has the “right to learn” issue evolved over time?
  • How does education today compare to education at earlier times in America?
  • What does K-12 education need to do to sustain America for another 250 years?

Denise Harle, Conscience Liberty Branch Head, First Amendment Clinic Director

• Email: dharle@law.fsu.edu
• Areas of expertise: Constitutional law; appellate practice; First Amendment rights.
• Story angles:
  • Why is the First Amendment so important to America’s 250th?
  • What do free speech and religious liberty mean for Americans today versus 250 years ago?
  • How can we create a culture that respects individual rights to expression and thought?

The post FSU’s Institute for Governance and Civics offers experts for America’s 250th birthday coverage appeared first on Florida State University News.

Florida State University’s Institute for Governance and Civics (IGC) will host the 2026 Florida Statewide Finals of the National Civics Bee®  at 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, at the Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center. The event will bring together middle school students from across Florida who advanced through regional competitions to compete in a live, quiz-style civics championship.  

 Presented in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and chambers of commerce across Florida, with Kinder Morgan serving as the presenting sponsor, the nonpartisan competition encourages students in grades 6-8 to deepen their understanding of American government, civic responsibility and community engagement. 

The Florida winner will earn a trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the National Civics Bee® championship this fall, where students will compete for national honors and a first-place 529 education award of $100,000.  

 This year’s statewide finals will feature an interactive audience experience, remarks on the importance of civic education, and a distinguished lineup of event leaders and judges, including: 

• Emcee: Mark Harrison, 2026 Florida Teacher of the Year and economics and government teacher at Union County High School / Lake Butler  

• Keynote Speaker: Ryan Owens, Director of the IGC, on the vital role of civic education in shaping future leaders  

• Judges:  

• • Allen Fore, VP for Public Affairs at Kinder Morgan, Inc. (Returning)  

• • The Honorable Nina Ashenafi-Richardson, Leon County Judge, 2nd Judicial Court  

• • Barney Bishop, President & CEO of Barney Bishop Consulting, LLC  

• • Sherry Lawrance, Deerlake Middle School Civics Teacher and FSU Alumna (Returning)  

• • DeVoe Moore, Entrepreneur

“The National Civics Bee gives students a meaningful opportunity to strengthen their understanding of government, think clearly about their communities and see themselves as active participants in civic life,” said Ryan Owens, director of the IGC. “We’re proud to welcome these outstanding students to Tallahassee and celebrate the curiosity, leadership and civic responsibility they represent.”  

“The National Civics Bee gives students a meaningful opportunity to strengthen their understanding of government, think clearly about their communities and see themselves as active participants in civic life.”

– Ryan Owens, director of the IGC

 The event is free and open to the public, and community members are invited to attend as spectators, participate in the live audience experience and cheer on students as they demonstrate their knowledge of civics and their commitment to public life.  

 The statewide finals reflect the IGC’s broader mission to strengthen civic knowledge and prepare the next generation of engaged citizens and responsible leaders. At a time when civic understanding matters as much as ever, the National Civics Bee® offers students a meaningful opportunity to learn, lead and contribute to their communities.  

 For more information about the Florida Statewide Civics Bee, visit igc.fsu.edu.  

About the Institute for Governance and Civics: The Institute for Governance and Civics (IGC) at Florida State University is dedicated to creating the next generation of effective citizens and responsible leaders. Established in 2023, the IGC supports a variety of initiatives that promote constitutional liberty, economic liberty, conscience liberty, and educational liberty through data-driven research, excellence in teaching, and intellectually diverse exchange. To learn more about the IGC, visit igc.fsu.edu or follow on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.  

The post Florida’s top young civic leaders to compete in 2026 National Civics Bee® State Finals in Tallahassee appeared first on Florida State University News.

As Memorial Day approaches, recent research shows many younger Americans are disconnected from the holiday’s meaning. To help bridge that divide, the Florida State University Institute for Governance and Civics (IGC) is incorporating immersive teaching methods to better engage this audience. 

According to 2,000 Americans surveyed by Talker Research, only 48% of respondents knew that Memorial Day is a holiday honoring military personnel who died in service to their country. Just 27% of Generation Z respondents and 38% of millennials selected the correct response.  

Leaders at FSU’s IGC say that gap also presents an opportunity to rethink how civics is taught. Aimed at becoming the nation’s premier policy institute, the IGC advances conscience, economic, constitutional and educational liberty through bold research and transformative teaching.  

