Dr. Elizabeth Kaufer Busch

Co-director
Laura and Pete Walker Professor of American Studies
Director of American Studies

Elizabeth Kaufer Busch is the Laura and Pete Walker Professor in American Studies, Co-Director of the Center for American Studies, and Director of American Studies at Christopher Newport University. She earned a Ph.D. in political science from Michigan State University, with specializations in American Politics and Political theory. . She serves on the board of directors of the Jack Miller Center for Founding American Principles and History and the Washington, Jefferson, and Madison Institute.

Her research focuses on civic education, administrative lawmaking, and the role that our evolving conceptions of sex, gender, and equality have on public policy. She has published articles, book chapters, and scholarly studies on these subjects. She is co-author or co-editor of Democracy Revisited: Essays on the American Regime (2009), Civic Education and the Future of American Citizenship (2012), and Title IX: The Transformation of Sex Discrimination in Education (2018). She (with William Thro) is currently working on a number of writing projects focusing on reclaiming what they term the "American Proposition" in an "Anti-Constitutional Culture."

Busch was the recipient of the Alumni Society Award for Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring.

Email: elizabeth.busch@cnu.edu

Dr. Nathan E. Busch

Co-director
James and Cynthia Crawford, Professor of US National Security
Distinguished Professor of Political Science

Dr. Nathan E. Busch earned a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto with specializations in international relations and political philosophy. Prior to coming to CNU, he held positions at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, Harvard University, and the University of Georgia.

In addition to numerous scholarly articles and reports, his recent books include The Routledge Handbook of Nuclear Proliferation and Policy (2015), The Politics of Weapon Inspections: Assessing WMD Monitoring and Verification Regimes (2017), and Homeland Security: An Introduction (2021).

Busch was the recipient of the 2017 Faculty Excellence Award for Scholarship and the 2017 Alumni Society Award for Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring.

Email: nbusch@cnu.edu

Dr. Frank W. Garmon Jr.

Faculty Fellow

Assistant Professor of American Studies

Garmon specializes in American political economy. After studying history and economics at Christopher Newport University, he completed his MA and PhD in history at the University of Virginia. He has published articles in the Economic History Review, the Journal of the Early Republic, Historical Methods: A Journal of Quantitative and Interdisciplinary History, and Social Science Journal.

His first book, A Wonderful Career in Crime: Charles Cowlam’s Masquerades in the Civil War Era and Gilded Age, was published by Louisiana State University Press in July 2024. The book traces the career of Charles Cowlam, a Gilded Age swindler who received presidential pardons from Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis during the Civil War. His intrigues reveal how Americans built trust amidst the transience and anonymity of the nineteenth century and exposes the vulnerabilities of a political system built on personal connections.

Garmon received the Provost’s Award for Faculty Excellence in Teaching Student Writing in 2023. He regularly offers a course on American Entrepreneurship, and a senior seminar on Alexander Hamilton structured around the award-winning musical.

Email: frank.garmon@cnu.edu

Dr. Jeffry Morrison

Faculty Fellow

Professor of American Studies
Director of Academics, James Madison Foundation

Dr. Jeffry Morrison is a professor of American Studies and Honors at Christopher Newport University and Director of Academics at the federal government’s James Madison Foundation in Alexandria, Virginia. He graduated with distinction from Boston College and from Georgetown University, where he earned an M.A. and Ph.D. in Government. Dr. Morrison has also held faculty positions at Princeton University, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and Georgetown University. He has published as author or co-editor six books on American political thought and culture, as well as chapters, articles, and reviews in scholarly publications in the fields of history, political science, and religion. He has lectured at colleges and historic sites throughout the United States and in England (Hertford College, Oxford) and made media appearances on radio, in print, on video, and on television (C-SPAN, BBC).

