The Institute for Governance & Civics at Florida State University will welcome Kimberley A. Strassel, a member of The Wall Street Journal editorial board, for a discussion on the future of American politics and economic policy Wednesday, Oct. 28. 

The event, titled “Beyond the Midterms: The Future of American Politics and Economic Policy,” will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. in Room 2004 of FSU’s William Johnston Building, 143 Honors Way. The event is free and open to the public. 

Strassel writes editorials and the weekly “Potomac Watch” political column for The Wall Street Journal. She produces the “All Things with Kim Strassel” newsletter and hosts its accompanying podcast, offering commentary on politics and public policy. 

Strassel joined Dow Jones & Co. in 1994, working for The Wall Street Journal Europe in Brussels and London. She moved to New York in 1999 and soon joined the newspaper’s editorial page and became a member of its editorial board in 2005. 

A recipient of the 2014 Bradley Prize, Strassel is a regular contributor to CBS’s “Face the Nation,” “Fox News Sunday” and NBC’s “Meet the Press.” She is the author of three books: “The Biden Malaise,” “The Intimidation Game” and “Resistance (At All Costs).” She earned her bachelor’s degree from Princeton University. 

Established in 2023, FSU’s Institute for Governance & Civics advances the principles of liberty through education, research and discourse on constitutional government, economic liberty and related issues. The institute hosts speakers and events designed to encourage discussion of public policy and civic life. 

Doors open at 5 p.m., and the program begins at 6 p.m. Registration is encouraged, but it does not guarantee a seat. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and walk-ins are welcome as space allows. 

For more information or to register, visit the event registration page. 

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Bestselling author and commentator David Brooks told a full house at Florida State University on Thursday that universities are the “chief engines of our national culture,” and that it’s the job of higher education to help students discover new ideas and energize their passions. 

“My view of higher education is that our job is not only to provide information and expand knowledge — that’s of course part of the job — but it’s also to help students find new things to love,” Brooks said. “That’s what my college did for me.”  

Brooks delivered the remarks at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall during an event hosted by FSU’s Institute for Governance and Civics. His talk, which kicked off IGC’s Fall 2026 Speaker Series, was followed by a conversation with President Richard McCullough about the challenges and rapid changes facing higher education today.  

The author of books including “The Road to Character” and “How to Know a Person,” Brooks spent 22 years as an opinion columnist for The New York Times before joining The Atlantic as a staff writer earlier this year. He also became Yale’s first presidential senior fellow, a five-year appointment that includes lectures and conversations examining questions about meaning, community and institutions. 

McCullough said the idea to invite Brooks to FSU came after he heard him speak at a gathering of university presidents and was impressed by his perspectives on higher education. 

Brooks weaved anecdotes from history, modern culture and his personal experiences to describe his views on American culture, society and education. He spoke about seeing the gleam in people’s eyes, especially his students, when they are interested, excited or engaged.  

“The gleam is my vision of America,” he said. “We are a country that energizes. We’re not the most civilized culture, we’re not the most cultured culture, but we’re about energy and movement. That is the spirit of our democracy.”  

Brooks said that an emphasis on this gleam, or inner fire, is important in a time when people are pessimistic, divided and often lonely. 

“It’s especially important in the age of AI,” he said. “Before the age of AI, the real scarcity in the world was knowledge and information. In the age of AI, knowledge and information are plentiful.” 

Brooks said that some people will rely on AI to not have to think hard, while others will use AI to think more and become smarter. 

“In my view, what a school’s purpose is in the age of AI is to teach people to want to think hard, to care about subjects so much that they’re going to be willing to think hard and keep their mental skills sharp,” he said. 

Brooks closed on a note of hope for America and for higher education. He said meaningful change will not come from politicians focused on fundraising or elections, but from people within institutions like FSU — students, faculty and others who are connected to a deeper sense of purpose. 

“That’s why I say (that institutions of) higher education are the cathedrals of our national culture and have the responsibility and the opportunity to make some big changes,” he said. 

