THE KINDER INSTITUTE
ON CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY
We’re building excellence in the heartland of America. The University of Missouri Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy is a beacon that draws brilliant students and scholars to the Show-Me State’s flagship institution.
Now, it’s time for a new era, one in which Kinder Institute leadership will step to the forefront to execute visionary plans for the future of this incredible program. With your support and Mizzou’s capabilities, the institute can change the lives of remarkable students who will grow their knowledge of the tenets and history of constitutional democracy and change the world, both now and for generations to come.
Forging Tomorrow’s Leaders
The Kinder Institute is a national leader, combining research and scholarship focused on the creation of constitutional democracy in the era of the American founding.
The institute started small but with big aspirations. After the success of the Kinder Forum in 2014 and 2015, the support of Rich and Nancy Kinder helped us kickstart a world-class institute with a commitment to developing programs that foster the growth of an intellectual community of undergraduates devoted to tracing connections between the past and present of constitutional democracy in the U.S. and abroad.
The Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy is a signature academic center jointly operated by faculty from Mizzou’s History and Political Science departments. The interdisciplinary structure of the Kinder Institute is designed so the curriculum can maximize impact and relevance across multiple academic programs. This allows students to collaboratively study political and demographic structures and encourages civil discourse through the lens of academics, journalism and law.
In addition to the rigorous coursework, Kinder students also can take advantage of life-changing, study-away programs. Each year, students selected through a competitive process intern in Washington, D.C. Students secure their own internship experience based on their interests and cover their own transportations costs, with housing and a small stipend provided through the Kinder Institute. While there, students also take a three credit-hour course and participate in field trips to relevant historical sites. Thanks to its popularity, the institute is gradually increasing the number of students in the program from 20 to 40.
Other experiential learning opportunities at the Kinder Institute include:
n Spring break or semester program to study at Oxford.
n Winter break trip to study race and politics in South Africa.
n Spring break trip to Washington, D.C., for a constitutional litigation seminar.
n Democracy Lab residential living group during freshman year.
n ASH (arts, social science or humanities) Scholars special research project in conjunction with the Honors College.
n Numerous lectures and special presentations from award-winning historians and other accomplished professionals.
The number of students majoring in Constitutional Democracy has nearly doubled in the past four years, with 156 seeking a degree or certificate in a Kinder Institute program this academic year. Many students seek dual majors in degree programs, such as political science, economics or journalism. They also go on to law school or seek other graduate degrees.
Jackson Bailey BA ’24, Constitutional Democracy and Political Science Chief of Staff, Missouri State Treasurer’s Office
“Every day I draw from lessons or professors I had in the Kinder Institute. I feel really fortunate that so many Kinder classes were taught by Ivy Leaguetrained professors. I was able to get a world-class education at an affordable price. ... My educational experience was advanced enough for me to feel that I was not only prepared to go to law school, but that I would succeed.
Abby Ramirez Senior, Los Angeles Journalism and Constitutional Democracy
“The research skills (required for both of my majors) complement each other, but the writing requirements are very different. Yet, these two different mindsets are symbiotic for what I want to do going forward. I’m very glad to be doing these degrees because without them I don’t think I would be as prepared for a career in political communications.”
Building On Our Success
The Kinder Institute’s vision is to become the internationally recognized center for the study of U.S. and trans-Atlantic political thought and history. Our students delve into the relevance, significance and impact of the principles of constitutional democracy as envisioned in the institutions of the American founding.
The vision for growth is to expand the scale of operations without compromising the institute’s uniqueness and rigor. With that vision in mind, the Kinder Institute has multiple future priorities:
n DC Scholars Program: Expansion of the summer internship program in Washington, D.C., from 20 to 40 students over the next two years will require substantial funds because of the high cost of housing in the D.C. area. The program costs about $10,000 per student, with the bulk of that being housing. Students also pay tuition for the weekly seminar class on Thursday nights and do field trips in the area on Fridays. They are responsible for their own daily living expenses (except housing) and transportation costs (except for costs associated with the field trips).
n Endowed Faculty Positions: The institute would like to add named faculty chair positions in Military History, Missouri History and Missouri Politics.
n Scholarships and Fellowships: Additional scholarships and fellowships are needed to attract and retain the best students. More importantly, these funds remove barriers for students to participate in the extensive programs and research opportunities at the Kinder Institute so they can deepen their education and expand their career opportunities.
n Missouri-Kansas Border War: Funding is being sought to start a new three-year research program that will examine the history of Missouri and Kansas border wars during the Civil War era. The project would include student research, trips to relevant historic sites and archives, as well as outreach events, including Tiger-Jayhawk athletic rivalries.
Encouraging Civil Discourse
We want the Kinder Institute and Mizzou to be where talented students interact with worldrenowned scholars and academicians and listen to the most inspiring speakers, all grounded in the focus on constitutional democracy. We want the Kinder Institute to be the hub that brings the most brilliant minds together to engage, discuss, debate and do their best work.
The Kinder Institute will be a centerpiece of Mizzou’s efforts to improve civil discourse and a large part of the bigger campus picture. In short, the vision for the Kinder Institute is to make it the global leader for non-partisan education and research in constitutional democracy.
And the time has come to act on this vision. Few, if any, institutes of a similar scope exist with the ability to provide the necessary focus on the topic, and with the level of diverse backgrounds and viewpoints that the Kinder Institute provides.