About the Kinder Institute

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Where Democracy Comes First

Founded in 2014 as the Kinder Forum, and re-established as the Kinder Institute in 2015 thanks to a generous gift from the Kinder Foundation of Houston, TX, the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy is a leading space in higher education for the study of political thought and political history, with special emphasis on re-visiting the United States’ founding era and tracing the reverberations of its revolutionary and constitutional origins over time and around the globe. With multiple degree programs and study abroad offerings, along with robust public programming, the Kinder Institute is committed to stoking the civic imagination of students and faculty at MU and communities across and beyond Missouri.

Our History

Two college students chat in front of a wall sign with the Kinder Institute logo.

2016

Doors to the Kinder Institute Offices on the Fourth Floor of Jesse Hall Open

Exterior view of a building in Oxford, England.

2017

Oxford Partnership Launches with First Global History Spring Break Trip

Audience members applaud an off-camera speaker.

2018

Inaugural James E. Fleming & Linda C. McClain Constitution Day Lecture

Rich and Nancy Kinder speak with three other people on a stage.

2019

The Institute Expands with Second Kinder Foundation Gift

A Kinder Institute graduate wears graduation regalia and smiles.

2020

Launch of the BA in Constitutional Democracy and MA in Atlantic History & Politics

Welcome packet for the Constitutional Democracy Academy.

2021

High School Constitutional Democracy Academy Debuts

A hand holds up a polaroid photo of two smiling students in front of the ocean.

2022

Students Travel for the First Time to Cape Town, South Africa

Three college students present posters about the Santa Fe Trail outdoors on campus.

2023

Inaugural ASH Scholars Team Forms to Research the Santa Fe Trail

Students walk down the stairs leaving the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C.

2024

Kinder Scholars DC Summer Program Doubles in Size

Large vertical banners with photos and the Kinder Institute logo are set up in a building lobby.

2025

Missouri History & Politics Emphasis Launches

Flagship Programs

Four college seniors gather at the Columns on Mizzou's campus for their graduation photos

Transformative Experiences in and outside the Classroom

From degree programs, to study abroad and study away opportunities, to hands-on research, the Kinder Institute has something for any undergrad interested in exploring the history and theory of democracy in the US and around the globe.

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A One-Year MA in Atlantic History & Politics

Beginning with a summer in Oxford, and continuing with two semesters in Columbia, our one-year MA program serves as an ideal building block for future graduate study or work across an array of fields.

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Civic Education for Missouri High Schoolers

Get a head start on studying at the Kinder Institute through our summer program for rising high school juniors and seniors or our FIG program for first-year Mizzou students.

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A Global Leader in Political History and Political Thought

Through publications and cross-institutional collaborations, our faculty are breaking new ground in the study of constitutional democracy from its origins to its present moment.

About Community

Engaging the Community

Through a biweekly colloquium series in Jesse 410, larger public lectures on campus, and other outreach initiatives, the Kinder Institute provides an array of opportunities to explore constitutional democracy in our hometown, our home state, and beyond.

Latest News

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Support the Work of Democracy

Founded in 2015 through the generosity of Rich and Nancy Kinder, the Institute continues to thrive thanks to their vision and support. Their gift fuels research, student learning, and public programs that bring democracy’s story to life.



We invite you to join them. Your support helps expand internships, study abroad, community events, and faculty scholarship—ensuring more students and citizens can engage deeply with democracy’s past, present, and future.

Rich and nancy kinder