Email: jeffry.morrison@cnu.edu

Dr. Jonathan W. White

Faculty Fellow

Professor of American Studies

Dr. Jonathan W. White Faculty Fellow Professor of American Studies Jonathan W. White is a professor of American Studies at Christopher Newport University. He is the author or editor of 19 books that cover a variety of topics related to Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. Among his awards are the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia’s Outstanding Faculty Award (2019), CNU’s Alumni Society Award for Teaching and Mentoring (2016), the Abraham Lincoln Institute Book Prize (2015), the University of Maryland Alumni Excellence Award in Research (2024), and the Jack Miller Center’s Teaching Excellence Award (2024). His recent books include A House Built By Slaves: African American Visitors to the Lincoln White House (2022), which was co-winner of the Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize (with Jon Meacham); Shipwrecked: A True Civil War Story of Mutinies, Jailbreaks, Blockade-Running, and the Slave Trade (2023); A Great and Good Man: Rare First-hand Accounts and Observations of Abraham Lincoln (2024); and an exciting new children’s book, My Day with Abe Lincoln (2024).

Email: jonathan.white@cnu.edu

Rear Admiral Bill McCarthy

Faculty Fellow

Adjunct Professor of Leadership and American Studies

McCarthy is a retired Rear Admiral with over 37 years of military and civilian service. His Navy service included combat operations in Operation Desert Storm. His four operational commands included the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington and Carrier Strike Group EIGHT. A U.S. Naval Test Pilot School graduate, he served on the Joint Staff and in a variety of test and acquisition assignments, culminating in command of the Navy’s Operational Test and Evaluation Force. Following active service, McCarthy served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Deputy Assistant Secretary level as Deputy Director (OT&E), Net-centric and Space Systems/Missile Defense. His awards include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and the Office of the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Medal.

McCarthy has served as an adjunct professor of public administration and procurement at Old Dominion University. In addition to serving as an adjunct faculty member in American Studies at CNU, he is also a member of the adjunct faculty at Regent University’s Robertson School of Government, where he teaches courses on the Presidency, Congress, and American Politics.

McCarthy earned a BA in Biology (cum laude) from the College of the Holy Cross. He holds master's degrees in national security studies and public administration from the Air War College and Auburn University Montgomery, respectively. He has completed additional graduate studies at the Robertson School of Government and the Kennedy School of Government. Publications include a variety of technical papers as well as book chapters, including “Eisenhower, the New Look, and Old-fashioned Morality” in Just War in Presidential Rhetoric: U.S. Presidents Making Moral Arguments on War, Peace, and Security, forthcoming 2023, and “Directed Energy and Fleet Defense” The Technological Arsenal - Smithsonian, 2001 He is a member of Pi Sigma Alpha and Pi Alpha Alpha honor societies. His current research entails a comparative study of the National Security Council decision-making models of the Eisenhower and G.W. Bush administrations.

Email: william.mccarthy@cnu.edu

Emily McKenna

Lead Junior Fellow

Hometown: Somerset, Massachusetts

Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Kaufer Busch

Email: emily.mckenna.22@cnu.edu

Emily McKenna is a senior at Christopher Newport University, expected to graduate in 2026.
McKenna is double-majoring in political science and American studies with a concentration in
constitutional studies and minoring in leadership studies. Post-graduation, she plans to pursue her
PhD in political science. Throughout her time with the center, McKenna has conducted research,
assisted in planning events, and served as a tutor. In summer 2025, she served as a summer
scholar under the mentorship of Dr. Kaufer Busch. She now serves as the Center for American
Studies Lead Junior Fellow. Outside the center, McKenna is a Presidential Scholar, the President
of the Student Government Association, a team leader with the Youth Volunteer Corps of
Hampton Roads, and a senior resident assistant. She is a member of the Pi Sigma Alpha Political
Science Honors Society.

Fun Fact: McKenna has thrown tea in the Boston Harbor.

Lucy Vick

Junior Fellow

Hometown: Quinton, Virginia

Mentor: Dr. Frank W. Garmon Jr.

Email: lucy.vick.22@cnu.edu

Lucy Vick is a senior at Christopher Newport University, expected to graduate in the Fall 2025.
She is majoring in American studies and minoring in theater. Under the mentorship of Dr.
Garmon and Dr. White, Vick has worked on a Transcript of Civil War court-martials and
audiobook recordings. After graduation, Vick plans to attend law school. Outside the Center,
Vick is active in residence life, as well as Theatre CNU.

Fun Fact: Vick has a twin sister.

