Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership

04/07/2026

LAST CALL- TOLEDO TEACHERS! An Extraordinary Week And Get Paid $400! DEADLINE: Monday, April 13

Northwest Ohio Founding Civics Institute:
Educating the Enduring Republic

APPLY NOW | LIMITED SEATS
WHEN: June 22 - 26, 2026
WHERE: Toledo, OH

This week-long institute for teachers, hosted by the University of Toledo's Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership (IACTL), will focus on key themes, thinkers, and texts of America's constitutional tradition. Topics will include, but are not limited to, natural rights, constitutional interpretation, the Founders and religion, slavery and the Constitution, and American foreign policy.

Scholar sessions will be led by the Institute's faculty and visiting scholars, including Lucas Morel (Washington & Lee University), Vincent Phillip Muñoz (The University of Notre Dame), and Joseph Postell (Hillsdale College).

THIS FOUNDING CIVICS INITIATIVE is a project of the Jack Miller Center for teaching America's Founding Principles and History.

APPLY NOW:

This week-long institute for teachers, hosted by the University of Toledo's Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership, will focus on the key themes, thinkers, and texts pertaining to America's constitutional tradition. Topics will include, but are not limited to, natural rights, co...

04/06/2026

TOLEDO FRIENDS! YOU'RE INVITED. LAST CALL. REGISTER NOW FOR FREE LUNCH & LECTURE NEXT TUESDAY, 12 P.M.!
"Can Communism and Constitutionalism Coexist?"
REGISTER NOW: bit.ly/IACTL-Event9

WHERE: University of Toledo College of Law – Room 1013
WHEN: Tuesday, April 14 | 12–1 PM

LUNCH PROVIDED | Free parking

We welcome Prof. Elizabeth Spalding, a nationally respected scholar of American political thought from Pepperdine University. She will help us explore a fundamental tension in political philosophy, systems grounded in natural rights and limited government versus systems grounded in centralized power and collective control.
Whether you are a student, educator, professional, or simply someone who cares about our republic, there is a seat for you at the table.

ABOUT US
At the University of Toledo, the Institute of American Constitutional Thought & Leadership (IACTL) fosters the intellectual and civic conditions essential for a flourishing republic, forming students and citizens in the principles of liberty through lectures, civil dialogue, and academic programs that equip leaders and engage the broader community in the work of self-government.

We believe you're made for greater things.
SCHOLARSHIP | LEADERSHIP | FRIENDSHIP

IACTL Lunch & Lecture Series Tuesday, April 14, 12 PM UT College of Law | Room 1013

03/27/2026

A QUESTION FOR YOU:
Would you be interested in a regular community gathering where thoughtful, informed, representative voices engage today’s most pressing public questions—paired with meaningful opportunities for you to participate?

The aim is simple and serious: to create a space shaped by clear, shared expectations—respectful discourse, reliance on credible sources, and a genuine commitment to the common good. Not noise. Not posturing. Real conversation.

As we look beyond Summer into Fall, this is an earnest invitation to express your interest. Feel free to share subjects or topics that interest you most.

Please note: This is not a political graffiti board. We are not interested in punditry or performative takes; such comments will be removed. What we seek to cultivate is something far rarer and more necessary: a community grounded in civic friendship, where people can think together, speak honestly, and remain rooted in mutual respect—regardless of ideological differences.

The Deliberate Republic is IACTL’s hub for video, podcast, and print content—advancing liberty through principled engagement and thoughtful discourse over factionalism, in the spirit of virtue-formed citizenship (Federalist No. 10). Click to read The Deliberate Republic, a Substack publication w...

03/25/2026

AS THE UNITED STATES APPROACHES ITS 250th ANNIVERSARY, the Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership (IACTL) convened a panel of four eminent scholars to ask a foundational, and increasingly debated, question: Is the Declaration of Independence still the “standard of a free society,” or has it become a “mere wreck” of the dead past? [08:11].

THE PANELISTS:
Dr. Michael Zuckert (Notre Dame): A leading authority on natural rights, Zuckert explores how the Declaration serves as an “interpretive principle” for the Constitution, orienting the American conception of justice [19:22].

Dr. Thomas West (Hillsdale College): West offers a provocative critique of modern domestic and foreign policy, arguing that we have lost the “manly firmness” and spirit of self-reliance the Declaration demands [23:38].

Dr. Vincent Phillip Muñoz (Notre Dame): Muñoz bridges the gap between philosophy and law, explaining why the Declaration’s “self-evident” truths are the essential foundation for understanding individual liberties like religious freedom and speech [30:43].

Dr. Steven Hayward (Pepperdine): Hayward tackles the “moral skepticism” of our age, critiquing the postmodern shift toward “proprietary truths” that threatens to dissolve our shared political inheritance [33:40].

