Staff

 

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Matthew Brogdon

Senior Director

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Curriculum Vitae

Dr. Matthew Brogdon is the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation senior director of the Center for Constitutional Studies.

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Most recently, Dr. Brogdon was an associate professor of Political Science at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he taught broadly in the fields of American politics, constitutionalism and political philosophy.

Brogdon’s scholarship examines American constitutionalism with special attention to the federal judiciary. He has published on the constitutional origins of judicial federalism and the development of the federal courts, among other topics. His work on the constitutional debate over inferior courts in the First Congress was named Article of the Year by the American Political Thought section of the American Political Science Association.

His current book project, Constitutional Foundations of the Modern Judiciary, utilizes the Quill Project as a robust research tool to recover the institutional logic that animated the framing of Article III of the Constitution.

Brogdon earned his doctoral degree in Political Science from Baylor University and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Political Science at the University of West Florida. At Baylor, Brogdon held the R. W. Morrison Fellowship for Study of the Constitution and was named Richard D. Huff Distinguished Graduate Student.

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Verlan Lewis

Stirling Endowed Chair

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Verlan Lewis is the Stirling Professor of Constitutional Studies at UVU, where he researches, teaches, and writes about American political thought and institutions.

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Verlan's writing has been published by The Wall Street JournalWashington Post, Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, Political Science Quarterly, Studies in American Political Development, Presidential Studies Quarterly, Party Politics, Perspectives on Political Science, and The Forum, among others.

At UVU, he teaches courses on American politics, the U.S. Constitution, American political thought, and American political institutions. He earned graduate degrees from Cambridge University and the University of Virginia, and has held academic fellowships at Stanford University and Harvard University.

His recent co-authored book, The Myth of Left and Right, shows how the familiar left-right political spectrum harms America by undermining constitutional government in the United States.

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Scott Paul

Executive Director

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Scott Paul was named executive director of CCS in January 2023 after serving as interim director in 2020 and director from 2021 to 2022.

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Scott began at CCS in 2018 but has been involved with the Center since its inception in 2011.

Previously, Scott directed operations and strategy for UVU’s Division of Development and Alumni Relations. In that role, he worked with former UVU President Matthew Holland on national and international outreach for support of university priorities and initiatives, including CCS.

Coming to UVU from Brigham Young University, where he received his juris doctor, Scott’s legal studies centered on domestic and global religious-liberty issues. He also examined the relationship between famed jurist Sir Edward Coke and his one-time law clerk Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island and early advocate for the liberty of conscience.

Scott oversees the partnership with the Quill Project at Pembroke College, Oxford University and is also responsible for CCS operations and fundraising. He launched and leads the Center's K–12 Consitutional Literacy Initiative.

Photo of Robert BurtonRobert Burton

Director of CTLI

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Curriculum Vitae

Robert J. Burton is the director of the Civic Thought and Leadership Initiative within the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University.

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His research and teaching occur in the fields of constitutional law, American political thought, and political philosophy, where he focuses on civic education, the First Amendment, and the relationship between conscience and politics. 
 
His current book project is titled A Conscience Safe for Politics: Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and the Formation of the Modern Conscience and his most recent publications have appeared in Political Science Reviewer and American Political Thought. He earned his PhD and MA in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame and his BA in English and Politics from Southern Virginia University. When not reading, teaching, or writing he loves to trail run and adventure with his wife and kids. 
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Hank McIntire

Director of Engagement

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Hank McIntire is the director of engagement for the Center for Constitutional Studies at UVU.

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Hank served for 26 years (1988–2014) in the U.S. Army and Utah National Guard as a Military Intelligence and Public Affairs officer. He deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in 2004–2005 and to the Horn of Africa (Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti) in 2011–2012, both in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

From 2005 to 2014 he served as director of public affairs and full-time spokesman for the Utah National Guard. He retired at the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Hank earned master’s and doctoral degrees in Communication from the University of Utah. Upon retirement from the military he was an assistant professor in the Department of Communication at UVU for five years, where he researched and taught public relations, corporate communication, social media, and crisis communication.

From 2019 to 2022 he worked in the private sector as a communicator in the nonprofit and health-tech spaces and is pleased to be at UVU once again.

Photo of Robert BurtonAndy Bibby

Associate Director

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Andy Bibby is an associate professor in the Department of History & Political Science at Utah Valley University.

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Andy serves as associate director of the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University and is the director of the Federalism Index Project.

He has published in various outlets, including The Wall Street Journal. Andy has taught classes in classical and modern political philosophy, American literature, and American political thought. He has research interests in modern political theory, political economy, and American federalism. He is the author of Montesquieu's Political Economy and Rival Visions: How Jefferson and His Contemporaries Defined the Early American Republic.

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Autumn Christensen

Events Manager

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Autumn Christensen graduated from Brigham Young University with a BS in Elementary Education.

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Autumn comes to CCS from BYU Law School, where she excelled as an academic event planner. Her time at the law school allowed her to hone her organizational skills and contribute to the success of various academic events.

Autumn is a mother of four girls and grandmother to two rambunctious boys. She loves spending time with family and especially her husband hiking, camping, traveling, gardening, and cooking. Often you will find her crocheting while watching movies.

 

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Paige Larsen

Administrative Assistant

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Paige Larsen is a graduate of the University of Utah. She has a BA in English Literature, a minor in French, and a minor in Music.

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Paige served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Geneva, Switzerland. She is a gifted pianist, organist, and vocal performer. While a stay-at-home mom for 25 years she also operated Larsen Music Studio in Colorado, Minnesota, and Utah.