Raechel Erler

Junior Fellow

Hometown: Reston, VA

Mentor: Dr. Jonathan W. White

Email: raechel.erler.22@cnu.edu

Raechel Erler is a senior at Christopher Newport University, expected to graduate in 2026. She is
majoring in American studies with a concentration in constitutional studies and dual minors in
philosophy of law and criminology. She has helped with Pizza, Politics, and Perspectives events
and assisted Dr. Jonathan White with researching Lincoln and children. Erler interned last
summer with Doorways in their prevention and outreach program. Her work there was featured
in a national educational presentation to develop a family life education curriculum that includes
the LGBTQIA+ community. Erler wants to attend law school to become a criminal prosecutor
and is considering pursuing a judge track to oversee behavioral health dockets. Raechel Erler
plays trumpet with the Marching Captains. She is also on the pre-law track and an active member
of Hillel.

Fun Fact: Erler likes to watch crime shows (fiction and nonfiction) in her spare time. 

Alanna Griffin

Junior Fellow

Hometown: Yorktown, VA

Mentor: Dr. Jonathan W. White & Dr. Frank W. Garmon Jr.

Email: alanna.griffin.23@cnu.edu

Alanna Griffin is a third-year student at Christopher Newport University, expected to graduate in
2026. She is majoring in American studies and minoring in political science and philosophy of
law. Griffin has been named to the Christopher Newport University Dean’s List every semester.
Post-graduation, Griffin plans to attend law school in Virginia. Since joining the center, Griffin
has assisted with numerous events, including the 2024 National Defense Transportation
Association Conference. She has also conducted research with Dr. White and Dr. Garmon.
Outside of the Center, Griffin serves as the President of CNU’s Turning Point USA, an academic
affairs delegate for the Student Government Association, and Pre-Law Scholar.

Fun Fact: Griffin has five dogs.

Benjamin Jones

Junior Fellow

Hometown: Fredericksburg, Virginia

Mentor: Dr. Jonathan W. White & Rear Admiral William McCarthy

Email: benjamin.jones.22@cnu.edu

Benjamin Jones is a senior at Christopher Newport University, expected to graduate in 2026. He
is double-majoring in political science and international affairs and double-minoring in leadership
studies and U.S. national security studies. Post graduation, Jones plans on working in U.S.
intelligence. Outside of his work with the center, Jones is a member of the President’s Leadership
Program and has attended the International Leadership Association Conference in Vancouver.

Fun Fact: Jones is a pianist of eleven years.

Paiton Jones

Junior Fellow

Hometown: Roanoke, Virginia

Mentor: Dr. Nathan Busch

Email: paiton.jones.22@cnu.edu

Paiton Jones is a Senior at Christopher Newport University, expected to graduate in 2026. She is
double-majoring in political science and American studies with a concentration in constitutional
studies and double-minoring in leadership studies and U.S. national security studies. Jones has
worked on past conferences, completed research alongside professors, and has attended
academic conferences in partnership with the center. After graduation, Jones plans to attend
graduate school to pursue a career in national security. Outside of the center, Jones is President of
Special Olympics Gymnastics and Director of Philanthropy for Alpha Delta Pi Theta Nu.

Fun Fact: Jones’s favorite primary sources to read are the Anti-Federalist Papers.

Maeve Korengold

Junior Fellow

Hometown: Alexandria, Virginia

Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Kaufer Busch

Email: maeve.korengold.22@cnu.edu

Maeve Korengold is a senior at Christopher Newport University, expected to graduate in 2026.
She is double-majoring in American studies and leadership studies, with minors in French and
political science. In the future, she is interested in a career as a paralegal, planning to earn her
Master's in Paralegal Studies after graduation. Under the mentorship of Dr. Kaufer Busch,
Maeve is researching Title IX and free speech. Maeve is actively involved on campus as the
President of the Student Diversity and Equality Council, secretary of Hillel, CNU's Jewish
student union, and in other research projects through the Office for Research and Creative
Activity

Fun Fact: Maeve has a guinea pig named Amy.

