Education Program Coordinator, lauren.jackson@missouri.edu
Lauren Jackson is an Education Program Coordinator at the Kinder Institute. She spent several years as a high school social studies teacher before she enrolled in Mizzou’s history graduate program, where she now studies the complex relationship between higher education, teacher training institutions, and K-12 schooling. At Kinder, Lauren organizes programs including the Constitutional Democracy Academy for Educators and the Missouri Civics Bee.

Kinder Institute Program Coordinator, stronga@missouri.edu
Amber Strong Helwig holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Mizzou. She is a Columbia, MO, native who brings 19 years of experience in donor relations to her role as Program Coordinator. Prior to joining the Kinder Institute, Amber managed a variety of meaningful donor recognition and stewardship experiences for Mizzou Advancement and the College of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources.

Carin Huffman Grinch holds degrees in Political Science and History from Mizzou. Prior to joining the Kinder Institute in October 2023, Carin spent 22 years in advancement at Mizzou. She began her career with the Mizzou Alumni Association, where she managed programs including the Griffiths Leadership Society for Women, Alumni Association Student Board, and Tiger Tailgates. For the past 10 years, Carin directed the university’s donor relations team where she oversaw a team that led programs and events designed to engage and connect donors with the impact of their philanthropy.

Sr. Academic Advisor (Constitutional Democracy & History), corneillierb@missouri.edu
Born and raised in Keystone, Colorado, Brittony (Corneillier) Hein has a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies with an emphasis in Peace Studies, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Public Health from Mizzou. She is currently finishing up her Master’s of Education from Stephens College in Counseling. Prior to becoming the Senior Academic Advisor for Constitutional Democracy and History, she was with the Division of Biological Sciences as an Academic Advisor for five years, and prior to advising, she spent two years in the office of admissions. Brittony has been awarded the College of Arts and Science Academic Advisor of the Year (2021), Excellence in Advising Outstanding Advising Winner (2021), and the Blue Chalk Teaching Award (Fall 2017). In addition to her role as an Academic Advisor, she serves on a variety of committees throughout the College of Arts and Science and the university.

Kinder Institute Program Coordinator, cspalding@missouri.edu
Caroline Spalding received Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and History from Mizzou in 2016 and her J.D. and Master’s in Public Administration from MU Law and the Truman School of Public affairs, respectively, in 2020.  While in law school, she spent a summer abroad working for the Human Rights Commission in Cape Town, South Africa, conducted research on rehabilitation and intervention programs at the Center for Criminal and Juvenile Justice Priorities at Mizzou, and was also extensively involved in the American Constitution Society and the Equal Justice Law Association. Caroline has been involved with the Kinder Institute for some time: as part of the inaugural class of the Society of Fellows; as Senior Editor for Vol. 2 of the Journal on Constitutional Democracy and Deputy Editor for Vol. 5 of the Journal; and from 2017 as a staff member. Caroline is the Institute’s fiscal officer and MA Academic Advisor, and organizes study abroad programs.

Kinder Institute Director of Undergraduate Studies, kanetc@missouri.edu
Raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Thomas Kane earned a B.A. in English from Yale University, an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of Pittsburgh and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Missouri, where he wrote a critical dissertation on representations of democratic order in the American long poem and a creative dissertation on fractured modes of communication in the digital age. His current research examines echoes of Walt Whitman in 20th-century American poetry, with particular attention to questions of land and agency. While at the University of Pittsburgh, he edited and co-translated Tomaz Salamun’s 2009 collection of poems There’s the Hand and There’s the Arid Chair (Counterpath Press). Thomas served as Assistant Coordinator of Scholarly Programs during the Kinder Institute’s first year before taking on his current responsibilities.

Program Manager, pelleritoj@missouri.edu
As a program manager, Jordan oversees several undergraduate programs at the Kinder Institute: the Democracy Lab FIG, Kinder Scholars DC Summer Program, Constitutional Litigation spring break trip, and the Institute’s ASH Scholars research teams.

She holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in history from Mizzou and is a cultural historian of the 19th century United States. Under the supervision of Dr. Jay Sexton and Dr. Christa Dierksheide (University of Virginia), her dissertation argues that tourism developed in the early 1800s U.S. as a tool of national identity and transnational legitimacy and conformity.

Jordan is also invested in public history, particularly the intersection of popular culture and history (sometimes even teaching a Taylor Swift history class). When away from the fourth floor of Jesse Hall, she enjoys baking, documentaries and reality TV, exercising, and spending time with her animals.