Biography

Robert J. Burton is the Tocqueville Assistant Professor of Civic Thought and Leadership within the Department of History and Political Science and director of the Civic Thought and Leadership Initiative (CTLI) within UVU’s Center for Constitutional Studies.

Within the fields of political philosophy, American political thought, and constitutional law, his research and teaching focus on civic education, religious liberty, 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 publications have appeared in Political Science Reviewer and American Political Thought. As director of CTLI, he leads a team dedicated to developing the next generation of citizens and civic leaders through innovative K-12 professional development, academic programming, and civics research.

He received his PhD and MA in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame and his BA in English and Politics (summa cum laude) from Southern Virginia University. When not reading, teaching, or writing (his favorite thinkers include Alexis de Tocqueville, Jane Austen, and John Adams) he loves to trail run and adventure with his wife and kids.

Teaching