Ryan Owens is the director of the IGC, a professor of political science at the FSU College of Social Sciences and Public Policy and affiliate faculty at the FSU College of Law. One of his institute’s signature initiatives is the Founding Voices program, an immersive and interactive learning experience that brings America’s founding era to life through engaging, in-school seminars designed specifically for middle school students. 

Owens said immersive learning can help students connect more deeply with history and America’s founding principles. 

“A student who studies the Battle of Little Round Top through maps and lectures may learn what happened,” Owens said. “But a student who must assume the role of Joshua Chamberlain, confronts impossible choices and understands what was at stake begins to grasp why courage, duty and sacrifice mattered. The lesson becomes not simply historical, but civic and moral.”   

Owens is available for interviews on how civics institutions like the IGC can help younger audiences reconnect with the meaning of Memorial Day. He can be reached via email at Ryan.Owens@fsu.edu.  

Ryan Owens, director, Florida State University Institute for Governance and Civics 

In what ways does modern civics education help connect and deepen students’ understanding of Memorial Day?  

Benjamin Franklin famously said we have “A Republic, if [we] can keep it.” Memorial Day reminds us that many Americans gave their lives to keep that republic. Modern civics education should ensure the next generation understands both the cost of that inheritance and their responsibility to carry it forward. 

In that vein, civics education should transfer information and cultivate gratitude, responsibility and citizenship. Students should understand not only how American government works, but why generations of Americans believed it was worth defending with their lives. 

At the IGC, we want students to understand that freedom is not self-sustaining. Every generation inherits it, but every generation must also preserve it. Memorial Day becomes deeper and more meaningful when students understand the ideals behind the sacrifice so many have made: constitutional liberty, freedom of conscience, self-government and the responsibilities that come with citizenship. 

How can presenting civics history in both an immersive and interactive form allow students to better understand the cost of liberty and military sacrifice? 

We believe students better understand the cost of liberty and military sacrifice when they are not merely passive recipients of information, but active participants in historical inquiry and civic reflection. For example, when students debate the Constitutional Convention, reenact the arguments between Federalists and Anti-Federalists, analyze battlefield decisions at Gettysburg, simulate Supreme Court arguments or wrestle with the moral and political dilemmas faced by prior generations, history becomes more tangible. Students learn liberty was not — and is not — inevitable. It is contested, defended and often purchased at extraordinary human cost. 

Through interactive civics education, students will come to appreciate what Lincoln once told us at Gettysburg, that “From these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion.” 

While tough to predict, could this type of enhanced civics education (such as the Founding Voices program) create a new wave of patriotism in the younger generation? 

We hope it builds a reflective patriotism — a form of love of country grounded in thoughtfulness, honesty and civic responsibility rather than blind loyalty or reflexive nationalism. Reflective patriotism asks citizens to appreciate their nation’s principles and achievements while also recognizing its imperfections and working to improve them. 

A reflective patriot does not believe the country is flawless. Nor does he or she believe the country is irredeemable. Instead, a reflective patriot understands the American experiment as an ongoing project — one built on enduring ideals like liberty, equality before the law, constitutional government and self-rule, but one that has always required correction, debate, sacrifice and renewal. 

The Founding Voices program will deliver 100 in-school seminars over three years, reach approximately 40,000 students and teachers, use live and AI-generated historical interpreters and integrate primary-source instruction. Our goal is to determine whether students who are exposed to the civics-in-real-life approach become more excited to learn. And if we can create more reflective patriots, all the better. 

The post FSU expert explains how interactive civics education can reconnect younger Americans with Memorial Day appeared first on Florida State University News.

As U.S. actions in Iran and Venezuela spark debate, partisan divides over presidential war powers hit record levels 

As debate over U.S. military action against Iran intensifies, a new report from the Institute for Governance and Civics (IGC) at Florida State University finds that most Americans believe presidents should obtain congressional approval before using military force, even as partisan divisions have grown increasingly sharp. 

The report, “Public Opinion on Congressional Approval for Military Force,” draws on more than four decades of survey data on presidential war powers and is part of the IGC’s broader effort to foster civic understanding and engagement through public polling. 

Key findings:

• In 2026, roughly 70% of Americans say presidents should obtain congressional approval before taking military action. 

• Support for requiring congressional approval has consistently exceeded 50% since 1980, peaking at 86% in 2013. 

