USC Leadership
Christopher Tollefsen
Executive Director
Christopher Tollefsen is a professor of philosophy at the University of South Carolina.
He has published over 125 articles in journals and edited collections, and a similar
number of popular essays in venues such as Public Discourse, First Things, and National Review.
He is the author of several books, including Lying and Christian Ethics and the forthcoming Killing and Christian Ethics (both with Cambridge University Press); and the co-author of The Way of Medicine: Ethics and the Healing Profession (with Dr. Farr Curlin) and Embryo: A Defense of Human Life (with Robert P. George). He is the editor of several collections, including John Paul II’s Contribution to Catholic Bioethics and Artificial Nutrition and Hydration: The New Catholic Debate.
In 2019-20, he served as a commissioner on the State Department’s Commission on Unalienable
Rights. He has twice been a visiting fellow in the James Madison Program at Princeton
University, and in 2024-25 was a visiting fellow at the DeNicola Center for Ethics
and Culture at the University of Notre Dame.
Colin Wilder
Academic Director
Colin Wilder is an Associate Professor of History at the University of South Carolina,
specializing in early modern European history, with a focus on classical liberalism,
constitutionalism, digital history, public finance, and the history of canons. He
holds a B.A. in Philosophy from Yale and a Ph.D. in History from the University of
Chicago, and previously held postdoctoral fellowships at Brown and the University
of Wisconsin-Madison. His research combines traditional historical methods with digital
tools, and he teaches courses on European history, capitalism, and constitutionalism
while contributing to USC’s REACH Act curriculum.
Learn more about Colin Wilder .
Donovan Fifield
Undergraduate Student Coordinator
Donovan Fifield is an Instructor in the Department of History at the University of
South Carolina where he teaches courses on the American Founding Documents and early
American history. His research explores the economic and social history of colonial
North America, the Atlantic world, and the American Revolution, with broader interests
in constitutional history, political economy, and global legal history. He earned
his Ph.D. in History from the University of Virginia, was a postdoctoral research
fellow at the University of Tübingen, and has held fellowships at the Massachusetts
Historical Society, the Jefferson Scholars Foundation, and the American Philosophical
Society.
Mary Nickel
Graduate Student Coordinator
Mary Nickel is an Instructor of Philosophy at the University of South Carolina whose
research integrates religious ethics, political theory, feminist thought, and metaethics.
She earned her Ph.D. in Religion, Ethics, and Politics from Princeton University,
and her current book-length project, Bearings, explores how pregnancy and motherhood inform our understanding of collective agency
and human sociality. Dr. Nickel has published in journals such as the Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics and the Journal of Religious Ethics, and previously taught at the University of Virginia.
Abby Natividad
Program Manager
Abby Natividad is a Program Manager at the University of South Carolina, first serving
at the Rule of Law Collaborative (ROLC) where she contributed to major programs, including
as the lead for asynchronous learning development for the $8 million Justice Sector
Training, Research, and Coordination (JUSTRAC) program and the lead program manager
for a $900,000 labor rights project in Malawi, and has developed extensive asynchronous
and hybrid training materials for legal and justice reform professionals worldwide.
Before joining USC, she worked as a contractor on justice and post-conflict initiatives
for the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the World Bank, the U.S. Institute of Peace,
and Justice + Security in Transitions. A former attorney with experience in civil
litigation and immigration law, she holds a J.D. from William & Mary Law School and
dual degrees from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
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Faculty
Christopher Torres
Visiting Assistant Professor
Chris Torres received his PhD in philosophy from Georgetown University in Washington,
DC. His research interests include virtue ethics, well-being, digital ethics, and
political philosophy. The general orientation of his research is to bring the Aristotelian
tradition into fruitful engagement with contemporary philosophy on various aspects
of the good life. His dissertation was on the relationship between human nature and
practical normativity. Prior to studying philosophy, Chris received a bachelor’s degree
in physics from the University of Notre Dame.
Jacob Little
Visiting Assistant Professor
Jacob Little earned his BS in Political Science from the University of Houston and
his Ph.D. in Political Science from Duke University. His research explores political
philosophy, the history of political thought, American political thought, and institutional
approaches to the problem of political ambition.
In his recent publication, “Tough Love: James Baldwin's Artistic Politics,” Little
examines how James Baldwin believed that honest self-reflection, love, and art can
inspire people to confront difficult social issues and build a more inclusive democracy.
His work highlights how Baldwin's ideas continue to offer valuable insights into conversations
about race, politics, and civic life today.
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Faculty Affiliates
Agnes Bolinska
Associate Professor of Philosophy
Agnes Bolinska joined the University of South Carolina Philosophy Department in 2020
and was named a McCausland Fellow in 2024. She previously taught at the University
of Cambridge, the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, and the University of Pittsburgh.
