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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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.

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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. 

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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. 

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Florida middle school students will test their civics knowledge
and compete for national title 

The Institute for Governance and Civics at Florida State University will host the 2025 State Championship of the National Civics Bee®, an initiative aimed at encouraging more young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities.  

Hosted in partnership with The Civic Trust® of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the competition in Florida will inspire middle schoolers to become better informed about American democracy, to engage respectfully and constructively in the community, and to build greater trust in others and institutions.  

“I’m thrilled that FSU will host the first Florida state championship,” said Ryan Owens, director of the Institute for Governance and Civics and FSU professor of political science. “This initiative is great for Florida’s families, showcases FSU’s commitment to our state’s future, and highlights the positive impact the IGC will have. We’re fired up to get people excited to learn about the constitution and American civics.”  

Participants in the National Civics Bee® will have the chance to gain recognition for their civics knowledge and skills and compete for prestigious awards, including prizes worth at least $1,000 for the state champion and $50,000 for the national winner. The competition enables students to explore issues that matter to their communities, furthering their understanding of civic engagement and fostering responsible citizenship. 

The IGC will host the National Civics Bee® Florida State Finals in May 2025. Finalists from local competitions across Florida will be invited to take part in the state-level competition. Students will participate in a live quiz event and answer questions from judges to test their civic knowledge. The winner will receive a trip to Washington, D.C. to compete in the national championship in the fall of 2025.  

“Fostering a deep understanding of civics and government among our young students is critical to the vibrancy of democracy and civic life in America,” said Hilary Crow, vice president of civics at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “The National Civics Bee® provides a unique platform for them to not only showcase their knowledge but also become active and engaged citizens of the future.”  

Additional details will be announced at a later date. 

For information on entering the National Civics Bee® in Florida, visit igc.fsu.edu or nationalcivicsbee.org. 

About National Civics Bee®
The National Civics Bee®, a program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s The Civic Trust®, is an annual nonpartisan competition aimed at improving civics education and literacy among middle school students, their families, and communities. The National Civics Bee® helps elevate civics as a national priority through a network of state and local chambers across the country. The National Civics Bee® is made possible through the generous support of its founding partner, the Daniels Fund, Citizen Travelers, and other funders.  

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