• The partisan divide now exceeds 40 percentage points: 90% of Democrats favor requiring congressional approval, compared to 48% of Republicans. 

• Americans are more likely to support obtaining congressional approval when the opposing party holds the presidency. 

• Republican support for requiring congressional approval drops sharply after military action begins (from around 59% before action to 26% after), while Democratic support remains consistently high, at about 95-96%. 

“In the abstract, the public wants Congress involved before military force is used,” said Ryan Owens, director of the IGC. “But the partisan gap tells us that people don’t apply that principle consistently when their own party holds the White House.” 

The report also shows that opinions can shift quickly once military action is underway. In the most recent cases, Republican support for requiring congressional approval dropped substantially after strikes began, while Democratic support stayed consistently high.  

“The broad pattern is stable,” said Zach Goldberg, author of the report. “Who is in power – as well as whether action has already been taken – makes a real difference in how people answer these questions.” 

 Read the full findings and access data and figures in the latest report here: Public Opinion on Congressional Approval for Military Force. 

 About the Institute for Governance and Civics
The Institute for Governance and Civics (IGC) at Florida State University is dedicated to creating the next generation of effective citizens and responsible leaders. Established in 2023, the IGC supports a variety of initiatives that promote constitutional liberty, economic liberty, conscience liberty, and educational liberty through data-driven research, excellence in teaching, and intellectually diverse exchange. To learn more about the IGC, visit igc.fsu.edu or follow on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. 

The post Americans’ views on military force mixed, FSU Institute for Governance and Civics report finds appeared first on Florida State University News.

Interdisciplinary program prepares students for civic leadership and
data-driven decision making through the Institute for Governance and Civics at FSU 

Florida State University’s Institute for Governance and Civics (IGC) announced the launch of a new undergraduate degree in Civics and Liberty Studies (CLS), an interdisciplinary program designed to prepare students to be thoughtful, data-informed and ethically-grounded civic leaders. Students may enroll now for the Fall semester.    

Built at the intersection of the liberal arts and social science, the CLS degree helps students study constitutional thought, free speech, political philosophy and foundational texts on liberty and governance, alongside statistics, survey research, public opinion and public policy. 

“Civic knowledge is collapsing at the very moment our public discourse feels most fragile,” said Ryan Owens, director of the Institute for Governance and Civics. “The Civics and Liberty Studies degree is one way Florida State University is rebuilding civic literacy and preparing the next generation of thoughtful, effective citizens and responsible leaders. It is designed to marry the big ideas of American liberty with the technical and analytical skills today’s leaders need.” 

The CLS curriculum consists of 27 credits of core coursework and 18 credits in one of four concentrations: constitutional liberty, economic liberty, conscience liberty and educational liberty. Coursework spans civil discourse, constitutional law, political philosophy, public policy, economics and applied statistics, culminating in an American civics research seminar. 

“Students shouldn’t have to choose between studying great ideas and gaining real‑world skills,” Owens said. “The Civics and Liberty Studies program brings those together by pairing the intellectual grounding of the liberal arts with the data and analytical tools students need to lead in today’s civic and professional environments.”  

Visit the Civics and Liberty Studies degree website for more information, including curriculum and admission details.

About the Institute for Governance and Civics: The Institute for Governance and Civics (IGC) at Florida State University is dedicated to creating the next generation of effective citizens and responsible leaders. Established in 2023, the IGC supports a variety of initiatives that promote constitutional liberty, economic liberty, conscience liberty and educational liberty through data-driven research, excellence in teaching and intellectually diverse exchange. To learn more about the IGC, visit igc.fsu.edu or follow on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. 

The post Florida State University launches new Civics and Liberty Studies degree appeared first on Florida State University News.

Innovative program will bring America’s founding era to life for middle school students across Florida 

Florida State University’s Institute for Governance and Civics (IGC) has been awarded a $1.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to launch the Founding Voices project, an initiative designed to transform civics education by engaging middle school students with immersive, historically accurate portrayals of America’s Founding Era figures. 

Timed to coincide with the nation’s 250th anniversary, Founding Voices will deliver 100 in-school seminars over three years — 60 featuring live historical interpreters and 40 utilizing AI-generated interpreters trained on primary sources. The interactive seminar experiences, which will reach 40,000 students and their teachers across Florida, aim to foster a deeper understanding and excitement of American history, constitutional government, and the moral and political ideas that shaped the republic. 

