Director - Ryan Owens
Ryan Owens is the Director of the Institute for Governance and Civics, a Professor of Political Science, and an Affiliate Faculty in the FSU College of Law. Owens studies law and courts and American political institutions. His work analyzes the United States Supreme Court, the United States Courts of Appeals, legal institutions, and judicial behavior.
Professor Owens’s work has appeared in leading journals including the American Journal of Political Science, Journal of Politics, Political Research Quarterly, Georgetown Law Journal, William & Mary Law Review, and more.
Owens has received grants from the National Science Foundation, Harvard Provost, University of Wisconsin Graduate School, Center for Empirical Research in the Law, and the George H.W. Bush Library Foundation. He was awarded the first undergraduate mentoring award by the UW-Madison Office of the Provost.
Prior to joining FSU, Owens was a Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Assistant Professor of Government at Harvard University. He earned his Ph.D. from Washington University in Saint Louis and practiced law before entering academia.
Professor Owens grew up in Kronenwetter, Wisconsin, and is a co-owner of the Green Bay Packers, along with approximately 360,760 others.
Associate Director - Lila Seagle
Lila Seagle is the Associate Director of the Institute for Governance and Civics at FSU, bringing over 20 years of experience in local government and public service across Florida. Her expertise encompasses citizen engagement, public policy, urban planning, design thinking, and economic development.
Before joining the Institute, Seagle served as Deputy Director of the Office of Economic Vitality, fostering growth and innovation in the Tallahassee/Leon County community. From 2007 to 2021, she was the Strategic Citizen Experience (CX) Manager for the City of Gainesville, where she contributed to civic engagement, strategic planning, economic development, and human-centered design. Her efforts identified over $4 million in operational savings and positioned Gainesville as a hub for technological innovation.
Seagle holds a Bachelor’s in Geographic Information Systems, a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning, and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Florida. She is an accredited member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.
Seagle resides in Tallahassee, Florida, with her husband and three children.
Head of K-12 Education Reform - James V. Shuls
James V. Shuls is the Head of the K-12 Education Reform Branch of the Institute for Governance and Civics at Florida State University. An expert in education policy, Dr. Shuls focuses primarily on school choice, education finance, teacher labor markets, and character education. He has published extensively in academic journals, policy briefs, and popular outlets, contributing to national discussions on improving educational outcomes and educational freedom.
Before joining Florida State University, Dr. Shuls served as an associate professor and the graduate program director of educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Missouri – St. Louis. He has also held administrative roles, such as chair of the Department of Educator Preparation and Leadership at UMSL and Dean of the College of Education at Southeastern University in Lakeland, FL.
Dr. Shuls earned his Ph.D. in Education Policy from the University of Arkansas, where he was a doctoral fellow at the Department of Education Reform. He is an advocate for innovative solutions in education, drawing on his experience as a classroom teacher to bridge theory and practice. At FSU, he leads efforts to advance research and initiatives that promote effective governance and civic-minded educational reform.
Institute Assistant - Jonus Goldstein
Jonus Goldstein is an Institute Assistant at the Institute for Governance and Civics, where he oversees institute technology operations, including managing website content, backend systems, and program logistics to support the institute’s goals. A sophomore at Florida State University, he is pursuing a dual degree in Management Information Systems and Political Science with a minor in Urban and Regional Planning.
As the Student Senate President Pro Tempore, Jonus leads legislative initiatives to enhance governance, sustainability, and campus resources for over 40,000 students. He has also completed fellowships in EV and Solar Infrastructure Analysis with the City of Tallahassee and Deployment with Tall Timbers, advancing renewable energy and transportation solutions.
Institute Assistant - Maxwell Harden
Max Harden is an Institute Assistant at the Institute for Governance and Civics, where he focuses on campus outreach and event planning, supporting the institute’s mission to engage students and foster civic leadership. A third-year student at Florida State University, he is majoring in Economics and Philosophy with a minor in Classics.
As an aerospace policy researcher at the DeVoe Moore Center, Max examines the intersection of economics and aerospace innovation. He also serves as president of The Symposium, FSU's philosophy club, where he leads discussions on political philosophy, metaphysics, and ethics.
Institute Assistant - Hillary Harbauer
Hillary Harbauer is an Institute Assistant at the Institute for Governance and Civics, where she focuses on managing the institute's social media presence and creation of outreach material. A third-year at Florida State University, she is majoring in Political Science with a minor in Law and Philosophy.
With an interest in economic policy and the American judicial systems, Hillary's coursework focuses on analyzing the practical impacts that policies and court decisions have on day-to-day life. She has completed a remote internship with Plan Pais (501(c)(3)) as a research assistant for the development of a policy brief outlining economic impacts of immigrant groups on host countries.