Launched in 2026, the Foundation Fellows Program brings together faculty and students in a shared community of inquiry dedicated to exploring the ideas, texts, and traditions that have shaped American democracy. Launched in conjunction with the nation’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the program invites participants to engage deeply with questions of citizenship, leadership, and the responsibilities of democratic life.

Through guided readings, discussion, and collaborative learning, fellows examine how principles such as free inquiry, civil discourse, and civic engagement take shape within a university setting and in the broader public sphere. By connecting historical foundations to contemporary challenges, the program fosters thoughtful dialogue across disciplines, perspectives, and generations.

The Fellows Program reflects Auburn University’s commitment to education in service to the public good, creating opportunities for faculty and students to learn together, contribute to campuswide conversations, and help sustain the practices and institutions that support a vibrant democracy.

The Foundation Faculty Fellows Program

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Auburn University invites applications for the Foundation Faculty Fellows Program. This program, which will run in parallel to a Foundation Student Fellows Program, will take place primarily in the Fall of 2026 and will be administered by the Honors College.

The Foundation Fellows will form a community of inquiry focused on the ideals, texts, and traditions of the United States of America. Their primary charge will be to explore how best to foster the institutions and practices of representative democracy, free inquiry, civil discourse, and civic engagement at Auburn University.

The Faculty Fellows will form a reading group with the Honors College Director, meeting twice online in the summer of 2026 and then in person ten times during the Fall semester. Each fellow will lead discussion two times, on texts of their choosing, for the one-credit course that the Foundation Student Fellows will take in the fall semester.

Up to five faculty fellows will receive stipends of $5,000 upon successful completion of their work.

Eligibility

All full-time Auburn faculty are eligible to apply. Their scholarly and teaching expertise may be in any field, so long as they have demonstrated interest in and understanding of the key texts and issues of the United States’ founding and government, along with the challenges of a democratic society committed to both civility and free speech.

To apply

Interested applicants should email a letter of interest, with c.v. attached, to Laura Stevens, Honors College Director, by Monday, February 2, at 12:00 noon. In addition to explaining the applicant’s interest in the program, and any relevant background or experience, the letter should propose one text for which the applicant would lead discussion in both the faculty and student fellow groups, explaining why and how that text would advance the goals of this program.