“We are honored to receive such significant support from the U.S. Department of Education,” said Ryan Owens, director of the Institute for Governance and Civics. “This grant will empower us to bring the debates, ideas and individuals of the American Founding to life for students, helping them connect with the foundational documents and the principles they represent.” 

The Founding Voices project addresses the need for more meaningful civic instruction by offering a unique approach that integrates history, analytical thinking and civic identity.  

Each seminar will feature reenactments of Founding Era debates, student-led Q&A sessions with historical interpreters and comprehensive teacher resources aligned with state standards. All materials, including teacher guides, will be made publicly available, expanding access to high-quality civics instruction statewide and beyond. 

Founding Voices is rooted in research supporting interactive, inquiry-driven instruction and reflects IGC’s legislative mission to advance civic education in Florida. The project’s innovative design — combining scholarly rigor, interactive pedagogy and scalable technology — offers a national model for civics education in the Semiquincentennial era. 

“Students often struggle to engage with America’s founding documents because they seem distant or abstract,” said James Shuls, principal investigator and project director for Founding Voices and Head of the Education Liberty Branch of the Institute for Governance and Civics at FSU. “Our approach humanizes the Founders and dramatizes their debates, helping students see these documents as living expressions of a dynamic, evolving republic.” 

For more information about the Founding Voices project and the Institute for Governance and Civics, visit igc.fsu.edu. 

The post FSU’s Institute for Governance and Civics receives $1.7 million U.S. Department of Education grant to launch Founding Voices project appeared first on Florida State University News.

Florida State University’s innovative Applied Politics and Policy Learning Experience (APPLE) program recently marked its third anniversary with another impactful visit to Capitol Hill. The year-long experiential learning initiative offers students unparalleled insights into career opportunities in politics and policy.

APPLE is a one-of-a-kind program that provides a select group of FSU Political Science undergraduate students with training in active citizenship and civic governance, combining three semesters of experiential learning opportunities at the local, state and national levels.

“There is no other program like it in the country,” said Founding Co-Director and Political Science Professor Amanda Driscoll. “It is a truly transformative experience; our students emerge with unparalleled early career experiences that prepare them to enter their chosen professions with confidence.”

Students spend the fall semester working on projects relating to local policymaking and governance, meeting with representatives from Leon County, the City of Tallahassee and local stakeholder interest groups. In the spring, students participate in the Governmental Relations Legislative Internship Program, where they serve as interns for the fast-paced Florida legislative session.

The summer semester culminates with Washington D.C., where participants gain experience in internships of their choosing, living and taking classes at The Washington Center in the heart of the nation’s capital.

Following a White House visit coordinated by the office of U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL), the 12 APPLE students were joined by another 13 FSU undergraduates at the U.S. Capitol to meet with U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost (D–FL), who shared firsthand insights into federal policymaking and his experience as the youngest member of Congress.

The students also met with noted FSU alumni currently serving as congressional staffers, who shared valuable experiences and advice for navigating career paths on Capitol Hill.

Alumni speakers included:

• Trinity Tresner (’22) and Adriana Diaz (’24), Scheduler and Staff Assistant for Rep. Maxwell Frost;
• Khamare Garner (’22), Special Advisor for Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA);
• Jack Hitchcock (’24), Legislative Correspondent for Senator Rick Scott (R-FL);
• Daniel Muniz (‘23/’24), Legislative Aide for Rep. Addison McDowell (R-NC);
• Dominique Yelinski (’16), Deputy Policy Director for House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA);
• Edgar Barrios (’19), Communications Assistant for U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).

This capstone event marks the culmination of many students’ internships in Washington, D.C., where they served as interns on Capitol Hill in lobbying firms, advocacy organizations and the White House.

“The APPLE program was the single most beneficial experience I have had in my undergraduate years,” said Elias Barcena, who interned at the Florida House and in the Office of Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL). “The insight I received from experiences in all three levels of government was extremely valuable, and I feel ready to enter the professional workforce.”

With three successful years of the program, and thanks to the generous financial backing of FSU’s Institute for Governance and Civics, APPLE is gearing up for the fourth cohort of students who will begin the program this fall. Members of the third APPLE cohort will serve as mentors to their successors while finishing their undergraduate degrees on campus.

The APPLE program offers a seamless blend of academic coursework, policy training and experiential learning designed to shape future leaders. This growing alumni network—with seasoned political professionals—ensures APPLE students benefit from strong mentorship alongside rigorous academic training.