Eden McMillan

Junior Fellow

Hometown: Springfield, Virginia

Mentor: Dr. Jonathan W. White

Email: eden.mcmillan.22@cnu.edu

Eden McMillan is a senior at Christopher Newport University, expected to graduate in 2026. She
is double-majoring in political science and American studies with a concentration in
constitutional studies and double-minoring in philosophy of law and U.S. national security
studies. Post-graduation, McMillan plans to attend law school. In preparation for her future,
McMillan has served as a Bracewell Legal Intern and a University of Virginia Law Roadmap
Scholar. Alongside her mentor, Dr. Jonathan White, McMillan has published a piece on Woman
Suffrage in Lincoln Lore, transcribed historic letters, and attended conferences. Outside the
center, McMillan is a Pre-Law Scholar, a sister of Gamma Phi Beta, and the Executive Vice
President of the Student Government Association.

Fun Fact: McMillan has a pet frog.

Anna Strode

Junior Fellow

Hometown: Mechanicsville, Virginia

Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Kaufer Busch

Email: anna.strode.22@cnu.edu

Anna Strode is a senior at Christopher Newport University expected to graduate in 2026. She is
double majoring in political science and American studies with a concentration in constitutional
studies and double minoring in Spanish and U.S. national security studies. Post-graduation,
Strode plans to attend law school. Strode is an active member of Order of Omega and a sister of
Alpha Delta Pi.

Fun Fact: Strode loves to travel and has been to 10 countries.

Kayla Clawson

Junior Fellow

Hometown: Newport News, VA

Mentors: Dr. Elizabeth Kaufer Busch & Dr. Hannah Norman-Krause

Email: kayla.clawson.23@cnu.edu

Kayla Clawson is a junior at Christopher Newport University expected to graduate in Fall 2026.
Clawson is double majoring in political science and American studies with a concentration in
constitutional studies. Post-graduation, Clawson plans to attend law school to practice family and
juvenile law. Since graduating from high school early, Clawson has become active on campus
through CNU Women's Club Lacrosse and the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity.

Fun Fact: Clawson's great-grandfather was one of the White House Directors of Communication during Richard Nixon's presidency.

Hannah Dickson

Junior Fellow

Hometown: Haymarket, Virginia

Mentors: Dr. Elizabeth Kaufer Busch

Email: hannah.dickson.23@cnu.edu

Hannah Dickson is a junior at Christopher Newport University expected to graduate in 2027. She
is on the pre-law track, double majoring in political science and American studies with a
concentration in constitutional studies and double minoring in philosophy of law.
Post-graduation, Dickson plans to attend law school. At CNU, Dickson has served as a Summer
2024 Orientation Leader and a Fall 2024 Student Engagement Navigator through the Office of
Orientation and Student Involvement. Dickson currently serves as the Academic Affairs Chair of
the Student Government Association and the Vice President of Choreography of Hypnotic
Control.

Fun Fact: Dickson has collected over 50 CDs.

Francisca Pitterle

Junior Fellow

Hometown: Alexandria, VA

Mentor: Rear Admiral William McCarthy

Francisca Pitterle is a junior at Christopher Newport University expected to graduate in 2027.
Pitterle is double majoring in leadership studies and American studies with a concentration in
constitutional studies and double minoring in Chinese studies and philosophy of law.
Post-graduation, Pitterle plans to attend law school to become a constitutional lawyer. She is
actively involved in the CNU Ballroom Dance Club and Food Fighters. Pitterle has also earned
her Eagle Scout rank in Boy Scouts and her Girl Scout Gold Award.

Fun Fact: Pitterle did debate in high school. 

Taylor Davis

Junior Fellow

Hometown: Salem, Virginia

Email: taylor.davis.24@cnu.edu

Taylor Davis is a sophomore at Christopher Newport University, expected to graduate in Spring
2028. On the pre-law track, she is double majoring in Spanish and American Studies with a
concentration in constitutional studies and double minoring in philosophy of law and leadership
studies. Post-graduation, she plans to attend law school and become a judge. A top 10% high
school graduate and decorated varsity golfer, Davis earned Second Team All-District and
All-Region Honorable Mention honors, competing in both team and individual state
championships. Since joining the center, she has assisted Dr. Jonathan White with research on
Frederick Douglass’ speeches. Outside the center, Davis is involved in Varsity Women’s Golf,
Student Government, and the Student Athletic Advisory Committee. This summer she will serve
as a CNU President’s Leadership Program Leadership Adventure facilitator.

Fun Fact: Davis loves her collection of vinyl records (including lots of Taylor Swift) that she often plays while she studies or hangs out in her room.