A founding team imagined for intellectual seriousness, civic pluralism, and institutional accountability.
Why Brooks?
Brooks has spent decades encouraging civic engagement, moderation, moral philosophy, and institutional renewal. He is equally comfortable discussing history, psychology, economics, religion, and politics — exactly the interdisciplinary perspective envisioned for the college.
He would naturally emphasize
One of America's leading scholars of democracy, citizenship, and classical political thought. She bridges philosophy, constitutional government, civic education, and public policy, and has written extensively about renewing democratic institutions.
A former federal judge and widely respected constitutional scholar, known for intellectual seriousness rather than political theater.
Having figures such as Katyal and Clement together models respectful disagreement at the highest professional level.
Former Acting Solicitor General and one of the nation's premier Supreme Court advocates.
Former U.S. Solicitor General, frequently argues before the Supreme Court.
A career known for measured, nonpartisan political journalism.
Expert in constitutional rights, civil liberties, and democratic norms.
Leading historian of authoritarianism and democratic decline.
Scholar of political institutions, governance, and state capacity.
Co-author of How Democracies Die; expert on democratic erosion and comparative politics.
Known for intellectual curiosity and openness to diverse viewpoints.
One of the world's foremost scholars on political psychology, moral foundations, and ideological differences. His work is almost tailor-made for this college.
Expert on social media, algorithms, democracy, AI, and attention.
Founder of the Equal Justice Initiative; nationally respected for work on justice, constitutional rights, and civic leadership.
Former university president widely recognized for transformative higher education leadership.
Rather than trustees, these individuals would serve as annual visiting fellows, bringing practitioner experience into seminars, labs, and public forums.
Foreign policy and national security
Public administration, infrastructure, and political communication
Local government and civic leadership
Ethics, prosecution, and the rule of law
Public service and justice
Constitutional government and higher education
Executive leadership and public policy
Two Board of Trustees seats would be reserved for recent alumni (under age 30), and two rotating seats for current students. Students would participate fully in discussions but recuse themselves from personnel or confidential legal matters.
A Council of Democratic Practice — a 20–30 member advisory body of practitioners rather than academics — would keep the curriculum grounded in the real work of governance. It would include former governors, mayors, judges, election administrators, campaign managers, nonprofit leaders, journalists, military officers, business executives, labor leaders, and civic organizers from across the political spectrum.
That blend — a distinguished board, a diverse practitioner council, and meaningful student representation — would embody the very principles of participation, accountability, and pluralism that the college seeks to teach.