Christopher Goffos

Ph.D. Candidate

Cortland, Ohio

Education

B.A. Ashland University, Political Science and History, 2014

M.A. Hillsdale College, Politics, 2019

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“Just as my teachers have imparted to me an awareness of my own freedom and a desire to be a better human being and citizen, I hope to someday teach my own students the same.”

~ Christopher Goffos

Teaching Experience

POL 303 The American Presidency, Hillsdale College, Spring 2022

About

I came to love the “first principles” approach to understanding American politics and political philosophy during my undergraduate studies. After college, I spent three years putting what I had learned into practice as a young professional, but I always hoped I’d be able to return to serious full-time study of the great conversations that had captivated me. The Hillsdale College Graduate School has given me that opportunity in ways beyond what I could have hoped for.

The best way I can contribute to America is through education. I hope to eventually teach at the collegiate level and contribute to academic and political debates on understanding and improving the American order. Studying politics with the Hillsdale graduate faculty and students gives me a rare opportunity to learn from some of the most talented and serious teachers and peers. Just as my teachers have imparted to me an awareness of my own freedom and a desire to be a better human being and citizen, I hope to someday teach my own students the same.

Dissertation

The Good Constitution: A Moral Account of U.S. Constitutionalism in Clarence Thomas’s Political Thought (in progress)

Research Interests

American Political Thought

Political Theory

Constitutional Law

Catholic Social Thought

Conference Presentations

"'Without a Shred of Support': Abortion in Clarence Thomas’s Jurisprudence," Society of Catholic Social Scientists National Conference. Stuebenville, OH. October, 2021.

“Clarence Thomas’s Higher Law Jurisprudence: Revisiting the Confirmation Hearings 30 Years Later,” Midwest Political Science Association (virtual). April, 2021.

“Synchronous Learning in Plato’s Phaedrus,” Association for Core Texts and Courses Annual Conference (virtual). April, 2021.

"Clarence Thomas’s Higher Law Alternative to Common-Good Constitutionalism." Society of Catholic Social Scientists. Steubenville, OH. October, 2020.

"The New Legitimacy: Reasons for Partisanship in Judicial Confirmation Hearings." Midwest Political Science Association. Chicago, IL. April, 2020 (canceled due to COVID).

“Alfarabi’s Teaching on the Study of Politics.” Association of Core Texts and Courses. Framingham, MA. April, 2018.

“Liberty in the Church from Leo XIII to Francis: Comparing Two Papal Views.” Society of Catholic Social Scientists. Steubenville, OH. October, 2017.

Languages

Latin

German