UF Hamilton School Adds 21 Faculty in Major Expansion

A Florida university is betting big on classical education, and the investment is already paying off in ways that could reshape how young Americans learn about leadership and civic life.

The University of Florida's Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education welcomed 21 new faculty members for the 2026-27 academic year. The additions bring the school's total faculty count to 61, tripling its size since opening just a few years ago.

The new professors bring expertise spanning philosophy, political economy, history, international relations, and constitutional studies. They'll teach across five undergraduate majors including philosophy, politics, economics and law; great books and ideas; and war, statecraft and strategy.

This fall marks another milestone: the Hamilton School welcomes its first graduate students. The new Master of Arts and doctoral programs in history of ideas and war, statecraft and strategy give advanced students a chance to dive deeper into classical thought and leadership studies.

Among the new arrivals is Tom Angier from Cambridge, whose latest book explores neo-Aristotelian ethics for modern society. Yvonne Chiu joins from the U.S. Naval War College, where her work on military ethics earned her a Navy Civilian Service Commendation Medal. Carolina Armenteros brings research on Enlightenment thought from institutions including the Sorbonne and Cambridge.

The Ripple Effect

The rapid growth signals something bigger than just academic expansion. As civic education faces challenges nationwide, the Hamilton School's model offers students a foundation in classical wisdom, constitutional principles, and ethical leadership.

The school prepares students not just for careers but for citizenship. Its focus on timeless ideas about justice, governance, and human nature gives young people tools to navigate complex modern challenges with wisdom drawn from centuries of thought.

Justice Charles T. Canady, the school's director, emphasized that these scholars share a commitment to excellence that serves the school's core mission: educating the next generation of American leaders.

With graduate programs now launched and undergraduate majors fully staffed, the Hamilton School shows what's possible when institutions invest in ideas that have stood the test of time.