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Faculty Member

Dr. Robert Burton

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.

Education

PhD, University of Notre Dame, 2020

Major: Political Science

MA, Array, 2017

Major: Political Science

BA, Southern Virginia University, 2013

Major: Politics and English Literature

Teaching

POLS 1000

American Heritage, Fall 2026

CGCL 6200

Foundations of American Democracy, Summer 2026

CGCL 6160

Roots of the American Regime, Summer 2026

POLS 1000

American Heritage, Spring 2026

Presentations

Burton, Robert (Presenter Only), Annual Religious Freedom Review, "Founding Ideals and Civic Education", J. Reuben Clark Law School, Provo, UT. ()
Burton, Robert (Presenter Only), Civic Literacy and Citizenship Symposium, "Civic Virtue_ Ancient and Modern", University of Wisconsin School of Law, Madison, WI. ()
Burton, Robert (Moderator), Faculty Summit, "The Meaning of the Declaration", American Enterprise Institute, Charleston, SC. ()
Burton, Robert (Presenter Only), Summer Institute in the American Civic Tradition, "Civic Virtue and the Declaration of Independence", Jack Miller Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ()
Burton, Robert (Presenter Only), Civic Literacy and Citizenship Symposium, "Civic Virtue, Civility, and Teaching Citizenship in the Classroom", University of Wisconsin School of Law, Madison, WI. ()
Burton, Robert (Moderator), Deans and Directors Summit, "America 250 and Civic Education", Jack Miller Center, Sundance, UT. ()

Scholarly/Creative Works

Burton, Robert John, (2023) "Animating the Public Spirit_ Adam Smith on Conscience, Constitutions, and Civic Education" (Issue: no. 1 , vol. vol. 47). Madison, WI: Political Science Reviewer. https://politicalsciencereviewer.com/index.php/psr/article/view/773
Burton, Robert John, Halverson, Lisa , Smith, Glori , (2022) "The State of Civics Education in Utah_ A Report" . Orem, UT: Center for Constitutional Studies. https://www.uvu.edu/ccs/in-the-news/docs/finalcivicsreportforwebsite.pdf
German, Zachary K., Burton, Robert John, (2021) "Constitutional Humility_ The Contested Meaning of a Judicial Virtue" (Issue: No. 2, Spring , vol. Vol. 10). Chicago, IL: American Political Thought. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/713665
German, Zachary K., Burton, Robert John, Zuckert, Michael P., (2018) "The Aim of Every Political Constitution_ The Founders and the Election of Trump" . New York, NY: Palgrave. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-74427-8_12