Danielle Allen – James Bryant Conant University Professor, director of the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, and director of the Democratic Knowledge Project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education – will present “Do Words Matter? The Language of Liberty in the Declaration of Independence” on Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union.
The event, which is part of Iowa State University’s “America at 250” celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, is free and open to the public.
“Dr. Allen challenges us to think about the Declaration of Independence through the lens of liberty and equality and to understand its relevance today,” said Karen M. Kedrowski, director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics and co-director of the Center for Cyclone Civics.
A professor of political philosophy, ethics, and public policy, Allen is also a nonprofit leader, democracy advocate, tech ethicist, and author. She is a contributing columnist at The Atlantic Magazine and was the 2020 winner of the Library of Congress’ Kluge Prize for her scholarship in political theory and commitment to improving democratic practice and civics education.
Allen ran for governor of Massachusetts in the 2022 election, the first Black woman to run for statewide office in Massachusetts.
She is the author of several books on justice and democracy, including “Our Declaration: a Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Defense of Equality” (2014), “Cuz: An American Tragedy” (2018), and “Justice by Means of Democracy” (2023). Her edited volumes include “From Voice to Influence: Understanding Citizenship in a Digital Age” (2015) and “A Political Economy of Justice” (2022).
Allen earned a bachelor’s degree in classics from Princeton University, a Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy from King’s College at the University of Cambridge, and master’s and doctoral degrees in government from Harvard University.
“Cyclone Civics is excited to welcome Dr. Allen to Iowa State University. As America nears its 250th anniversary, her reflections on the Declaration of Independence and our progress as a nation will encourage important conversations,” said Kelly B. Shaw, co-director of the Center for Cyclone Civics and teaching professor of political science.
The lecture is sponsored by the Catt Center, Center for Cyclone Civics, and Committee on Lectures (funded by Student Government).