Christopher C. Burkett

Assistant Professor of Political Science, Ashland University

Education

o Ph.D. with Honors Distinction, Politics, University of Dallas, Institute of Philosophic Studies (March 2010)

§ Dissertation: To Secure These Rights: Foreign Policy and the Principles of the American Founding

o M.A. Politics, University of Dallas (December 2004)

o B.A. with double major, History and Fine Art, Ashland University (December 1996)

Teaching Experience

o Assistant Professor of Political Science, Ashland University (Fall 2005–present)

§ Undergraduate Political Science and History courses taught:

· Understanding Politics

· Democracy in America

· American Foreign Policy

· Political Parties and Interest Groups

· The Presidency & Congress

· American Political Thought I (Founding to Civil War)

· American Political Thought II (Progressives to Today)

· Western Political Thought: Ancient

· Western Political Thought: Early Modern

· The American Founding

· Honors Masterworks: Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography

§ Independent Study courses taught:

· Presidential Prerogative

· Apathy and Tyranny in American Democracy

· Abigail Adams and the American Revolution

· The Constitutional Thought of John C. Calhoun

· Woodrow Wilson’s Vision of Leadership

· History of Constitutional Development I & II

· Shakespeare’s Political Thought

· Natural Law and the Constitution

· The Role of the Judiciary in American Political Thought

· Nature and Technology I & II

· Foundations of Progressive Political Thought

· Militant Islamist Factions

· The Moral Demands of Citizenship and the American Founding

o Instructor, Master of American History and Government Program, Ashland University (Summer 2006–present)

§ Graduate courses taught:

· The Progressive Era

· American Statesmen: Woodrow Wilson & Franklin Roosevelt

· Topics: American Westerns

· The American Revolution

· The American Founding

Works Published

o Book chapter: “James Madison and the Grand Convention,” with Gordon Lloyd, in A Companion to James Madison

and James Monroe (edited by Stuart Leibiger), part of the “Blackwell Companions to American History” series

(Wiley-Blackwell Publishers) (forthcoming)

o Article: “Progressivism and American Foreign Policy,” an installment of the First Principles initiative, published by

The Heritage Foundation, Washington, D.C. (forthcoming)

o Essay: “A Principle Demonstrated through History: Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address,” in On Principle, John M. Ashbrook

Center for Public Affairs (February 2009).

o Online lesson plans for high school History, Government and Civics teachers, as part of the National Endowment

for the Humanities’ EDSITEment program (2006-07).

§ Unit title: The Constitutional Convention of 1787

· Lesson 1: The Road to the Constitutional Convention

· Lesson 2: The Question of Representation at the 1787 Convention

· Lesson 3: Creating the Office of the Presidency

§ Unit title: “Forming a More Perfect Union”: The Federalist and Antifederalist Debates on the Proposed Constitution

· Lesson: “A Complete Consolidation”: The Antifederalist Argument against the Extended Republic

· Lesson: “Extending the Sphere”: The Federalist Defense of the Proposed Constitution

§ Lesson title: “Retouching the Canvas”: The Creation of the Bill of Rights

§ Lesson title: The “Inconsistency Not to Be Excused”: Slavery and the American Founding

o Book chapter: “The American Founding and Conservative Foreign Policy Today,” in Modern America and the

Legacy of the Founding, edited by Ronald J. Pestritto and Thomas G. West (Lexington Books, September 2006)

o Book review: Freedom Reclaimed: Rediscovering the American Vision, by John E. Schwarz (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins

University Press, 2005), in Political Science Quarterly (Winter 2005-2006)

Awards and Nominations

· Edward and Louaine Taylor Excellence in Teaching Award (2011)

· Outstanding Male Faculty of the Year (Leadership and Service Awards, 2008; nominated 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)

Professional Responsibilities

· Associate Director and Academic Advisor, Master of American History and Government Graduate Program,

Ashland University (2007-present)

· Conference Director for Liberty Fund and Ashbrook Center co-sponsored “Seminars on Liberty” program

· Faculty Advisor to Ashland University Student Senate (Fall 2006-present)

· Faculty Advisor to Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, Ohio Theta Chapter (2010-present)

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