A renewed focus on citizenship

Wright State University’s Center for Civics, Culture and Workforce Development was designed to span big ideas — from civic responsibility to career preparation — but its mission is grounded in something practical: preparing students to engage thoughtfully in their communities and succeed in the workforce.

Launched in January 2025, the center reflects a broader statewide initiative while carving out a distinct role at Wright State. Led by Jason Anderson, Ph.D., executive director and vice president for military relationships and veteran success, the center brings together academic programming, community engagement and industry partnerships.

“This is about preparing students to be both workforce ready and civically minded,” said Anderson, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel. “We’re helping develop future leaders who can connect with local industry and partners like Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.”

Building civic literacy

The center’s creation stems from action by Ohio lawmakers, who established similar centers at five universities across the state. Wright State stands out in two ways: it volunteered to host a center, and it is the only institution to include a workforce development component alongside its civics focus.

That added dimension shapes the center’s mission to “cultivate civic responsibility, cultural understanding and workforce readiness,” with an emphasis on the region’s defense community.

One part of the center’s vision is to advance intellectual diversity, encourage open questions and the free exchange of ideas so students, faculty, staff — and society in general — can grow and develop in their civic responsibility.

“We’re promoting civic education, rights and responsibilities of citizenship here and in the community, and providing and promoting intellectual diversity — on campus,” said Deputy Director Michael Jacobs, Ph.D.

A key piece of that effort is a new American civic literacy course that will become a graduation requirement in 2029. The course will introduce students to foundational texts such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Federalist Papers and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” along with influential speeches by Abraham Lincoln.

The center is already extending its reach into the community. A summer seminar series trained K–12 teachers to bring enhanced civics instruction into their classrooms.

Next steps include launching new courses, an honors program in 2027 and a minor tied to the center’s mission.

Creating space for dialogue

While civic knowledge is one priority, fostering meaningful conversation is another. The center focuses on bringing people together across perspectives, encouraging discussion, debate and mutual understanding.

“Bring people of all traits together to start having conversations that we generally don’t do,” Anderson said. “To talk openly, debate, bridging left and right to get together to recognize the commonality that we share.”

Building on workshops the center hosted last spring, it will expand programming that invites community members to discuss complex issues.

The goal, Jacobs said, is “to create a campus culture where people can come and converse, to have public discussions meant to bring people together.”

Connecting learning to careers

The center’s workforce development mission ties its academic and cultural work directly to career pathways — particularly in the region’s defense sector.

In 2027, the center plans to launch a bachelor’s degree program aimed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base personnel seeking to complete their undergraduate education and advance professionally.

Beyond the base, the center is building relationships with local defense contractors and industry partners, creating opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience. Anderson said students who gain work experience in these defense fields have a competitive advantage, positioning them for success.

Jacobs sees workforce development as a natural extension of the center’s broader mission.

“You have to work together to solve problems. Having those sorts of skills apply broadly,” he said. “Someone who is going to be a good citizen is probably going to be a good employee, too.”

Aviation and a legacy of innovation

Capitalizing on the strong workforce development ties and Air Force connections, Wright State’s Aviation Science and Technology program has come under the center’s workforce development wing.

The program’s leadership brings deep military experience, including Deputy Director Adam Reiman, Ph.D., a retired Air Force colonel, and Aviation Program Director Diane Vitas, a former Air Force pilot.

“Having people who understand aviation is extremely beneficial,” Anderson said. “We believe the center can expand enrollment, strengthen safety and build a lasting legacy worthy of the Wright brothers’ namesake.”

The inclusion of the aviation program within the center is a nod to Wright State’s founders, the university’s close partnership with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the strength of the center’s leadership.

Like the tasks faced by our 250-year-old democracy, the center is tackling a wide breadth of challenges. And they are doing it guided by the principles that founded our nation with the passion and determination that founded this university.

Learn more

Explore more at wright.edu/civicscenter.