Jesse Covington

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Professor of Political Science, Jesse Covington received his Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame in June, 2007. His dissertation is titled “Taken on Faith: The Concept of Religion in First Amendment Jurisprudence.” He will be teaching Political Theory and Constitutional Law classes. Professor Covington earned his M.A. from the University of Notre Dame and his B.A. from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. Jesse had been a visiting instructor at Wheaton College for the Department of Politics and International Relations before accepting the teaching appointment at Westmont for fall, 2007. Jesse also has a M.A.R. in Religion from Westminster Theological Seminary which is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jesse is married and has three children.

Awards, Fellowships, & Scholarships

• Phillip Moore Dissertation Year Fellowship, 2004-2005 (University of Notre Dame)
• Graduate Student Union Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award, 2004, University of Notre Dame
• Outstanding Student Teacher Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2004. (Kaneb Center for Teaching and Learning, University of Notre Dame)
• McCullough Fellowship in Ethics & Public Morality, 2001-2004, University of Notre Dame
• Summer Scholar, Civitas Program in Faith and PUblic Affairs, 2003 (Washington, D.C.)
• Summer Research Fellow, 2002, 2004 (University of Notre Dame Dept. of Political Science).
• Los Angeles Philanthropic Society Scholarship, 1995-1997 (Pepperdine University)
• John T. McCarthy Memorial Scholarship, 1995-1997 (Pepperdine University

Writing

• “Thomas v. Review Board” and “Reindeer Rule” in Encyclopedia of the First Amendment. Edited by David Hudson, David Schultz and John Vile. CQ Press. Forthcoming
• “Thought, Word, and Deed: Religion Before the Supreme Court 1961-1981″ Accepted for presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, April 2007.
• “Natural Rights and Social Duty: The Conceptual Boundaries of Religion in Free Exercise Jurisprudence 1879-1961.” Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Southern Political Science Association, January 2007.
• “John Locke: Towards a Politics of Liberty.” (Michael Zuckert, Jesse Covington and James Thompson) in Richard Velkley, ed., Freedom and the Human Person. Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press. Forthcoming.

Professional Associations

• American Political Science Association
• Midwest Political Science Association
• Christians in Political Science