معرفی
Dr. Jeff VanDerWerff serves as Professor of U.S. Government & Public Life and Dean of Social Sciences at Northwestern College, overseeing departments including Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology. A Northwestern alumnus ('83), he is recognized for weaving faith with public life scholarship and fostering student moral formation.
Education:
- Ph.D., University of Kansas
- M.A., University of Missouri (Kansas City)
- B.A., Northwestern College
His research centers on religion-politics intersections, political theology, and American constitutional development. VanDerWerff examines how theological perspectives shape civic engagement, democratic discourse, and policy formation, emphasizing religious contributions to public virtue and citizenship responsibilities.
Publications consistently analyze faith's role in presidential politics, civil discourse ethics, and citizenship re-enchantment. His work bridges academic political science with practical theological reflection, addressing polarization through frameworks like “Respectful Conversations” while contributing to Japanese diplomatic understanding of Iowa politics.
Honors:
- Northwestern Teaching Excellence Award (2015-16)
- Teacher of the Year Finalist (2004-05)
As pre-law adviser and academic leader, VanDerWerff has guided institutional strategy through roles including Faculty Representative to the Board of Trustees (2006-14), Faculty President (2008-11), and Reaccreditation Co-chair (2014-15). He co-founded the Franken Servant Leadership Institute to cultivate student leadership through service.
He actively contributes to the American Political Science Association and Christians in Political Science, producing ongoing policy analyses for the Japanese Consulate General in Chicago.
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