Educating for Citizenship: Universities and Democracy in a Pluralistic Society

Washington University in St. Louis, Sep 10-11, 2025

In an era marked by polarization, institutional distrust, and questions about the public value of higher education, this conference gathers a diverse group of scholars and public commentators to examine the university’s purpose and its role in shaping democratic citizens and civic life.

The conference is generously funded by the Templeton Religion Trust; Washington University School of Law; the Weidenbaum Center on the Economy, Government, and Public Policy; and the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics.

Convener:

  • John Inazu (WashU, Law)

Participants:

  • Sigal Ben-Porath (University of Pennsylvania, Education)

  • Adrienne Davis (Washington University, Law)

  • David French (New York Times)

  • Jennifer Frey (University of Tulsa, Philosophy)

  • Sara Hendren (Northeastern University, Art and Design)

  • Elisabeth Rain Kincaid (Baylor University, Ethics)

  • Frank Lovett (Washington University, Political Science)

  • Evan Mandery (John Jay College, Criminal Justice)

  • Roosevelt Montás (Bard College, Languages and Literature)

  • Johann Neem (Western Washington University, History)

  • Mary-Rose Papandrea (George Washington University, Law)

  • Kavin Rowe (Duke University, Theology)

  • Suzanne Shanahan (University of Notre Dame, Sociology)

  • Jennifer Smith (Washington University, Earth and Planetary Sciences)

  • Brian Tamanaha (Washington University, Law)

  • Abram Van Engen (Washington University, English)

  • Chad Wellmon (University of Virginia, German)

You can learn more about the participants on this page.

The conference will include semi-closed sessions that will allow for focused discussion among participants plus a few student observers from a law school seminar on related themes. Each session will begin with brief reflections from two discussion leaders followed by seminar-style discussion.

Following the conference, edited transcripts of each session and video interviews with participants will be made available. (Session transcripts will be edited for clarity and thematic coherence rather than with an effort to capture discussions verbatim.)

Schedule

SESSION I: WHAT IS A UNIVERSITY?

Discussion leaders: Jennifer Frey and Kavin Rowe

  • Alasdair MacIntyre, Three Rival Versions of Moral Enquiry (Chapter 10)

  • John Courtney Murray, We Hold These Truths (Chapter 5)

  • Report of the Harvard Committee, General Education in a Free Society (Chapter 2)

SESSION II: WHAT IS EDUCATION?

Discussion leaders: Sara Hendren and Chad Wellmon

  • Stanley Fish, Save the World on Your Own Time (Introduction & Chapter 1)

  • Jennifer Frey, “The Virtues of Liberal Learning”

SESSION III: CHALLENGES

Discussion leaders: Johann Neem and Elisabeth Rain Kincaid

  • Evan Mandery, Poison Ivy (Introduction & Chapters 1-2)

  • Chad Wellmon, After the University (forthcoming) (selections)

SESSION IV: POSSIBILITIES

Discussion leaders: Evan Mandery and Suzanne Shanahan

  • Sigal R. Ben-Porath, Cancel Wars (Chapter 5)

  • John Inazu, “Pluralism, Particularity, and Possibility”

Participants will receive a packet of these readings over the summer. You can find a more detailed draft itinerary here.

The conference will culminate with a dialogue on the evening of September 11, 2025 titled “Educating for Democracy: Pitfalls and Possibilities.” John Inazu will moderate a panel that includes David French, Roosevelt Montás, and Mary-Rose Papandera. The evening event is free and open to the public.