Oct. 1, 2024

This paid piece is sponsored by Augustana University. 

A professor from Harvard University will serve as the featured speaker at Augustana University’s second annual Critical Inquiry & Citizenship Colloquium.

Dr. Danielle Allen,  the James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard and director of the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, will give a keynote presentation to the Augustana community, alumni and friends at 7 p.m. Nov. 13 in the Elmen Center to kick off the two-day colloquium. A book signing will follow the event.

Generously supported by Rosemarie and Dean Buntrock and in partnership with Augustana’s Center for Western Studies, the Critical Inquiry & Citizenship Colloquium was established in 2023. The colloquium is designed to promote civil discourse and deep reflection with the goal of enhancing students’ skills to think critically and communicate persuasively as citizens of a pluralistic society.

“Dr. Allen’s passionate leadership in educating and empowering young people to be informed and engaged citizens is inspirational,” said Augustana president Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. “She is a role model for creating effective change and building strong communities through a shared commitment to inclusive listening, continuous learning and collaborative efforts, all of which speak to the essence of the Critical Inquiry & Citizenship Colloquium. We are extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to host Dr. Allen so soon after the 2024 presidential election. She is sure to bring a powerful message at a momentous time in our country’s history.”

Allen is a professor of political philosophy, ethics and public policy, as well as a nonprofit leader, democracy advocate, technology ethicist and author.

Her efforts to make the world better for young people have taken her from teaching and leading a university division to driving change at the helm of a foundation to writing as a national opinion columnist and advocating for cannabis legalization, public health policy, democracy renovation, civic education and sound governance of and with new technology. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Allen’s leadership resulted in the country’s first “Roadmap to Pandemic Resilience” — policies adopted in federal legislation and a presidential executive order.

Allen was awarded the Library of Congress’ Kluge Prize in 2020 for her scholarship in political theory and commitment to improving democratic practice and civics education. Released in 2021, she was a lead author on the “Roadmap to Educating for American Democracy,” a framework for securing excellence in history and civic education. Her many books include “Our Declaration: A Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Defense of Equality,” “Cuz: The Life and Times of Michael A.,” “Democracy in the Time of Coronavirus” and “Justice by Means of Democracy.” She also writes a column on constitutional democracy for The Washington Post.

Allen also is the founder and president of Partners in Democracy — advocating for democracy reform to create greater voice and access in our democracy and to drive progress toward a new social contract that serves and includes us all. Most recently, she made history as the first Black woman to run for statewide office in Massachusetts in her bid for governor.

“Dr. Allen is a leading thinker on democracy and engaged citizenship,” said Dr. David Golemboski, associate professor of government and international affairs at Augustana. “Her writing has reached wide audiences, and she has personal experience as a political leader. Her work and career models the kind of civil discourse that the Critical Inquiry & Citizenship Colloquium was established to promote. In a year when presidential politics are certain to be divisive and challenging, Dr. Allen is the perfect speaker to help our campus and community reflect on how we can navigate our disagreements and work together toward the common good.”

Tickets for the 2024 Critical Inquiry & Citizenship Colloquium are free and available to the public at augie.edu/CICCTickets.