Civitas Session 8: Democracy v. Republic? Implications for Modern America
Civitas Sessions is an Athenaeum lunch series designed to build real-world civic skills and the knowledge needed to live thoughtful, productive lives as responsible community members and leaders. Each session will deliver practical knowledge and discuss how the subject matter applies to important current issues. With a welcoming ‘come-as-you-are’ atmosphere, the Civitas Sessions focus on the stuff you need to know before it becomes the stuff I wish I had known…
Ioannis (Yannis) Evrigenis, the Alice Tweed Tuohy Professor of Government and Ethics, teaches courses on ethics and international relations and the social contract, and is the author of books and articles on a wide range of topics in political thought, including Fear of Enemies and Collective Action, for which he received the Delba Winthrop Award for Excellence in Political Science. Before joining CMC, he taught at Tufts University, where he served as Director of the International Relations Program and co-founded Tufts' Civic Studies major, along with Erin Kelly and Peter Levine, with whom he also co-taught Introduction to Civic Studies. In addition to grants and fellowships for his research, he has received several grants for civic education and has led a number of civics seminars for K-12 teachers, early-career scholars, and community college faculty. Evrigenis is the incoming director of The Open Academy at CMC.
Vernon C. Grigg III is a seasoned trial lawyer and educator dedicated to education, inclusion, and public service. Holding degrees from Yale Law School (J.D.), the London School of Economics (G.SC.), and the University of Michigan (BA), Grigg has served as CEO & President of Up with People, where he led a global team through challenging times. His legal career includes representing diverse clients, from government officials to Fortune 100 companies, and significant pro bono work in civil rights. He has taught at Golden Gate University School of Law and has international experience, including groundbreaking roles in South Africa and Israel. Certified in intergroup dialogue, Grigg aims to advance CMC’s mission in civic engagement and civic leadership as executive director of Kravis Lab.