Hauenstein Center at GVSU

Hauenstein Center at GVSU The Hauenstein Center at GVSU is dedicated to raising a community of ethical, effective leaders for the 21st century. presidents.

The Hauenstein Center is built on four cornerstones:

The COOK LEADERSHIP ACADEMY serves university students at all levels of their development. Emerging leaders strive to become more ethical and effective in their community through mentorships and constant engagement with experienced professionals. The Cook Leadership Academy within the Hauenstein Center has become one of the Midwest’s pre-eminen

t centers for the exploration and development of leadership excellence. Each year we host more than 60 WORLD-CLASS TALKS, debates, and conferences to inform citizens, leaders, and apprentice-leaders who seek to understand their role in solving the challenges that communities, states, and nations – past and present – have faced. www.gvsu.edu/hc- our interactive website - and our social media open a window to the world on the scholarship we have produced as a presidential studies center, and the programs we have offered through our leadership academy. Allpresidents’ 600 pages of videos, transcripts, and original scholarship are growing daily, and in seven years have drawn more than 25 million hits from around the globe. Front Page

Our BOOK COLLECTIONS have been recognized by the Library of Congress as “a uniquely valuable resource.” No other place on earth houses, in one room, all the books written by U.S. We are also proud to have one of the nation’s leading espionage and intelligence book collections. Learn More

Inspired by Ralph Hauenstein, we seek to provide a platform for emerging leaders in all three major sectors of public life – business, government, and non-profit. We promote civic engagement that (1) honors the Founders’ vision of a constitutional republic; (2) builds on existing democratic institutions that promote justice, freedom, opportunity, sustainable prosperity, and the rule of law; and (3) envisions the possibilities for creating better communities.

Founder Ralph Hauenstein went to Central High School in Grand Rapids, where he ran track and played on the football team...
05/29/2026

Founder Ralph Hauenstein went to Central High School in Grand Rapids, where he ran track and played on the football team. It was on the gridiron that he ran into the future 38th president of the United States, Gerald R. Ford, who played on a rival team. They would become lifelong friends.

05/25/2026
Suitably called “The Highest Court in the Land,” the U.S. Supreme Court’s basketball court sits on the fifth floor, righ...
05/22/2026

Suitably called “The Highest Court in the Land,” the U.S. Supreme Court’s basketball court sits on the fifth floor, right above the famous courtroom on the fourth floor. What started as a spare room for storing journals in the 1940s was transformed into a workout space for courthouse employees. Wooden hoops and backboards were later added, turning it into the mini-court we know today.

Over the years, the court has seen clerks, off-duty police officers, and even Supreme Court Justices like Byron White and Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist shoot hoops. Sandra Day O’Connor also used the space, but for yoga! Many other employees use the adjacent full-service gym and weight room, and some current justices are known to lift weights during the day. A sign at the court reminds players to avoid playing during court days. While the Highest Court isn’t open to the public, if you listen carefully in the courtroom, you just might catch the squeak of sneakers and the dribble of a basketball from above.

Source: https://www.readersdigest.ca/culture/facts-about-america/

05/21/2026

“If freedom is the American dream, then leadership is how we keep it alive. By using our influence to empower others to do the same.”

CLA fellow Evan Jackson shared his leadership minute, about the connection between freedom and leadership.

How will you empower others to be a leader?

Before becoming president, Abraham Lincoln was known for his wrestling skills. He racked up an estimated 300 matches wit...
05/15/2026

Before becoming president, Abraham Lincoln was known for his wrestling skills. He racked up an estimated 300 matches with only one reported loss. One of his most famous wins came in 1831, when he defeated local tough guy Jack Armstrong in New Salem, Illinois. Stories like these helped build his reputation for strength and character creating something that may have even boosted his image during the 1860 election.

Source: https://parade.com/1099930/marynliles/history-facts/

05/13/2026

“Civic engagement provides us with the opportunity to interact and give back to the communities that shaped us”

CLA Lead Fellow Lola Robar shared her leadership minute explaining the importance of community engagement for democracy.

What are you doing to show up for your community?

Happy Birthday to one of our founders Peter C. Cook!
05/09/2026

Happy Birthday to one of our founders Peter C. Cook!

Did you know the first known civics textbook was written in the 4th century BCE?Long before modern society, Aristotle wa...
05/08/2026

Did you know the first known civics textbook was written in the 4th century BCE?

Long before modern society, Aristotle was already studying how governments work. In Politics, he looked at over 150 city-states and argued that the purpose of government is to serve the common good and help people live happy, virtuous lives.

He also introduced the idea that humans are naturally “political,” meaning we’re meant to live in communities and participate in civic life. While some of his views reflect the limitations of his time, his work still laid the foundation for how we think about government, citizenship, and leadership today.

Source: 30 Facts About Civics - Facts.net

Last October, we were honored to host our annual Progressive/Conservative Summit with former NATO Ambassadors Julianne S...
05/06/2026

Last October, we were honored to host our annual Progressive/Conservative Summit with former NATO Ambassadors Julianne Smith and Kay Bailey Hutchison, where they shared insights on global leadership, diplomacy, and the future of international relations.

The first televised presidential debate occurred during a pivotal moment in American history: the Cold War, the civil ri...
05/01/2026

The first televised presidential debate occurred during a pivotal moment in American history: the Cold War, the civil rights movement was gaining momentum, and television was becoming the dominant medium for information. Before this, debates were radio or print affairs, but television brought a new dimension. Kennedy, a charismatic senator from Massachusetts, appeared confident, poised, and telegenic. Nixon, Vice President at the time, had been recovering from illness and refused makeup, appearing tired and pale. 70 million Americans watched, and those who could see the candidates on TV overwhelmingly favored Kennedy, while radio listeners were more evenly split.

This debate demonstrated that television could shape political outcomes. It marked the start of modern campaigns where image, presence, and media strategy became nearly as important as policy positions. Kennedy’s strong performance helped him gain a critical edge in one of the closest presidential elections in U.S. history, and the 1960 debate forever transformed the intersection of politics and media.

Source: https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/the-debate-that-changed-the-world-of-politics

Thank you to The Shelley Irwin Show for having our programming manager Kahler Sweeney, MPA, and guest speaker Jeffrey Ro...
04/09/2026

Thank you to The Shelley Irwin Show for having our programming manager Kahler Sweeney, MPA, and guest speaker Jeffrey Rogg on the show this morning! Tonight, Dr. Rogg will explore the historical and ongoing role of citizens in shaping U.S. intelligence, and the paradoxes that continue to define our relationship with security and liberty.

This event will take place on April 9, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM in the DeVos Center’s Loosemore Auditorium. Learn more & RSVP here: gvsu.edu/hc/rogg

Event Partners: Grand Valley State University Political Science Department and The Gerald Ford Presidential Library & Museum

Book Sales Partner: Schuler Books

Dr. Jeff Rogg, Senior Research Fellow at the University of South Florida's global and National Security Institute joins the show.

Address

401 Fulton Street W
Grand Rapids, MI
49504

Telephone

+16163312770

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