JOIN US for our next Free LUNCH & LECTURE SERIES:
"Is Communism Compatible with Constitutionalism?"
With Prof. Elizabeth Spalding
WHEN: Tuesday, April 14, 12 PM
WHERE: University of Toledo College of Law | Room 1013
REG: https://bit.ly/IACTL-Event9
PLUG INTO THE DELIBERATE REPUBLIC: http://LeadToledo.com

ABOUT US:
At the University of Toledo, the Institute of American Constitutional Thought & Leadership (IACTL) fosters the intellectual and civic conditions essential for a flourishing republic, forming students and citizens in the principles of liberty through lectures, civil dialogue, and academic programs that equip leaders and engage the broader community in the work of self-government.

Scholarship | Leadership | Friendship
You're made for greater things.

https://open.substack.com/pub/leadtoledo/p/is-liberty-still-relevant

A PANEL WITH STEVEN HAYWARD, VINCENT PHILLIP MUÑOZ, THOMAS WEST, & MICHAEL ZUCKERT

03/24/2026

In this thought-provoking public debate hosted by the Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership (IACTL) at the University of Toledo, two titans of law and policy square off over one of the most contentious issues in modern American life: the state of our universities.
The Debaters:

Dr. Steven Hayward: A veteran scholar of public policy and conservative thought, Hayward argues that American higher education has become a “reactionary” monoculture incapable of reforming itself from within.

Dr. Nadine Strossen: Former President of the ACLU and a leading free speech advocate, Strossen acknowledges the “crisis of illiberalism” on campuses but warns that the “cure” of government intervention may be more dangerous than the disease.

JOIN US for our next Free LUNCH & LECTURE SERIES:
"Is Communism Compatible with Constitutionalism?"
With Prof. Elizabeth Spalding

WHEN: Tuesday, April 14, 12 PM
WHERE: University of Toledo College of Law | Room 1013
REG: https://bit.ly/IACTL-Event9
PLUG INTO THE DELIBERATE REPUBLIC: http://LeadToledo.com

ABOUT US:
At the University of Toledo, the Institute of American Constitutional Thought & Leadership (IACTL) fosters the intellectual and civic conditions essential for a flourishing republic, forming students and citizens in the principles of liberty through lectures, civil dialogue, and academic programs that equip leaders and engage the broader community in the work of self-government.

Scholarship | Leadership | Friendship
You're made for greater things.

https://leadtoledo.substack.com/p/is-trump-good-or-bad-for-higher-education

A DEBATE BETWEEN NADINE STROSSEN & STEVEN HAYWARD

03/23/2026

LISTEN NOW: THE DELIBERATE REPUBLIC PODCAST
"Free Speech, Fear, and the Future of the University" | With Nadine Strossen & Steven Hayward (Ep. 2)

What does it mean to defend free inquiry in a culture increasingly shaped by fear, conformity, and self-censorship?

In an age when disagreement is often mistaken for division, this episode features a fireside conversation with professors Nadine Strossen, former President of the ACLU, and Steven Hayward, a scholar of American political thought, moderated by Jonathan Culp, Director of the Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership (IACTL). Together, they explore the meaning of free speech, the reality of academic life today, and the path toward a healthier intellectual culture.

JOIN US for our next Free LUNCH & LECTURE SERIES:
"Is Communism Compatible with Constitutionalism?"
With Prof. Elizabeth Spalding
WHEN: Tuesday, April 14, 12 PM
WHERE: University of Toledo College of Law | Room 1013
REG: https://bit.ly/IACTL-Event9

PLUG INTO THE DELIBERATE REPUBLIC: http://LeadToledo.com

ABOUT US:
At the University of Toledo, the Institute of American Constitutional Thought & Leadership fosters the intellectual and civic conditions essential for a flourishing republic, forming students and citizens in the principles of liberty through lectures, civil dialogue, and academic programs that equip leaders and engage the broader community in the work of self-government.

https://leadtoledo.substack.com/p/free-speech-fear-and-the-future-of

THE DELIBERATE REPUBLIC PODCAST

03/18/2026

TOLEDO TEACHERS! An Extraordinary Week And Get Paid $400!

Northwest Ohio Founding Civics Institute:
Educating the Enduring Republic

APPLY NOW | LIMITED SEATS
WHEN: June 22 - 26, 2026
WHERE: Toledo, OH

This week-long institute for teachers, hosted by the University of Toledo's Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership (IACTL), will focus on key themes, thinkers, and texts of America's constitutional tradition. Topics will include, but are not limited to, natural rights, constitutional interpretation, the Founders and religion, slavery and the Constitution, and American foreign policy.

Scholar sessions will be led by the Institute's faculty and visiting scholars, including Lucas Morel (Washington & Lee University), Vincent Phillip Muñoz (The University of Notre Dame), and Joseph Postell (Hillsdale College).

THIS FOUNDING CIVICS INITIATIVE is a project of the Jack Miller Center for teaching America's Founding Principles and History.

