The Center for American Studies is an interdisciplinary initiative dedicated to promoting enlightened leaders, responsible citizens, and intellectually mature adults. CAS seeks to foster greater civic awareness by promoting classical liberal education in the area of American Studies, including America's philosophical roots, history, economic foundations, and place in the wider global community. The Center brings together scholars from the nation's elite institutions to emphasize intellectual engagement of, and scholarship on, the classical texts and foundational documents of the United States' constitutional republic. CAS undertakes these tasks in order to promote sensible notions of liberty and a civic responsibility to defend that liberty locally and globally. The Center's programming focuses primarily on three interrelated areas: America's Founding Principles and History, U.S. National Security Studies, and the Moral Foundations of Capitalism.

CAS 2010 Annual Conference on "Civic Education and the Future of American Citizenship"

On Wednesday, February 3rd and Thursday, February 4th, 2010, CAS will host its third annual conference on American Principles and History. The theme of the conference centers on "Civic Education and the Future of American Citizenship." Day 1 of the conference will feature the BB&T Colloquium Series on Capitalism speaker Russell Roberts of George Mason University. Day 2 will feature three panel discussions and a keynote presentation by Dr. Mark Bauerlein of Emory University. View conference details >>>

CAS holds its first annual Workshop on Intelligence and National Security

On October 28, 2009, CAS co-sponsored its first annual workshop on intelligence and national security with the Norman Forde Hampton Roads Chapter of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers. The topic of the first workshop centered on the critical issue of Cyber Security. View conference details and presentation slides from the workshop >>>

"We the People" Challenge Grant awarded to CNU

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has notified CNU of its intent to award a $500,000 "We the People" Challenge Grant in United States History, Institutions and Culture to CAS. This grant was co-authored by CAS Co-Directors Elizabeth Kaufer Busch and Nathan E. Busch with the helpful contributions, thoughtful advice, and active support of CAS’s Executive Committee. The grant, along with its matching funds, will endow the Center and ensure the long-term sustainability of its annual conference and speaker series, Postdoctoral and Junior Fellowships, Summer Teacher Recertification Workshop, and library resources.

NEH grants go through a rigorous, multi-layered peer review process. Typically no more than four or five "We the People" Challenge Grants are awarded annually, and have included Harvard University, Kenyon College, Duke University, and Notre Dame. It says a great deal about Christopher Newport University that the NEH is willing to invest in the future of its Center and in our University. This federal gift supports the outstanding teaching, extracurricular service, leadership, and scholarship for which preeminent institutions are known.