The Jack Miller Center has awarded the junior scholar Teaching Excellence Award to Rudy Hernandez, assistant teaching professor of political science at Mizzou’s Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy.  

The annual award celebrates educators who are dedicated to teaching America’s founding principles and history, by recognizing the extraordinary work of scholars in higher education and teachers in K-12 education.  

“In an age in which so many colleagues talk about doing things, Rudy is that refreshing colleague who just knuckles down and does things!” said Hernandez's nominator and colleague.  

In the classroom, Hernandez's work pairs primary and secondary sources to connect current questions of American democracy with the American political tradition. Outside the classroom, Hernandez is the director of the Constitutional Democracy Academy, an annual summer seminar that brings high school students to campus for in-depth study of history and political philosophy. 

“I am honored and humbled to receive this award,” said Hernandez. "It would not have been possible without the support I have received from the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy and the Truman School of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Missouri.”