APPLY NOW:

This week-long institute for teachers, hosted by the University of Toledo's Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership, will focus on the key themes, thinkers, and texts pertaining to America's constitutional tradition. Topics will include, but are not limited to, natural rights, co...

03/16/2026

TOLEDO FRIENDS, YOU'RE INVITED! LUNCH & LECTURE SERIES:
"Can Communism and Constitutionalism Coexist?"

WHERE: University of Toledo College of Law – Room 1013
WHEN: Tuesday, April 14 | 12–1 PM
LUNCH PROVIDED | Free parking

We welcome Prof. Elizabeth Spalding, a nationally respected scholar of American political thought from Pepperdine University. She will help us explore a fundamental tension in political philosophy, systems grounded in natural rights and limited government versus systems grounded in centralized power and collective control.
Whether you are a student, educator, professional, or simply someone who cares about our republic, there is a seat for you at the table.

REGISTER: bit.ly/IACTL-Event9

ABOUT US
At the University of Toledo, the Institute of American Constitutional Thought & Leadership (IACTL) fosters the intellectual and civic conditions essential for a flourishing republic, forming students and citizens in the principles of liberty through lectures, civil dialogue, and academic programs that equip leaders and engage the broader community in the work of self-government.

We believe you're made for greater things.
SCHOLARSHIP | LEADERSHIP | FRIENDSHIP

IACTL Lunch & Lecture Series Tuesday, April 14, 12 PM UT School of Law | Room 1013

03/12/2026

IS MEANINGFUL, RESPECTFUL CONVERSATION, and even good friendship, possible between people who disagree?

It must be.

Last night we hosted another extraordinary event, a Fireside Chat, with preminent scholars, Steven Hawyard and Nadine Strossen. Tonight, the conversation will continue on the subject: "Is Trump Good or Bad for Higher Education?"

Resist the urge to react.
Discover the nobility of response.

We invite you to help us restore the foundational relationships essential for a flourishing republic.

TOLEDO COMMUNITY!
Get special access to greater things.

Public events for the community. Special seminars for teachers. For students, $3,500/semester and other leadership/scholarship opportunities, two minors, Captivating Courses, colloquium, Oxford study program, and more!

GO: https://bit.ly/IACTL-2026Spring

CONTENT HUB (Substack): LeadToledo.com

ABOUT US
At the University of Toledo, the Institute of American Constitutional Thought & Leadership fosters the intellectual and civic conditions essential for a flourishing republic, forming students and citizens in the principles of liberty through lectures, civil dialogue, and academic programs that equip leaders and engage the broader community in the work of self-government.

SCHOLARSHIP | LEADERSHIP | FRIENDSHIP

03/09/2026

LAST CALL. YOU'RE INVITED! Two great events this week.
We've got a seat with your name on it!

As we approach our nation's 250th Anniversary, there is nothing more consequential than rediscovering our roots, which in great measure means people of diverse backgrounds engaging in truly meaningful, informed, civil discourse about issues that matter. We have just such an opportunity in our Toledo community with the Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership (IACTL) at the University of Toledo.

There's a seat with your name on it.
REGISTER NOW!

EVENT 1: THURSDAY, March 12, 7 PM
A DEBATE: “Is Trump Good for Higher Education?” | A Public Debate Between Two Opposing Scholars

Higher education plays a formative role in civic life, influencing how future citizens think, lead, and govern. What is the purpose of the modern university? How should political leaders affect academic institutions? What is at stake? Two nationally respected scholars, Steven F. Hayward and Nadine Strossen, will take opposing perspectives.

FREE PARKING
WHEN: Thursday, March 12, 2026 | 7 PM
WHERE: Doermann Theater, University Hall | University of Toledo
REGISTER FREE: https://bit.ly/IACTL-Event5

------------------------------
EVENT 2: FRIDAY, March 13, 12 PM
LUNCH & PANEL: “Is Liberty Still Relevant?" | Free Lunch & Forum with Four Scholars

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, we invite you to join us for a public conversation about the Declaration of Independence and the foundations of our Republic. Four distinguished scholars (Steven F. Hayward, Vincent Phillip Muñoz, Thomas G. West, and Michael P. Zuckert) will examine the meaning of equality and natural rights and consider what role liberty should play in civic life today.

LUNCH PROVIDED. FREE PARKING.
WHEN: Friday, March 13, 2026 | 12 PM
WHERE: McQuade Auditorium | University of Toledo College of Law
REGISTER: https://bit.ly/IACTL-Event6

ABOUT US.
At the University of Toledo, the Institute of American Constitutional Thought & Leadership fosters the intellectual and civic conditions essential for a flourishing republic, forming students and citizens in the principles of liberty through lectures, civil dialogue, and academic programs that equip leaders and engage the broader community in the work of self-government.

SCHOLARSHIP | LEADERSHIP | FRIENDSHIP
Discover more at our Substack, The Deliberate Republic: LeadToledo.com

Higher Education and the Future of Liberty