Jack Miller Center Events: Spring 2024
Check here for upcoming JMC events this spring!
Have a question about attending an event? Email JMC’s Communications and Design Officer, Anna Zemaitaitis at azemaitaitis@gojmc.org.
January
National Moot Court Preliminary Practice, Benedictine College
January 10, 2024
William Haun, senior counsel at Becket, will be a guest justice for our four students who qualified for preliminary national tournaments.
“The Continental Dollar: How the American Revolution was Financed with Paper Money”, University of Georgia
January 12, 2024
Undergraduate students will meet with author Farley Grubb for a Zoom discussion of the economics of the American Revolution.
Southeast Preliminary National Moot Court Tournament, Benedictine College
January 13-14, 2024
John Kuckelman, incoming general counsel for Novartis and international law expert, will act as a guest judge for practice for the national moot court preliminary tournament. John Welte and Collin England will travel to LSU in Baton Rouge for the preliminary national tournament that the Benedictine College students qualified for.
National Moot Court Preliminary Practice, Benedictine College
January 17, 2024
John Kuckelman, incoming general counsel for Novartis and international law expert, will act as a guest judge for practice for the national moot court preliminary tournament.
Western Preliminary National Moot Court Tournament, Benedictine College
January 20-21, 2024
Two of the Benedictine College students will travel to UNLV in Las Vegas for the preliminary national tournament that they had qualified for.
“Hating School: The Liberal Tradition in American Education”, Jacksonville State University
January 24, 2024
A lecture with Rita Koganzon investigating the connection between American political thought and self-education. Click here to learn more >>
Conference: “Old Lessons for New Challenges: What the Past Can Teach about AI and New Media”, University of Houston
Conference: “Old Lessons for New Challenges: What the Past Can Teach about AI and New Media”, University of HoustonJanuary 26-27, 2024
Specialists in various areas of history, political thought, philosophy, theology, etc. (Ancient Greece, Romans, Middle Ages, Early Modernity, and so forth), will gather for a two-day conference at the University of Houston. Scholars will apply lessons from the humanities to help us in addressing today’s challenges raised by social media and/or AI. Click here to learn more >>
“The Greatest Man in the World: A Global History of George Washington”, University of Mississippi
January 30, 2024
What did other countries think of George Washington? Craig Bruce Smith (National Defense University) will deliver a public lecture exploring George Washington as a global figure during his own lifetime. He’ll follow different nations’ changing perceptions of Washington from the French and Indian War through his death and apotheosis. Framing early America within a global history, the talk will examine Washington as a world figure, rather than one that was exclusively American.
February
“John Jay and St. George Tucker. Lawyers and the Road to the Civil War”, University of Georgia
February 2, 2024
Undergraduate students will discuss law and the Civil War with Peter Hoffer. Click here to learn more >>
Moynihan Model Senate Debate: “The 14th Amendment”, Assumption University
February 6, 2024
Students will assume the roles of senators from the debate over the passage of the 14th Amendment.
Law Seminar: “The Principles of American Constitutionalism: Natural Rights and Natural Law”, University of Notre Dame
Law Seminar: “February 8-9, 2024
Sessions will feature a discussion led by political theorist Vincent Phillip Muñoz (University of Notre Dame). Together, participants will examine primary source documents including selections of John Locke, Founders including Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, James Wilson, and James Madison, as well as later thoughts on the relation between natural right theorizing and jurisprudence in the writings of Harry Jaffa, Antonin Scalia, and Robert Bork.
“Washington’s Heir: The Life of Justice Bushrod Washington”, Bellarmine University
February 17, 2024
George Washington’s nephew and heir was a Supreme Court Justice for over thirty years and left an indelible mark on American law. Despite his remarkable life and notable lineage, he is unknown to most Americans because he cared more about establishing the rule of law than about personal glory. An in-depth look at Justice Washington’s extraordinary story that gives insight into his personal thoughts and sheds new light not only on George Washington, John Marshall, and the Constitution, but also on America’s ongoing struggle to become a more perfect union. This public lecture with Gerard N. Magliocca will feature a student participant panel.
“How the World Became Rich”, University of Mississippi
February 21, 2024
Jared Rubin (Chapman University) and Mark Koyama (George Mason University) will discuss the ideas and policies that make rising wealth possible.
