Ryan Owens is Director of the Institute for Governance and Civics, Professor of Political Science, and Affiliate Faculty in the FSU College of Law. He specializes in law and courts, focusing on the U.S. Supreme Court, federal appellate courts, and judicial behavior. Owens’s work has appeared in major journals such as the American Journal of Political Science and the Journal of Politics. He has received research support from the National Science Foundation and Harvard, and was the inaugural recipient of UW-Madison’s undergraduate mentoring award.
Lila Seagle is Associate Director of the Institute for Governance and Civics at FSU, bringing over 20 years of public service experience in Florida. She is recognized for her leadership in citizen engagement, public policy, urban planning, and economic development. Seagle previously served as Deputy Director of the Office of Economic Vitality in Tallahassee/Leon County and led civic experience strategy for the City of Gainesville, where she drove innovation and operational efficiency. She holds a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning and an MBA from the University of Florida.
James Strickland is Associate Professor of Political Science and leads the Constitutional Liberty branch at the Institute for Governance and Civics. His research focuses on interest groups, legislatures, and subnational politics in the U.S., with a special emphasis on lobbying and policy change. Prof. Strickland’s scholarship has appeared in top journals, and he is the author of an upcoming book on state lobbying. He is dedicated to fostering inclusive classrooms and is a first-generation college graduate.
James V. Shuls, Ph.D., is the Branch Head of Educational Liberty at the Institute for Governance and Civics. A nationally recognized expert on education policy and school choice, Dr. Shuls’s research focuses on K-12 finance, teacher policy, and education reform. He has published widely in both academic journals and major national media outlets. Before joining the Institute, Dr. Shuls served as the Department Chair and Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He earned his doctorate in education policy from the University of Arkansas and is a regular speaker on the future of school choice and educational innovation.
Denise Mayo Harle is a clinical professor and director of the First Amendment Clinic at FSU College of Law, where she leads student advocacy and litigation on free speech, religious liberty, and press freedom issues. Her teaching and scholarship focus on constitutional law, appellate practice, and First Amendment rights. Before entering academia, Professor Harle was a partner at Shutts & Bowen LLP in Tallahassee, where she was a member of the firm’s Appellate Practice Group and Constitutional Law Practice Area. Prior to that, she served as Deputy Solicitor General in the Office of the Florida Attorney General. Professor Harle has briefed and argued high-profile cases involving significant constitutional issues and questions of statutory interpretation in both state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
Doug Norton is the Branch Head of Economic Liberty at the Institute for Governance and Civics, additionally he serves as the Director of the Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Program, and Teaching Faculty II in the Department of Economics at Florida State University. He teaches courses in economics and PPE, has received numerous honors for teaching and service, and conducts research using experimental and econometric methods to study values, institutions, and collective action. Norton is an FSU alumnus and former Senior Economist at MobLab.
Michael Driscoll is Teaching Faculty I at the Institute for Governance and Civics at Florida State University. His current research projects focus on John Locke’s views on human happiness and domestic policy, as well as twentieth-century American foreign policy. Before coming to FSU, Dr. Driscoll served as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Hillsdale College, where he taught several courses in American politics. Dr. Driscoll received his Ph.D. from the Van Andel Graduate School of Statesmanship at Hillsdale, where he earned honors for his dissertation on John Locke’s political thought.
Anna J. Egalite is a Professor of Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis at North Carolina State University. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Program on Education Policy and Governance at Harvard University and has held visiting appointments at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. Her research examines how targeted education reforms—such as diversifying the educator workforce and expanding school choice—can help close racial and economic achievement gaps. She has studied topics including school choice and competition, the role of family background in intergenerational economic mobility, school leadership, and strategies for diversifying the educator labor force. As Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator, she has secured over $6.5 million in research funding. Her work has been featured in mainstream media outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Atlantic.
Michael Hartney is the Bruni Family Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, an associate professor of political science at Boston College, and a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. He is also a research affiliate at Harvard University’s Program on Education Policy and Governance (PEPG), and, in 2020-21, a W. Glenn Campbell and Rita Ricardo-Campbell Hoover National Fellow.
Hartney’s scholarly expertise is in American politics and public policy with a focus on state and local government, interest groups, and education reform. His academic research has been published in journals such as the American Political Science Review and the American Journal of Political Science and received media coverage in the Economist, New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal. His writing has also appeared in popular outlets such as City Journal, Education Next, National Review, the New York Post, and the Washington Post.