She serves as chair of the Joint Commission of the International Union of the History
and Philosophy of Science and Technology and as a member of the Division of Logic,
Methodology, and Philosophy of Science Council. Her research focuses on how information
from theoretical frameworks, experimental techniques, and disciplinary perspectives
is integrated.
Agnes Mueller
Professor of German and Comparative Literature
Agnes Mueller is a Professor of German and Comparative Literature at the University
of South Carolina. She is core faculty in Jewish Studies and Comparative Literature
and is affiliated with Women’s and Gender Studies. Her research focuses on contemporary
German literature, German Jewish studies, Holocaust memory, and German American relations.
Her publications include the anthology German Pop Culture: How “American” Is It? and the monograph The Inability to Love. Her forthcoming book examines migration and Holocaust memory in recent German Jewish
literature.
Jessica Brown
Assistant Professor of Economics
Jessica Brown is an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of South Carolina’s
Darla Moore School of Business. She is a labor and public economist whose research
focuses on the child care market, including its response to macroeconomic conditions
and policy changes. Her work has been published in leading journals and supported
by major research grants. Her expertise has been featured in outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and NPR.
Michael Dickson
Professor of Philosophy
Michael Dickson is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of South Carolina.
His research has focused on philosophy of physics, particularly quantum theory, and
now includes philosophy of music and philosophy of psychiatry. He has a background
in classical music performance and is interested in the conceptual foundations of
neurodiversity and psychosis. His teaching also includes medieval philosophy and game
theory.
Samuel Bagg
Assistant Professor of Political Science
Samuel Bagg is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of South
Carolina. His research examines democratic theory through the lens of social inequality
and political power. His work has appeared in leading political science and philosophy
journals, and his book The Dispersion of Power was published in 2024.
Scott Decker
Professor of Psychology
Scott Decker is a Professor of Psychology at the University of South Carolina. His
work focuses on neuropsychological assessment, brain activity, and cognitive development.
He has contributed to major psychological testing systems and has held academic and
clinical positions at multiple institutions, including the University of Illinois
at Chicago and Georgia State University.
Brent Simpson
Professor of Sociology
Brent Simpson is Professor of Sociology at the University of South Carolina. He is
a social psychologist with substantive interests in altruism and prosocial behavior;
cooperation, collective action and protest; and inequality and discrimination. His
research on these topics have appeared in the flagship journals in sociology (e.g., American Sociological Review and American Journal of Sociology) and social psychology (e.g., Journal of Personality and Social Psychology) as well as the top general science journals (e.g., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Nature Sustainability, and Nature Human Behaviour). He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Cornell University.
Learn more about Brent Simpson .
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Internal Advisory Board
Kendall Deas
Assistant Professor of Education Policy, Law, and Politics (African American Studies)
Kendall Deas is Assistant Professor of Education Policy, Law, and Politics in the
Department of African American Studies at the University of South Carolina, where
his research focuses on comparative models for enhancing civic literacy and improving
public education. Dr. Deas is a Fulbright Scholar; Editor-in-Chief of the Journal
of Educational Foundations; holds advanced degrees from Georgetown, Dartmouth, Washington
University in St. Louis, Georgia Tech, and the University of Georgia; was a one-year
visiting student at Mansfield College of Oxford University where he studied politics,
philosophy, and economics (PPE); and was an Association for Public Policy Analysis
& Management (APPAM) Fellow at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government
and the University of Texas at Austin’s Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Policy.
A recipient of the university’s 2023 MLK Jr. Social Justice Award and The South Carolina
Education Association’s 2025 Outstanding Public Service Award, he is widely recognized
for his research and advocacy in support of public education.
Learn more about Kendall Deas .
Christine Caldwell Ames
Professor of History
Christine Caldwell Ames is a historian of medieval Europe whose work focuses on Christianity,
heresy, inquisition, and interreligious relations. She is the author of Righteous Persecution and Medieval Heresies. Her scholarship has appeared in journals including the American Historical Review and History Compass. A recipient of the USC Mortar Board Excellence in Teaching Award, she teaches courses
on medieval history and the history of Christianity.
William R. Hauk Jr.
Associate Professor of Economics
William R. Hauk Jr. is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of South
Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business. His research focuses on international trade,
political economy, and economic growth. He has served in multiple leadership roles
at the Moore School and is currently Academic Director for both the One-Year MBA and
Professional MBA programs.