“Taking Sides: Party Competition, Interest Group Strategy, and the Polarization of American Pluralism”, Baylor University
February 23, 2024
Jesse Crosson will explore an empirical investigation that studies the effects of political polarization. The investigation is informed by Madison’s Federalist 10. This event is public facing, engaging faculty, graduate students, undergraduates, and the larger Waco community.
Conference: The Political Thought of Flannery O’Connor, Belmont Abbey College
February 23-24, 2024
This event will feature two keynote speakers and 4 seminars with faculty and students from various institutions. Faculty and students will be joining us from at least 4 colleges, including Belmont Abbey. The primary inspiration for this conference is Dr. Foss’ book, Flannery O’Connor and the Perils of Governing by Tenderness.
“Two Constitutions?: On the Relation of Democracy and the Nation”, Jacksonville State University
February 29, 2024
Dr. Daniel Cullen will present a public lecture on the relationship between democracy and the nation. There will then be a Q&A session that includes questions from both the physical and virtual audience for about 30 minutes. Click here to learn more >>
March
“‘Magic Casements’ of the Mind: Winston Churchill’s ‘My Early Life'”, University of Alaska – Anchorage
March 1, 2024
Winston Churchill’s autobiography, My Early Life, is a “story of youthful endeavor” dedicated “to the new generation” after the Great War. Churchill remarks in the preface that it portrays a “vanished world” – but that world and the story of how he laughed of his own adventurous life appeal to spirited human beings today. Students will discuss the question, what can we learn from his example and his reflection in this book?
“Judicial Office”, University of Georgia
March 1, 2024
Undergraduate students will discuss the judicial branch with Phillip Hamburger. Click here to learn more >>
Conference: “Democracy and Its Pathologies”, University of Texas at Austin
Conference: “Democracy and Its Pathologies”, University of Texas at AustinMarch 1-2, 2024
Through an analysis of historical texts, papers will address questions such as: what is the best case for democracy, and what is the best case against it? Does the democratic regime have a democratic soul modeled on it? Is modern democracy different in kind than ancient democracy? Does democracy foster its own defective political forms (demagoguery, populism)? Click here to learn more >>
Moynihan Model Senate Debate: “Robert Bork Confirmation”, Assumption University
March 12, 2024
Students will assume the roles of senators from the debate over the passage of the confirmation of Robert Bork to the Supreme Court.
“The Jurisprudence and Life of John Marshall”: A Conference in Honor of Robert Faulkner, Boston College
March 14-15, 2024
A conference on the jurisprudence and life of the chief justice John Marshall. Participants will explore John Marshall’s legacy and themes of honorable ambition more broadly, in honor of the late Professor Robert Faulkner of Boston College. With two panels and a keynote address from Richard Brookhiser, this event will be accessible and fascinating to both undergraduate JMP fellows and the broader community. Click here to learn more >>
“Texas Annexation to the USA”, Baylor University
March 15, 2024
In honor of Texas’ Independence Day, Jordan Cash, author of Adding the Lone Star: John Tyler, Sam Houston, and the Annexation of Texas, will discuss the importance of Texas to the Union. This event is public facing, engaging faculty, graduate students, undergraduates, and the larger Waco community.
“The Isolated Presidency”, Baylor University
March 15, 2024
Engaging the faculty and graduate students of Baylor University with his new theory for understanding how the Constitution shapes the presidency, Jordan Cash will be giving a talk on his recent monograph, The Isolated Presidency.
“Sources of Civility in Ancient Rome”, Boston College
March 26, 2024
As part of sponsored programming on “civic virtue,” this event will feature a public lecture followed by a moderated conversation with James Hankins. He will discuss how the Roman humanistic-rhetorical and legal traditions train statesmen to build consensus and reduce partisanship, and how those traditions survived into the Roman Principate.
“Sarah and Angelina Grimké: A World Upside Down”, Jacksonville State University
March 28, 2024
Dr. Erin Dolgoy will present a public lecture on the Grimkés. There will then be a Q&A session that includes questions from both the physical and virtual audience for about 30 minutes. Click here to learn more >>
“Civilization versus Democracy and French Liberalism’s Divide”, University of Houston
March 2024
Gianna Englebert (Southern Methodist University) will deliver a public lecture on democracy and French liberalism.