Of her four children, two are currently students at Utah Valley University. Paige loves cooking, reading, spending time with family, playing board games, music, hiking, camping, and watching movies.

Photo of Eleesha TuckerEleesha Tucker

Constitutional Literacy Fellow

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Eleesha Tucker is a Constitutional Literacy Fellow in the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University. 

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Eleesha teaches the general education requirement American Heritage. Prior to UVU, she served as the Director of Education for the oldest patriotic organization in the United States, the Society of the Cincinnati, formed by the officers of the Continental Army during George Washington's presidency.

She is also the executive director of the Utah 3Rs Project, which encourages understanding of the right of conscience, the responsibility to protect that right in others, and the civic duty to engage respectfully in civic discourse.

Eleesha holds a Master of Arts in American Studies from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts in History Teaching from Brigham Young University.

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Lisa Halverson

Civics Education and Research Fellow

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Lisa Halverson is a Civics Education and Research Fellow at CCS.  Here at UVU,  she teaches American National Government and Women in American Political Thought.

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 Lisa holds a PhD in Education from Brigham Young University, a Teaching Credential from Notre Dame de Namur University, an MA in History from Stanford University, and a BA in International Relations also from Stanford.

Lisa has taught high school and university courses for more than 20 years. She also helps direct Mormon Women for Ethical Government, supporting women’s involvement in politics and governance. Her work with the Civic Thought and Leadership Initiative allows her to meld her interests in education and research while advocating for improved civics education in our schools.

A native Oregonian, Lisa now lives in Springville, Utah, with her husband and two adoption miracles.

 

Photo of Daniel ZoumayaDaniel Zoumaya

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

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Daniel Zoumaya is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at CCS, where he assists with the work of CTLI through teaching, mentoring, executing events, and conducting research.

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Daniel received his PhD and MA in politics with a concentration in political philosophy from Hillsdale College, and his BA in politics and theology from Ave Maria University. In Daniel’s dissertation and research, he has focused on the natural-law theory and political thought of St. Thomas Aquinas and more broadly on the relationship between ethics and politics.

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Pam Su'a

Civics Education Development Specialist

pams@uvu.edu

Pam Su’a is a Civic Education Program Development specialist at CTLI. She earned a BA in History from BYU, and an MA from Grand Canyon University.

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Pam also holds an educational-leadership credential from Southern Utah University.

She taught history and German for 20 years in Ogden and West Jordan. She was an administrator for social studies and world languages at Jordan School District for 10 years.

One of Pam's favorite parts of being a teacher was taking student tours to Europe. She recognizes the importance of good and engaging teachers in helping students develop their skills as citizens in our country and is glad to work once again with Utah’s teachers. 

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Cashlyn English

Quill Project Lead

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Cashlyn English is a Quill Project specialist at Utah Valley University's Center for Constitutional Studies.

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A native of Reno, Nevada, Cashlyn graduated from UVU in 2023 with a bachelor's degree in Philosophy and minors in Political Science and Constitutional Studies.

Cashlyn joined the Center in 2020 and led a research team in creating digital models of the Idaho, Illinois, Montana, and Washington state constitutions. With a lifelong love of the Constitution, she has plans to go to law school and one day work in her dream job of serving as a judge.

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Jane Holman

CTLI Administrative Assistant

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Jane Holman is the administrative assistant for the Civic Thought & Leadership Initiative and MA program at CCS.

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Jane has an AAS in Business Management and is finishing up her BS in Accounting. She has worked as an administrative assistant for three years.
 
Jane loves to cook Filipino food and explore nature with her husband and son.
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Samuel Hill

Senior Research Fellow

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Samuel Hill is a senior research fellow with the Federalism Index Project in UVU's Center for Constitutional Studies.

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Sam graduated from UVU in 2017 with his BA in History and Political Science, with a minor in Constitutional Studies and an emphasis on American Government.

He has served as a teaching assistant, research assistant, and was privileged to be one of the first class of Wood Assistants.

While he parents his seven children he is preparing to attend graduate school for political theory and American government. 

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Johana Linford

Senior Research Fellow

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Johana Linford is a senior research fellow with the Federalism Index Project at the Center for Constitutional Studies.

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Johana graduated in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in Political Science (with an American Government emphasis) and a minor in Constitutional Studies. In 2022, she earned her master's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (with concentrations in Business Administration, Communication, and Leadership).

Johana joined the Federalism Index Project in 2019 and, among other things, helps with website development, research, and data visualization. She has plans for further graduate work in leadership, constitutional, and federalism studies.

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Caleb Stowell

Quill Research Fellow

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Caleb Stowell is a Quill research fellow at Utah Valley University's Center for Constitutional Studies.

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Caleb, of Decatur, Ga., graduated in 2023 from UVU with a degree in Political Science with emphases in Political Philosophy and Constitutional Studies.

Caleb began work at the CCS in 2021 after an American Heritage course awakened a keen interest in politics and government. He worked on the research projects that modeled the Idaho, Illinois, and Washington state constitutions. He plans to go to law school and work for the FBI.

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Nic Jensen

Quill Research Fellow

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Nic Jensen is a Quill research fellow at Utah Valley University's Center for Constitutional Studies.

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Nic, from Santaquin, Utah, completed a bachelor's degree in History in 2023. They  joined  the Center in 2022 and worked on the North Dakota, South Dakota, and Washington constitutional conventions—all in 1889.

Nic plans to go to graduate school, complete a doctorate in History, and work in a museum or archive setting.

 

CCS Student Staff, Alumni & Past Speakers

Contact Us

Suite 305, UVU Fulton Library
800 West University Parkway
Orem, UT 84058

[email protected]

(801) 863-5470

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