For more on APPLE, visit cosspp.fsu.edu/polisci/apple/.

To learn more about the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy which houses the program and the Department of Political Science, visit cosspp.fsu.edu.

The post FSU APPLE undergraduate program engages students with leaders and alumni on Capitol Hill appeared first on Florida State University News.

Three Florida State University students — Jonus Goldstein, Max Harden and Matthew John Aguilera — have been named 2025 Humanities at Hertog Fellows, selected from a competitive cohort of students from various elite institutions.

The Humanities at Hertog Fellowship, a prestigious and new opportunity offered through FSU’s Office of National Fellowships, provides a fully subsidized program that enables fellows to immerse themselves in rigorous academic inquiry through online seminars and summer programs in the humanities, law and international affairs.

During the spring 2025 semester, the Hertog Fellows participated in a six-week online seminar focusing on Thucydides’ “History of the Peloponnesian War.”

“We are incredibly proud of these students for their selection as Humanities at Hertog Fellows,” said Ryan Owens, director of FSU’s Institute for Governance and Civics. “This recognition confirms FSU’s commitment to academic excellence and shows the importance of studying topics like western civilization and the ideas that underlie America’s foundation.”  

Jonus Goldstein, a sophomore from New Port Richey, Florida, is pursuing a dual degree in management information systems and political science with a minor in urban and regional planning.

At FSU, Goldstein excels in civic leadership. He serves in student government, works part-time as a legislative aide in the Florida Senate, and works as an Institute Assistant at the Institute for Governance and Civics. He also completed fellowships through FSU’s Sustainable Campus, where he led solar and electric vehicle infrastructure projects.

Competing with students from universities such as Yale and Stanford, he credited FSU’s support in being selected for the Hertog Fellowship.

“Having faculty and staff who take the time to mentor students, connect us with opportunities, and say: ‘you should go for this’ makes all the difference,” Goldstein said.

Goldstein emphasized the intellectual growth he experienced during the fellowship through deep, collaborative discussions with peers from a variety of academic backgrounds.

“The best part is the depth of thought everyone brings,” Goldstein said. “You’ve got people from completely different academic backgrounds all reading the same text, yet each person walks away with a different insight. You find yourself rethinking your own views just by listening. It’s an environment where you speak not just to be heard, but to understand.”

He also values Hertog’s 1,900-strong alumni network.

“My hope is that down the line, we’ll have multiple students representing FSU each year and that this kind of rigorous, civic-minded programming becomes something our students actively pursue,” he said. 

Max Harden, a junior from Tampa, Florida, is a double major in economics and philosophy with a minor in classics. He is a student assistant at FSU’s Institute for Governance and Civics and a researcher at the DeVoe L. Moore Center, specializing in aerospace and labor economics. 

“These seminars are outstanding since they allow us to build upon our FSU education in dynamic ways,” Harden said. “Thucydides’ work is an examination of human nature in war and across history, variously considering economics, politics, philosophy and international affairs. We get to ask interdisciplinary questions and pursue comprehensive answers in a dedicated community.” 

At FSU, Harden participates in the Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) program under Assistant Teaching Professor Doug Norton, which equips students with analytical skills for opportunities like Hertog. He also credits professors Sam Staley and Randall Holcombe from the Department of Economics and Mark LeBar from the Department of Philosophy for investing in his intellectual formation inside and outside the classroom.  

“FSU students are given intellectual tools they can use to engage with scholars and top students from around the country by crossing disciplinary lines to seek answers to deep questions,” Harden said. “The PPE program fosters a unique ability to connect ideas across fields, preparing students to tackle complex issues with clarity and depth.” 

Harden looks forward to seeing more FSU students take advantage of programs like Hertog while continuing to explore the intersection of political theory and real-world policy. 

“I hope more FSU students pursue Hertog’s rigorous seminars,” Harden said. “I cannot thank my professors enough for investing in my growth as a student, intellectual and human. Thanks to them, this summer I will be working an economic policy internship that includes interdisciplinary discussion groups.” 

Matthew John Aguilera is a senior political science major from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

His academic path at FSU has been defined by a deep engagement with political science and international affairs, utilizing opportunities like the Hertog Fellowship to further his education in this field.

“I applied to the program because I was captivated by the idea of studying certain eternal principles of war and statecraft — what Thucydides sought to capture in his history, which he described ‘as a possession for all time,’ not something ‘to capture the applause of the moment,’” Aguilera said. “These lessons remain relevant to modern international affairs and politics.” 