Phillip Pinell is Teaching Faculty I at the Institute for Governance and Civics at Florida State University. He studies national identity, historical consciousness, and citizenship theory in the history of political thought, and has published on Iberian political thought, ancient and modern theory, and the early American republic. His research appears in journals such as Political Research Quarterly, American Political Thought, and The Political Science Reviewer. Dr. Pinell received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin—Madison and serves as faculty liaison to the undergraduate fellows program.
Dr. James “Lynn” Woodworth has spent most of his career in education. Woodworth’s focus is on charter school impacts on student learning, making education data useful for public policy making, and the role of the federal statistical system. His publications include the CREDO charter school studies.
Woodworth comes to FSU from Stanford University where he was a Hoover Research Fellow. He also served a term as the U.S. Statistics Commissioner overseeing the National Center for Education Statistic. Woodworth has 11 years’ experience as a public-school classroom teacher and is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Woodworth holds a Ph.D. in Education Policy from the University of Arkansas where he was a Distinguished Doctoral Fellow. Additionally, he has a M.Ed. in Education Leadership and a B.A. in Music Education both from Arkansas Tech University.
Zach Goldberg is a Research Faculty member at Florida State University’s Institute for Governance and Civics (IGC). He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Georgia State University, where he specialized in American Politics and Political Research Methodology.
Before joining IGC, he worked as a policy analyst and research fellow at the Manhattan Institute, conducting data-driven research on political polarization, public perceptions of policing, education, and mental health. His methodological expertise includes survey experiments, media content analysis, and time-series modeling. At the IGC, Zach contributes to the Institute’s polling and civic engagement initiatives. His work has appeared in academic journals, policy reports, and national media outlets.
Sheena Kelly is Supervising Staff Attorney of the First Amendment Clinic at FSU College of Law, mentoring students through practical legal experience. She previously served as an Assistant State Attorney in Broward County and as an Assistant Attorney General of Florida, litigating complex appeals in first-degree murder cases. Kelly earned her J.D. from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law and a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Florida.
Sean C. Hadley is Teaching Faculty I at the Institute for Governance and Civics at Florida State University. His current research projects focus on the pedagogical practice of reading aloud for the formation of virtue, as well as the political underpinnings in film adaptations of Ernest Hemingway’s work. Before coming to FSU, Dr. Hadley worked in the classical classroom for over a decade while researching, writing, and presenting on a broad range of topics. Dr. Hadley received his Ph.D. from the Great Books Honors College at Faulkner University and completed his post-doctoral work with the University of Arkansas’s Classical Education Research Lab.
Jesse James is Visiting Assistant Professor in the School of Law. He is a legal historian, lawyer, and Classicist who studies the legal cultures of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds and the influence of Classical forms of legal argumentation on the development of American law and legal culture. He has practiced law in New York and has held research fellowships at Harvard Law School, Columbia University's Institute for Ideas and Imagination in Paris, and the German Archaeological Institute in Munich. His first book, Laws of All the Greeks, was published in 2026 by Oxford University Press.
Sammy Johnson is the Digital Media & Marketing Lead at the Institute for Governance and Civics at FSU. He brings experience in digital strategy, media production, and marketing across higher education, public media, sports, and tourism. Before joining the Institute, Sammy managed digital content and tourism campaigns for Lake County, produced educational and community programming with WFSU Public Media, and created video and broadcast media for organizations including the United Soccer League and Florida State Athletics. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Digital Media Production from Florida State University.
Kathy Treadway is the Event Manager at the Institute for Governance and Civics at FSU. She is a proud Florida State alumna and Tallahassee native. Kathy is passionate about creating and executing impactful events for the IGC. She is a graduate of FSU’s Dedman School of Hospitality.
Andreana Gahagan is an Administrative Specialist of the Institute for Governance and Civics at FSU, bringing over 13 years of public service experience in Florida and abroad. Mrs. Gahagan’s primary area of expertise lies in auditing customs procedures, with a strong emphasis on compliance with current customs and tax laws. She has led various work teams of up to 10 people within a fast-paced environment, with an active participation approach. Currently, Mrs. Gahagan is responsible for all processes related to FSU’s financial and human resources systems, as well as the tools used to generate reports via Oracle Business Intelligence. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Fiscal Sciences with a specialization in Customs and Foreign Trade; her next step in continuing her education is to attend law school.
