Miami University announced the addition of five tenure-track faculty members and three visiting professors to the Center for Civics, Culture, and Society who will begin teaching in the fall semester. The appointments further expand the center’s interdisciplinary approach to civics education, political philosophy, and the study of American institutions and culture. Starting this fall, students also have the opportunity to add a minor in Civic Thought.

Established by the Ohio General Assembly, the Center for Civics, Culture, and Society was created to teach and conduct research on the historical ideas, traditions, and texts that have shaped the American constitutional order and society. The center advances Miami University’s commitment to preparing students for thoughtful citizenship and engaged public leadership.

“These faculty members bring exceptional scholarly backgrounds and a deep commitment to teaching,” said Flagg Taylor, executive director of the center. “Their work reflects the center’s mission to help students engage seriously with enduring questions about political life, culture, citizenship, and self-government.”

New Faculty Appointments

Gregory A. McBrayer — Associate Director and Professor

McBrayer joins Miami from Ashland University, where he served as associate professor of political science and most recently as interim provost. He previously held leadership roles with the Ashbrook Center and has taught at Morehead State University, Emory University, and Gettysburg College.

A scholar of political philosophy, McBrayer studies ancient, medieval, modern, and American political thought. His teaching philosophy centers on close reading of great texts and collaborative inquiry, encouraging students to think independently while engaging deeply with enduring human questions. He is co-author and editor of several works on classical political philosophy and has also contributed to public dialogue through podcasts including The American Idea and The New Thinkery.

Kenlea Barnes — Assistant Professor

Barnes is remaining with the center in her elevated role as assistant professor. She earned degrees from Texas State University, University of North Texas, and Louisiana State University. She teaches courses using discussion-driven instruction that encourages students to engage deeply with foundational texts and to take their own ideas seriously. Her research focuses on Thomas Jefferson’s vision for American public education and its relationship to liberty and civic life, and her scholarship has appeared in a range of academic publications focused on political thought, civic education, and public discourse.

Thomas W. Holman — Assistant Professor

Holman previously served as a postdoctoral research fellow in the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University. His research focuses on 20th century political philosophy and responses to totalitarianism, particularly the work of Hannah Arendt and Eric Voegelin.

His discussion-driven teaching style emphasizes close reading of primary texts and sustained dialogue about the fundamental problems of political life. Holman earned his Ph.D. in political science from The Catholic University of America and has published work in several leading political philosophy journals. He also served as a pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Joseph Keegin — Assistant Professor

Keegin earned his Ph.D. in philosophy from Tulane University and has written extensively on politics, philosophy, and democratic self-education. His writings have appeared in publications including The Chronicle of Higher Education, First Things, Aeon, and The New Atlantis.

In the classroom, Keegin emphasizes questioning, careful reading, and intellectual independence. His courses encourage students to engage rigorously with philosophical texts while developing habits of thoughtful inquiry and reflection.

Hannah J.D. Wells — Assistant Professor

Wells received her Ph.D. in English from Baylor University, where she studied 19th century American literature. Her research explores the relationship between political philosophy, science, and literature in the works of authors such as Herman Melville, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Mark Twain.

Drawing on her literary background, Wells’ teaching focuses on close reading, interpretation, and discussion. She works with students to examine the texts that shape civic life and culture while strengthening critical reading and communication skills.

Matthew Wells — Assistant Professor

Wells specializes in the history of political philosophy and American political thought. Prior to joining Miami, he served as a visiting scholar at Clemson University and as a postdoctoral fellow at Emory University.
He is the author and translator of Aristotle’s Allegations: A New Translation of the Categories with an Introduction and Interpretive Essay, due to be published this year. Wells earned his Ph.D. in political science from Baylor University. He teaches with a Socratic approach. His goal is for students to understand not only how the government works but why it matters to their everyday lives. He also brings a strong foundation in classical political philosophy and civic thought to his teaching.

Visiting Assistant Professors

Elizabeth Amato — Visiting Assistant Professor

Amato joins Miami from Gardner Webb University where she taught courses on political science. She challenges students to think creatively and engage deeply with big questions about leadership, happiness, citizenship, and the American political tradition. Her first book, “The Pursuit of Happiness and the American Regime,” is a study of novelists including Tom Wolfe and Edith Wharton. She earned her masters and Ph.D. in political science at Baylor University.

Casey Spinks — Visiting Assistant Professor

Spinks teaches American Civic Thought. He encourages students to engage deeply with the great works of American letters and explore questions about citizenship, meaning, and the good life.
Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he earned degrees from Louisiana State University and Baylor University, where he earned his Ph.D. in religion. Spinks most recently held a postdoctoral fellowship at The University of Texas at Austin. His research explores theology, philosophy, and politics, and his first book, Kierkegaard’s Ontology, was published this spring.

James Guest — Visiting Assistant Professor

Guest's teaching focuses on classical and modern political philosophy as well as foundational texts in American political thought. He aims to help students wrestle with fundamental problems of justice, the good life, and political order by engaging directly with primary texts. He studied at the University of Dallas, where he earned his master's and Ph.D in political science. His core research interests include the problem of justice in classical and modern political philosophy, the foundation of Aristotle's natural science, and the principles of American political thought.

Research Associates

Grady Stuckman — Research Associate

Grady Stuckman holds a Ph.D. in Applied Philosophy from Bowling Green State University, as well as an M.A. in Philosophy (bioethics concentration) and a B.A. in Theology and Philosophy from Franciscan University of Steubenville.

In the classroom, he employs a Socratic, discussion-centered approach that encourages students to wrestle with classical political philosophy, constitutional thought, and the foundational ideas of the American political tradition. His goal is to help students understand how these major concepts shape civic life today.

Jeong-Hwan Bae — Research Associate

Jeong-Hwan Bae earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame. His research focuses on classical political philosophy, particularly Aristotle, as well as political ambition, statesmanship, and civic education.

Before joining Miami, Bae served as an instructor and commissioned officer at the Republic of Korea Air Force Academy, where he taught political thought, military history, and strategy. His teaching emphasizes close engagement with foundational texts and thoughtful discussion of how political ideas shape citizenship, leadership, and public life.

The new faculty members will begin teaching courses through the center in the fall semester which begins on Aug. 24, 2026.

To encourage students to engage in focused and vibrant discussion and to avoid digital distractions, the Civics Center strives to maintain a tech-free environment in the classrooms. All courses will be grounded in the close reading and discussion of primary texts and the fundamental questions of civic life as explored by authors like Aristotle, Benjamin Franklin, and Frederick Douglass.

For more information about the Center for Civics, Culture, and Society and upcoming events, visit Miami University’s website or follow on Instagram @miamiohcivicscenter.