Institute for Democratic Engagement at Ohio State

04/29/2026

The College of Arts and Sciences is pleased to announce the 2025-2026 recipients of endowed and college-wide awards for research, teaching, mentoring and service.

04/29/2026

"Where is Congress?" That is the question opening a new Bipartisan Policy Center series by J.D. Rackey and Michael Thorning, and it is worth sitting with.

Their argument is that the frustration Americans feel with Congress is real, but the diagnosis is usually off. Decades of executive expansion and congressional deference have hollowed out the first branch. Reviving it means asking what a healthy Congress would actually look like, what capacities it would need, and what rules and statutes need attention.

Read the piece: https://bipartisanpolicy.org/article/congress-at-a-crossroads/

04/29/2026

On Tuesday, students can spend a day before finals officially to begin to prepare for exams while enjoying activities across campus.

Planned by Student Life, Reading Day has several events planned to help students reduce stress.

“The concept of Reading Day is not just a one-day gap, but to really help students prepare in all ways for the start of exams,” Dave Isaacs, a university spokesperson, said.

Read more at thelantern.com

https://www.thelantern.com/2026/04/campus-activities-aim-to-support-students-during-reading-day/

📸: Daniel Bush | Campus Photo Editor
✍️: Gabriella Maciora | Lantern Reporter

04/28/2026

Ohio State University ASC Career Success makes it a priority to prepare students for their post-graduation careers. Here are some of their tips and best practices for finding success in the job market and transitioning to life after college.

Learn more: go.osu.edu/asc-post-grad-tips

04/27/2026

Meet Ryan Mahoney, one of our 2026 Summer Democracy Fellows heading to Washington, D.C.

Ryan is a third-year Ohio State student double-majoring in Political Science and Economics, with a minor in History. He's been interested in politics and lawmaking since grade school, and he's already worked with IDEA both as a student and as an employee. This summer, he's excited to take that experience to Capitol Hill, sit in on committee meetings, and contribute to the work of a congressional office.

In three words: Analytical, Curious, and Musical.

Stay tuned for more from Ryan's DC journey.

04/27/2026

04/22/2026

🌱 Democracy and sustainability are deeply connected.

This Earth Day, we recognize that caring for our planet also means strengthening the civic systems that shape environmental policy, community resilience, and long-term sustainability.

At IDEA, we work to empower informed participation, accountable leadership, and inclusive engagement—because a healthy democracy is essential to a healthy planet.

💚 Together, let’s engage, advocate, and vote for a future that works for people and the planet.

🔗 Learn more about our work: https://democracyinstitute.osu.edu/

04/21/2026

04/21/2026

Meet Elise Britton, one of our 2026 Summer Democracy Fellows heading to Washington, D.C.

Elise is a third-year Political Science major at Ohio State with minors in Social Justice Advocacy & Public Policy and Civic Engagement. Her passion for public service was shaped by the women in her family.

Her mother, aunt, and grandmother brought her along to the polls from a young age and made sure she understood both the privilege of voting and the adversity overcome to win that right.

She's most passionate about equitable education, social policy, and public health, and she's looking forward to the challenge of Capitol Hill and the connections she'll build there.

In three words: Empathetic, Passionate, and Zealous.

Stay tuned for more from Elise's DC journey.🥳

04/17/2026

This summer, three Ohio State students are taking IDEA's work to the U.S. Capitol.

Meet Elise Britton, Maxwell Kiernan, and Ryan Mahoney, our 2026 Summer Democracy Fellows.

From June through August, they'll be embedded in congressional offices, sitting in on committee meetings, contributing to the daily work of Congress, and bringing IDEA's research on connecting representatives to constituents directly into the rooms where it matters most.

Individual spotlights for each Fellow are coming soon. Stay tuned.

04/08/2026

Where is Congress?

A new Bipartisan Policy Center article by J.D. Rackey and Michael Thorning opens with that question and uses it to launch a series on the state of the legislative branch. Their case is that decades of executive expansion, paired with congressional deference, have left the first branch of government struggling to do the work the Constitution assigned it.

The series ahead asks what a healthy Congress would actually look like, what it would need to function, and what rules might need to change to get there. These are exactly the questions we think about at IDEA.

Read more: https://bipartisanpolicy.org/article/congress-at-a-crossroads/