Bringing Core Values to Life through Civic Engagement

I teach and serve at Saint Leo University, a private Catholic institution rooted in long-standing Benedictine values. These Core Values — Community, Excellence, Integrity, Personal Development, Respect, and Responsible Stewardship — inform the daily work of our students, faculty, and staff, and are held in high esteem across campus. Whether working with civically minded students, promoting democratic discourse on campus with my faculty colleagues, or directly educating students in the classroom, my civic engagement efforts are guided by a desire to advance these founding principles.

I was honored to serve as a Faculty Advisor for Saint Leo’s “Why Vote?” campaign, helping to guide student leaders to promote the inviting and inclusive theme of “Empower, Elevate, and Educate.” Everyone worked tirelessly to plan and execute the university’s first “Civic Engagement Day.” Multiple community organizations participated in informative sessions discussing the impact of civic engagement, and the direct impact that college students can make through targeted activism. The event culminated with a conversation between the student organizers and a member of the Florida House of Representatives. This gathering demonstrated our Community Core Value, inviting “all of us to listen, to learn, to change, and to serve.” Subsequent activities included presentations and informal events aligning with National Voter Registration Day and Civic Engagement Week. This work illustrates the Saint Leo Core Value of Excellence, which includes a call to “develop the character, learn the skills, and assimilate the knowledge essential to become morally responsible leaders.”

Each year, I am privileged to collaborate with colleagues on an event celebrating Constitution Day that meaningfully engages the Saint Leo community. We invite faculty members from various disciplines to discuss a thematic issue relating to civic engagement and constitutionalism in order to link Founding principles to modern political and social issues. In 2025, I moderated our conversation on “Immigration, Citizenship, and the Constitution” with professors in criminal justice, history, and political science. While differences of opinion were expressed on topics regarding assimilation and cultural heritage, the evening cultivated with insightful student questions. I thoroughly enjoyed leading an event that directly engages our Core Value of Respect, noting the importance of “unity and diversity…the free exchange of ideas, and… learning, living, and working harmoniously.”

Finally, I strive to cultivate civic awareness through my teaching by connecting students directly with community leaders and opportunities for democratic dialogue. In my American State and Local Government course, students covered with a former student, Luke King, now Judge/Executive of Cumberland County, Kentucky. He discussed the creation of the Cumberland County Civics Club, a pioneering initiative in youth civic engagement. Students in my Introduction to Politics class participate in the Unify Challenge, practicing respectful discourse on policy issues with peers from other institutions holding differing political perspectives. Though some are initially nervous about this prospect, all come away appreciating the opportunity to hone their civic knowledge, critical thinking, and oral communication skills. These efforts correlate with the Saint Leo Core Value of Personal Development and our emphasis on the “development of every person’s mind…to help strengthen the character of our community.”

Though some are initially nervous about this prospect, all come away appreciating the opportunity to hone their civic knowledge, critical thinking, and oral communication skills.

It is gratifying to work at a faith-based institution that intentionally strives to promote Core Values, and my work in civic engagement has certainly benefited from engaging with these mission-based practices to educate and empower students, colleagues, and the community.