Kirk Randazzo
Professor of Political Science
Kirk Randazzo is a Professor of Political Science at the University of South Carolina,
specializing in judicial politics, legal decision-making, and judicial independence
in both U.S. and comparative contexts. He is the author of Defenders of Liberty or Champions of Security? (from SUNY Press) and has published widely in leading journals such as the Journal of Politics, American Politics Research, the Justice System Journal, Experimental Economics, and in various law reviews. Dr. Randazzo directs USC’s Judicial Research Initiative
(JuRI), earned his Ph.D. from Michigan State University, and previously was a faculty
member at the University of Kentucky.
Learn more about Kirk Randazzo .
Kathleen Searles
Olin D. Johnston Chair of Political Science
Kathleen Searles, Ph.D., is the Olin D. Johnston Chair of Political Science at the
University of South Carolina, specializing in news media, information communication
technology, and political psychology. She has been awarded more than $7 million in
grant funding, including from the National Science Foundation, for her research, which
examines the effects of occupational intimidation on experts and has led to the creation
of initiatives like Expert Voices Together and the Researcher Consortium. She has
published widely in top journals; is a co-convener of the Election Coverage and Democracy
Network; and is a founding member of Women Also Know Stuff, which amplifies the voice
of women political scientists in public discourse and decreases the gender imbalance
in media representation of experts.
Learn more about Kathleen Searles .
Ned Snow
Associate Dean & Ray Taylor Fair Professor of Law (Joseph F. Rice School of Law)
Ned Snow is the Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Scholarship and the Ray
Taylor Fair Professor of Law at the University of South Carolina’s Joseph F. Rice
School of Law. His scholarship focuses on constitutional issues in intellectual property
law, and he is the author of several books, including Intellectual Property and Immorality (Oxford, 2022) and Patent Law: Fundamentals of Doctrine and Policy (2024). He earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School, clerked for Judge Edith Brown
Clement on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and previously taught
at the University of Arkansas and Brigham Young University Law after practicing at
Baker Botts LLP.
Learn more about Ned Snow .
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External Advisory Board
Cornel West
Union Theological Seminary
Dr. Cornel West, also warmly regarded as Brother West, is the current holder of the
Dietrich Bonhoeffer Chair at Union Theological Seminary. In his capacity as professor,
Dr. West offers instruction on Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Philosophy of Religion, African
American Critical Thought, and a wide range of subjects encompassing philosophy, politics,
literature, cultural theory, music, and the classics. He is dedicated to engaging
diverse audiences and advancing the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with a
focus on truth-telling and the pursuit of love and justice.
Dr. West previously served as Professor of the Practice of Public Philosophy at Harvard
University and holds the title of Professor Emeritus at Princeton University. He earned
his undergraduate degree from Harvard University, graduating Magna Cum Laude in three
years, and subsequently received both his M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy from Princeton.
Cornel West was the first Black man to receive a Ph.D. in philosophy from Princeton
University in 1980!
Learn more about Dr. West’s life and career .
Robert P. George
Princeton University
Robert P. George is the McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and director of the James
Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University. He was
chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and served as a member
of the President’s Council on Bioethics, the United States Commission on Civil Rights,
and UNESCO’s World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology.
He is a former Judicial Fellow at the Supreme Court of the United States, where he
received the Justice Tom C. Clark Award.
Julia Mahoney
University of Virginia
Julia D. Mahoney is the John S. Battle Professor and Joseph C. Carter Jr. Research
Professor at the University of Virginia School of Law, where she teaches courses in
property, constitutional law, government finance and nonprofit organizations. Her
research interests include eminent domain, the delegation of government power to private
entities and freedom of thought in higher education.
Mahoney is an elected member of the American Law Institute and serves as an adviser
to the Restatement of Property. She is also a founding member of the Academic Freedom
Alliance.
Paul Carrese
Arizona State University
Paul Carrese is a professor in the School of Civic & Economic Thought and Leadership
at Arizona State University, where he was the founding director from 2016 to 2023.
For two decades taught at the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he co-founding its honors
program blending liberal arts and leadership education. He teaches and publishes on
the American founding, American constitutional and political thought, civic education,
and American grand strategy. His forthcoming book is Teaching America: Reflective Patriotism in Schools, College, and Culture (Cambridge, 2026).
Mary Keys
University of Notre Dame
Mary M. Keys is a professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame.
Her research and teaching interests span a broad spectrum of political theory, with
a special focus in Christianity, ethics, and political thought. She is the author
of Pride, Politics, and Humility in Augustine's City of God (Cambridge) and Aquinas, Aristotle, and the Promise of the Common Good (Cambridge). She has held various fellowships, including a National Endowment for
the Humanities fellowship supporting her ongoing research project on humility, modernity
and the science of politics.
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