Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) announces the creation of the Abraham Lincoln Center for Leadership and Public Policy, a new academic initiative dedicated to advancing research in leadership theory, ethical practices and public policymaking, all inspired by Abraham Lincoln's enduring legacy.
The center will provide an intellectual environment for scholars, students and the public to explore Lincoln’s impact on leadership and civic engagement. It will host public programs, support LMU Lincoln Scholars, process grants and research fellowships, and foster collaboration with Lincoln-affiliated sites nationwide.
Dr. William E. Hardy, an assistant professor at LMU’s Paul V. Hamilton School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, will serve as LMU’s Lincoln Scholar and the center’s executive director. Hardy holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in History from the University of Louisville and a Doctor of Philosophy in 19th-century American history from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. His expertise includes political, constitutional and cultural history, as well as Tennessee history. He will lead the center’s research initiatives and scholarly publications.
“The Lincoln Center for Leadership and Public Policy embodies the very heart of LMU’s mission,” said Hardy. “Much of LMU itself, founded out of love and respect for Lincoln, the center will uphold and promote his principles through research, education, and public service.”
A key component of the center is its website, which will serve as a digital hub offering a variety of resources for scholars, educators, students and the public. The site will feature research publications, educational materials and information on public programs. It will also highlight the work of the Lincoln Scholar, who will present at events nationwide focused on Lincoln’s legacy.
The center will be guided by an advisory board of distinguished scholars and experts, including Dr. Brian Dirck, professor of history at Anderson University, and a noted Lincoln historian Dr. Stephanie Holyfield, assistant professor of history and history program chair at LMU; Dr. Charles Hubbard, emeritus professor of history at LMU; Michael Lynch, director of the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum (ALLM) and instructor of history at LMU; Natalie Sweet, executive director of the Office of Research, Grants and Sponsored Programs (ORGSP) at LMU; and Dr. Michael Toomey, emeritus professor of history at LMU. Dr, Martin Sellers, dean of the Paul V. Hamilton School of Arts, History and Social Sciences and professor of government at LMU, will serve as an ex officio member.
It will also collaborate closely with ALLM and seek partnerships with Lincoln-related organizations nationwide. A major initiative will be the Lincoln Center Research Fellowship, which will provide funding for graduate students, recent PhD graduates, senior academics and public historians researching Lincoln, leadership theory and public policy.
As part of its launch, the center will co-host the Kinkaid Lecture with ALLM on April 4 at LMU’s Duncan School of Law (LMU Law) in Knoxville. Dr. Allen C. Guelzo, a renowed Lincoln historian, will serve as the featured speaker.
For more information: https://www.lmunet.edu/the-abraham-lincoln-center-for-leadership-and-policy/
Lincoln Memorial University is a values-based learning community dedicated to providing educational experiences in the liberal arts and professional studies. The main campus is in Harrogate, Tennessee. For more information about the undergraduate and graduate programs available at LMU, contact the Office of Admissions at 423-869-6280 or email at admissions@lmunet.edu.