Aguilera is currently interning with the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. and will attend the Van Andel Graduate School of Statesmanship at Hillsdale College to pursue a master’s degree in politics in the fall.

He values the opportunity to engage with Hertog’s robust academic community and looks forward to applying these insights in his future studies.

“I highly recommend the fellowship to anyone with an interest in the humanities and a passion for intellectual rigor,” he said.

To learn about fellowship opportunities, visit onf.fsu.edu.

The post Three Florida State University students named 2025 Humanities at Hertog Fellows appeared first on Florida State University News.

NOTE: The Guest Speaker Series event, ‘An Evening with Glenn Loury,’ has been canceled and will be rescheduled for a later date.

The Institute for Governance and Civics (IGC) at Florida State University will host an evening with Glenn Loury, one of the most influential voices on race and education in America.  

Loury’s talk, originally set for Jan. 23 and rescheduled due to snow, complements a robust lineup of guest speakers that the newly created IGC is hosting this spring. Established in 2023 by the Florida Legislature, the IGC aims to advance civic literacy and engagement through rigorous research, education and public discourse on America’s founding principles. 

The event will take place at 6 p.m. Monday, April 7, at Club Downunder, 75 N. Woodward Ave. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be available. The lecture will start at 6 p.m., followed by a Q&A at 6:35 p.m. 

“At the Institute for Governance and Civics, we are committed to fostering meaningful dialogue on the issues that shape our society,” said Ryan Owens, director of the Institute for Governance and Civics. “We are honored to welcome Dr. Glenn Loury to campus to discuss ‘The Case for Black American Patriotism.’ His insightful perspective will offer our community an opportunity to engage with one of the nation’s foremost scholars. This conversation will deepen our understanding of patriotism and its relevance to all Americans.” 

Loury, the Merton P. Stoltz Professor of the Social Sciences and Professor of Economics at Brown University and podcast host of The Glenn Show, will share his insights on “The Case for Black American Patriotism” and engage in a question-and-answer session surrounding Black American patriotism, education and the economy.

A well-known economist, academic and author, Loury has published in the areas of applied microeconomic theory, game theory, industrial organization, natural resource economics, and the economics of race and inequality.  

 The event is free and open to the public, but guests are asked to RSVP at fla.st/FFNZIOCX.    

For a full schedule of IGC events, visit igc.fsu.edu/upcoming-events. 

For more information, contact Lila Seagle at igc@fsu.edu. 

The post CANCELED: FSU’s Institute for Governance and Civics guest speaker to make ‘The Case for Black American Patriotism’ appeared first on Florida State University News.

The Institute for Governance and Civics (IGC) at Florida State University will host a North Korean defector and the president and CEO of the National Constitution Center for a pair of lectures in February.  

The talks are part of robust lineup of guest speakers that the newly created IGC will host this spring. Established in 2023 by the Florida Legislature, the IGC aims to advance civic literacy and engagement through rigorous research, education and public discourse on America’s founding principles. 

Yeonmi Park, a North Korean defector, will deliver her lecture at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, at Club Downunder in the Student Union. Born in North Korea, Park grew up in a punitive society devoted to the worship of Kim Jong-Il. At the age of 13, she and her family made a daring escape to China in search of freedom. Park and her mother endured severe hardships, including human trafficking. In 2009, they crossed the Gobi Desert to Mongolia, ultimately finding freedom in South Korea. Park recounts her story in her memoir In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl’s Journey to Freedom. 

Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, will give his talk at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24 at Club Downunder in the Student Union. Rosen is the host of “We the People,” a weekly podcast of constitutional debate. He is also a professor of law at George Washington University and a contributing editor of The Atlantic. Rosen’s new book, “The Pursuit of Happiness,” explores how classical writers on virtue inspired the lives of the Founders and defined America. 

This spring’s speaker series also includes Charles C.W. Cook, senior writer at the National Review, and FSU Professor of Constitutional Law Alexander Tsesis, who will discuss the tension between free speech and efforts to stop “misinformation;” and Beth Akers from the American Enterprise Institute, who will discuss “The Economics of Higher Education.” For a full schedule, visit igc.fsu.edu/upcoming-events.

For more information, contact Lila Seagle at igc@fsu.edu. 

The post Florida State University’s Institute for Governance and Civics to host guest speakers Feb. 19, 24 appeared first on Florida State University News.