Benjamin T Lynerd

Benjamin T Lynerd is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Christopher Newport University. His academic work spans political theory, American politics, and religion's role in democratic societies.

• Education: Ph.D. and MA in Political Science from the University of Chicago; BA in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Professor Lynerd's research focuses on the history of political thought, American political thought, religion and politics, and democratic theory. His recent publications address Black political thought, emancipation themes, and analyses of Trump-era leadership dynamics.

His scholarly contributions include articles in American Political Thought, Journal of Black Studies, and Leadership, with recurring themes of civic engagement, land rights, and comparative historical analysis across ancient and modern contexts.

Publications demonstrate interdisciplinary engagement with theology, labor history, and existential philosophy, particularly in works examining Tocqueville's America and Henry Ward Beecher's theological progress narratives.