The Center for Leadership and American Principles at Jacksonville State University is dedicated to strengthening civic knowledge, advancing the study of civil rights, religion, and economic democracy, improving civic discourse, and preparing leaders who understand the foundations of American democracy.
Through coursework, teacher development, public engagement, and partnerships with other organizations, the Center prepares leaders and supports excellence in civic education across Alabama based on the principles of American government.
The Center for Leadership and American Principles engages the campus, community, and classroom to strengthen civic education in Alabama. Through teaching, experiential learning, research, public outreach, and professional development in K–12 education, the Center supports the foundational ideas of American government and statesmanship necessary for the dual demands of civic leadership and workforce development.
The Center gives particular attention to the role of religion, civil rights, and economic democracy in American public life. It works to connect civic knowledge and civic skills to ethical leadership, workforce development, and democratic participation to support the foundational principles of American life.
Strengthening academic excellence in civics and American principles
The Center offers courses, credentials, student organizations, undergraduate research opportunities, graduate partnerships, and more to support the civics education and the cultivation of America’s foundational principles.
Connecting the university with the public
The Center hosts civic discourse events, service-learning, work-based learning, public outreach, and other opportunities to put into practice the foundational principles of America.
Supporting K–12 teachers and future educators
The Center provides content-rich professional development for K-12 teachers across Alabama, develops civic education content for the classroom, and partners with universities and organizations across the nation to ensure America’s foundational principles are passed down to the next generation.