April
Shakespeare’s Henry IV discussions, University of Alaska – Anchorage
April 4, 2024
Professor Paul A. Rahe of Hillsdale College will join UAA professors Forrest A Nabors and James W. Muller as faculty for a five-hour student-faculty seminar on William Shakespeare’s plays “Henry IV, Part I” and “Henry IV, Part II.” After having read the plays carefully beforehand, twelve students will be invited to join the faculty for discussion in two ninety-minute sessions, followed by lunch together and more informal conversation about the plays and what Shakespeare has to teach us about politics and the best of life.
“Lorenzo de Zavala: Constitutionalist”, Baylor University
April 5, 2024
In this talk, Marl Menaldo will explore the statesmanship of Lorenzo de Zavala, investigating both his role in the First Republic of Mexico and Texas’ founding. This event is public facing, engaging faculty, graduate students, undergraduates, and the larger Waco community.
“Republic of Georgia. Ordinance of Secession”, University of Georgia
April 5, 2024
Undergraduate students will discuss the Civil War, secession, and Alexander Stephens’ Cornerstone Speech. Click here to learn more >>
Moynihan Model Senate Debate: “The Treaty of Versailles”, Assumption University
April 9, 2024
Students will assume the roles of senators from the debate over the ratification of the Treaty of Versailles.
Theme to be announced, Boston College
April 11, 2024
As part of sponsored programming on “civic virtue,” this event will feature a public lecture followed by a moderated conversation with Gregory McBrayer.
2024 Bradley Conference: “A Gathering in Celebration of the Bradley Graduate and Post-Graduate Fellowship Program”, Philadelphia, PA
2024 Bradley Conference: “A Gathering in Celebration of the Bradley Graduate and Post-Graduate Fellowship Program”, Philadelphia, PAApril 12-14, 2024
The biannual Bradley Conference will take place in Philadelphia, bringing together Bradley scholars and JMC fellows for three days of discussion and networking. This year’s conference focuses on the theme of higher education reform and the future of higher education.
“Classical Freedom and Virtue: The Case of Sparta”, Emory University
April 19, 2024
Susan Collins (University of Notre Dame) will deliver a public lecture on Sparta for the Franklin Fellows.
“Thomas Paine and His Times”, University of Mississippi
April 22, 2024
David Wilson will discuss how the work of Common Sense author Thomas Paine was received, and his relevance today.
Theme to be announced, University of Houston
April 2024
Bryan Garsten (Yale University) will present a seminar and public lecture.
May
“Philadelphia and America Celebrate: July 4, 1788”, University of Georgia
May 3, 2024
A Zoom discussion with author Michael Taylor. Click here to learn more >>
Semester Long Events
Great Works Program Reading Group on American Political Thought and Literature, University of Nevada – Las Vegas
Spring 2024
Throughout the spring semester, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’s Great Works Academic Certificate Program will organize a core of students studying great books on American political thought and literature. Learn more about the Great Works Academic Certificate Program >>
Ryan Scholars Fellowship Program, Villanova University
“The Ryan Scholars” program welcomed seven students to participate in a year-long odyssey to address a variety of current and challenging topics in American political thought. Fellows will participate in text discussion groups, a student conference, public lectures, and an upcoming local excursion. They will collaborate with faculty mentors to provide guidance, as needed, to encourage the students to more deeply understand and appreciate the richness of American political thought.
June-July
Summer Reading Seminar on Politics & Literature, Lee University
June 3, 2024
Through a mixed cohort of undergraduates and regional high-school students, this day-long seminar will use the lens of American fiction to emphasize the formal and informal institutions that shape our societal mores.
Summer Civics Institute, Coastal Carolina University
Summer Civics Institute, Coastal Carolina UniversityJune 10-14, 2024
Teachers from surrounding counties will gather at Coastal Carolina University
to study primary texts of American political thought.
“Statesmanship in American History”, Princeton University
July 16-21, 2024
Examination of the meaning of statesmanship and statecraft, as seen through American history. Click here to learn more >>
About the Jack Miller Center
The Jack Miller Center is a nationwide network of scholars and civics teachers committed to educating the next generation about the foundational texts and ideas of the American political tradition.
Through its network of more than 1,000 scholars in the fields of American history and political thought, the Jack Miller Center provides professional development for social studies teachers and builds innovative partnerships between higher education institutions and the K-12 teaching force. More information on the Jack Miller Center is available at www.jackmillercenter.org.
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