NW Missouri Times

A faculty member from Northwest Missouri State University participated in a symposium held in Washington, D.C., focusing on the American Revolution and the Constitution. Dr. Mariliz Kastberg-Leonard, an assistant professor of political science at the university, was invited to attend due to her association with the Jack Miller Center. The center collaborated with the American Enterprise Institute to bring together its scholarly network for this event.

During the symposium, Dr. Kastberg-Leonard was among 13 scholars who engaged in discussions about the Federalist Papers and their relevance today. She noted that "many scholars in the room were political theorists," along with historians and political science scholars. The group explored ways to encourage students and the public to engage with foundational documents.

In her teaching, Dr. Kastberg-Leonard emphasizes active engagement with governmental structures. Her Introduction to American Government course challenges students to draft bills on issues they choose and defend them before their peers. Additionally, she encourages innovative final projects where students use various methods like board games or essays to teach course concepts.

The symposium inspired her to incorporate originalist interpretations of the U.S. Constitution into her curriculum further and develop projects around The Federalist Papers' articles. Reflecting on this, she said: “This is the perfect time to encourage the reading and discussion of our founding documents with the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.”

Dr. Kastberg-Leonard also highlighted a broader push within Missouri for students to understand their roles as citizens and how government has evolved over time. She holds advanced degrees in political science from Purdue University and a doctorate from the University of Georgia.