Kari Edwards is an Administrative Associate known for her strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and reliable support of leadership and cross‑functional teams. She plays an essential role in coordinating daily operations, managing administrative processes and travel coordination, and ensuring clear, efficient communication across the workplace. Kari earned her Certified Public Manager (CPM) credential from Florida State University and is recognized for her planning and problem‑solving abilities, along with a proactive, solutions‑focused approach. She is also known for her professionalism, adaptability, and ability to manage multiple priorities with confidence.
Aidan Cameron is a Political Science major with an Economics minor at Florida State University, expected to graduate in May 2026. As an Institute Ambassador, Aidan provides general support for Institute projects, assists with administrative operations, and contributes to ongoing events and initiatives.
Maxwell Harden is a third-year student at Florida State University, majoring in Economics and Philosophy with a minor in Classics. In his role as Institute Ambassador, Maxwell supports campus outreach and student engagement initiatives, assists with the organization and promotion of Institute events, and collaborates with staff to develop programming that encourages civic leadership and participation among students.
Jonus Goldstein is a second-year student at Florida State University pursuing a dual degree in Management Information Systems and Political Science, with a minor in Urban and Regional Planning. As Institute Ambassador, Jonus manages website operations, maintains digital resources, coordinates program logistics, conducts research, manages databases, and provides technical support for Institute staff and faculty.
Maegan Smarkusky is a Presidential Scholar at Florida State University pursuing a dual degree in Political Science and Integrated Studies with a minor in Law & Philosophy. As an Institute Ambassador, Maegan supports general Institute operations, assists with student engagement, and contributes to the success of events and daily activities.
Katherine O'Ryan is a Political Science major at Florida State University, expected to graduate in May 2027. As an Institute Ambassador, Katherine provides general support for Institute projects, assists with administrative operations, and contributes to ongoing events and initiatives.
Mathias de Macedo is a first-year student at Florida State University pursuing a degree in
Political Science with a minor in International Affairs. As an Institute Ambassador, Mathias
assists with project management, event coordination, and administrative operations to ensure the
success of ongoing initiatives.
Sebastian Girstl is a first-year criminal justice major at Florida State University, with a strong background in Florida’s political landscape through diverse roles in education, government, and politics. Specializing in political strategy and public policy, he brings a nuanced perspective to his work as a researcher in the Constitutional Liberty branch of FSU’s Institute for Governance and Civics. His work examines the political dynamics influencing constitutional interpretation and amendments, with a focus on advancing governance, civic engagement, and fundamental constitutional liberty.
Lucy Pinter is a third-year student at Florida State University pursuing a dual degree in Criminology and Media Communications, with a certificate in U.S. Intelligence Systems. As an Institute Ambassador, Lucy assists with administrative operations while focusing on student networking and outreach to contribute to ongoing events for IGC staff and faculty
Grant Birtman is a Criminology and Public Administration Masters student at Florida State University, expected to graduate in July 2026. As the Budget and Procurement Coordinator, Grant manages the organizations purchasing processes and financial planning to ensure that resources are used efficiently, vendors are selected strategically, and budgets align with organizational goals.
Caleb is a Master of Science in Information Technology student, expected to graduate in July 2027. He supports the Data Analysis department by organizing, cleaning, and preparing datasets for analytical workflows, and contributes to departmental events and initiatives.
Kinley Rice is a third-year student at FSU majoring in Public Relations with minors in French and Political Science. She is on a pre-law track with aspirations to attend law school following her graduation from FSU in Spring 2027. As an Institute Ambassador, Kinley assists Prof. Denise Harle at the First Amendment Clinic by conducting research on case law, prospective clients, and the current legal climate.
Tanay Warrier is a second-year student at Florida State University pursuing a dual degree in Philosophy and Political Science with minors in Religion and Economics. He works in the Conscience Liberty branch, conducting research, preparing grant proposals, designing curricula, and helping write articles.
Noah Don is a first-year student in FSU's College of Criminology and Criminal Justice. He conducts research on national bar exam results over time, applying quantitative and qualitative analysis methods to examine long term trends. Noah brings strong research, writing, and data analysis skills to his work with the Institute, where he also assists with event coordination and execution.
Dylan Knaggs is a second-year Political Science and Criminology student at Florida State University. He holds an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice from Indian River State College. As an Institute Ambassador in the Constitutional Liberty branch, he contributes to research initiatives by collecting empirical data and supporting ongoing projects, and assists with event coordination and execution. He also specializes in digital media production and assists with outreach efforts for the Institute.