Mike Pence Makes Schar School Debut as Professor of Practice

Andrew J Schappert — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 13:18:26 +0000

Mike Pence Makes Schar School Debut as Professor of Practice Andrew J Schappert Thu, 02/12/2026 - 08:18

Mike Pence shakes hands with Schar School senior Elijah Lawrence, who said, ‘It’s actually really refreshing to see a public leader be so adamant and energetic about teaching us—the American public—about our history.’

Mike Pence, 48th vice president of the United States, and former Counsel to the Vice President and Solicitor of Labor Greg Jacob greeted some 150 �鶹��Ƶ students for the first class of the spring semester by navigating the intricate and often-overlooked history behind the American Constitution.

Mike Pence, left, and co-instructor Greg Jacob during the debut class: ‘Their passion for the history of the Constitution was undeniable, actually palpable.’ Photos by Buzz McClain/Schar School of Policy and Government

The course, The Character of the American Constitution, invites undergraduate and master’s students at George �鶹��Ƶ’s Schar School of Policy and Government to explore the ideas that shaped our nation and their relevance to contemporary controversies regarding executive power, civil rights, elections, and the faithful execution of the law.

For many students, the experience of learning about constitutional governance cotaught by Distinguished Visiting Professor of Practice Pence and a career constitutional lawyer was a rare and compelling opportunity.

“I want to learn more about Pence’s perspective on the Constitution, how he believes we should run our government and criminal justice system,” said Logan Miller, a first-year international security and law and Honors College student at the Schar School. “I also want to know more about the history of the Constitution and the history of the United States in general.”

Miller was not disappointed. Throughout the first class, Pence and Jacob walked students through the origins of the Declaration of Independence, exploring what the Declaration meant and where the writers got the ideas. Pence provided insight from the perspective of a politician and vice president while Jacob offered the insight of a constitutional scholar.

“One of the big things I noticed when it comes to [Pence] teaching, is how passionate he is for the United States, our Constitution, our founding documents, and our founding ideologies,” said Elijah Lawrence, a senior also studying international security and law. “It’s actually really refreshing to see a public leader be so adamant and energetic about teaching us—the American public—about our history.”

Sophomore Max Castner, who is a government and international politics major, agreed.

“Their passion for the history of the Constitution was undeniable, actually palpable,” Castner said. “They detailed what the framers thought and why they wrote it the way they did. It is an intensive class. They really care about and love the Constitution.”

Pence joined the Schar School professor of practice faculty in August shortly after the appointment of former Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell (R). Former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe (D) is also on the Schar School faculty.

For the Schar School, The Character of the American Constitution reflects its commitment to mixing academic analysis with real-world experience. By bringing together the vice president’s perspective and Jacob’s background as a seasoned lawyer, the course offers students a front-row seat to how the nation’s founding charter operates under pressure.

Pence and adjunct professor Jacob teach course numbers GOVT 319-005 and POGO 550-005.