Ryan Owens, director of the Institute for Governance and Civics, opened the event with remarks about the institute’s mission and recent work, and Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Clark introduced Brooks.  

For more information about IGC’s Fall 2026 Speaker Series, visit igc.fsu.edu. 

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Florida State University will welcome bestselling author and commentator David Brooks to campus Sept. 10 for a conversation with President Richard McCullough exploring character, leadership and how people can engage thoughtfully across differences. 

Hosted by FSU’s Institute for Governance and Civics, the event will begin at 6 p.m. at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. 

Brooks has spent decades writing about American life, institutions, relationships and the qualities that shape individuals and communities. The author of books including “The Road to Character” and “How to Know a Person,” Brooks joined The Atlantic as a staff writer earlier this year and serves as Yale University’s inaugural presidential senior fellow. 

For McCullough, bringing Brooks to FSU grew out of hearing him speak at a gathering of university presidents. McCullough said he was struck by Brooks’ perspective on higher education, including its challenges, opportunities and role in society. 

“I was just completely blown away and fascinated by his take on higher education,” McCullough said. “I thought it was a very fair perspective. It was not political. It wasn’t right or left. It was just, as a public intellectual, his assessment of what we had done.” 

McCullough said Brooks’ focus on character and values also resonated with his own ideas about leadership. 

“I’m just fascinated by that sort of intellectual life of leadership,” McCullough said. “I feel like David has such a brilliant perspective on leadership and what it takes to lead with character.” 

After hearing Brooks speak, McCullough returned to FSU and approached Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Clark about bringing him to campus. Clark, who was already familiar with Brooks’ work, helped lead the effort to make the visit happen. 

“I’m just fascinated by that sort of intellectual life of leadership. I feel like David has such a brilliant perspective on leadership and what it takes to lead with character.”

– FSU President Richard McCullough

Ryan Owens, director of the Institute for Governance and Civics, said the event also gives students a chance to see what thoughtful conversation about difficult subjects can look like. 

“I think it’s important for students to see leadership behind efforts like this,” Owens said. “I think to have two very important, prominent individuals up there talking about that problem and talking about things that we can do to improve on it is an incredibly useful model for students to see, to observe and to follow.” 

That kind of open exchange is an important part of IGC’s work. Owens said the institute’s research shows students overwhelmingly want opportunities to have free-flowing discussions about a range of issues, even as many worry that their peers may not welcome differing views. 

Events such as the Brooks conversation can help demonstrate that students can encounter ideas that challenge them while still engaging with one another respectfully, Owens said. 

“We talk about changing the culture of things so that people believe in a free market of conversation, a free market of ideas, openness, and are willing to discuss and engage with ideas that may or may not be comfortable to you,” Owens said. “That’s all part of the endeavor that we’re trying to do at the IGC and at FSU.” 

Brooks began his journalism career as a police reporter in Chicago and later spent nearly a decade at The Wall Street Journal, including as a foreign correspondent and editor. He went on to help launch The Weekly Standard and became a familiar presence on “PBS NewsHour.” 

In early 2026, Brooks left The New York Times after 22 years as an opinion columnist and joined The Atlantic as a staff writer. He also became Yale’s first presidential senior fellow, a five-year appointment that includes lectures and conversations examining questions about meaning, community and institutions. 

McCullough said he hopes students take advantage of the opportunity to hear Brooks in person, describing him as a “master storyteller.” 

“I hope the students will not miss the opportunity to be in Ruby Diamond to hear this,” McCullough said. “I hope that it will be standing room only, because this is a kind of once-in-a-lifetime thing to hear somebody like this speak.” 

DAVID BROOKS AT FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY 

THURSDAY, SEPT. 10, 2026 

6 p.m.  | DOORS OPEN AT 5 p.m. 

RUBY DIAMOND CONCERT HALL

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 

ADVANCED REGISTRATION IS ENCOURAGED 

Media planning to attend are encouraged to confirm attendance. To arrange an interview, contact annmaries@themooreagency.com.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.  

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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.

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