Democracy Today

The College of Liberal Arts is a natural place to ask big questions about the world we live in and to provide answers and solutions that underscore the relevance of higher education in the 21st century.

Sami Sage
Sami Sage, New York Times bestselling co-author of Democracy in Retrograde, will be visiting CLA for our annual Democracy Today book event. Join us on October 16, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. in LA 4310 for a timely conversation on civic engagement and how we can all make meaningful change.

 

One of the critical topics of our time, both at home and abroad, is the state of democracy. This impacts what it means to educate individuals who are knowledgeable, practice critical thinking, and engage in their communities. Democracy Today also provides opportunities for cross-disciplinary and cross-departmental collaboration. 

The overarching questions driving Democracy Today are: 

  • What makes a 21st century society democratic?
  • How can democracy be sustained in the United States?
  • What role and responsibility do higher education and the liberal arts have in sustaining a democratic society?
  • Karen Doneker, Family Science
  • Isabel Castro-Vazquez, Languages, Literatures & Cultures
  • Gilbert Chen, History
  • Elizabeth Clifford, Sociology, Anthropology & Criminal Justice
  • Sarah Oliver, Political Science
  • Geoffrey Munro, Psychology
  • Emily Parker, Philosophy and Religious Studies
  • Cecilia Rio, Women鈥檚 and Gender Studies
  • Jeremy Tasch, Geography and Environmental Planning
  • Jonathan Vincent, English