Political Science Ph.D. (‘19) Alumnus Recognized with Awards

Ken and Sandy Waltzer Teaching Excellence Award

Dr. Jordan Cash was selected as one of two recipients of the 2026 Ken and Sandy Waltzer Teaching Excellence Awards , recognizing their outstanding contributions to undergraduate education and student development.

Assistant Professor Jordan Cash brings expertise in American political thought and constitutionalism to his courses in James Madison College. His teaching examines how constitutional structures shape the authority and behavior of individuals operating within American political institutions.

Cash has published extensively on executive power and constitutional interpretation, including his recent books "The Isolated Presidency" (2024) and "Adding the Lone Star: John Tyler, Sam Houston, and the Annexation of Texas" (2024), and the co-edited volume "Constitutionalism and Liberty: Essays in Honor of David K. Nichols"

The awards are named for James Madison College Professor Emeritus Ken Waltzer and his wife, Sandy, and were established to support teaching excellence in the college. The Waltzer Awards recognize special teaching achievement, significant impact on students, substantial contribution to curriculum and successful mentoring of colleagues.

This announcement is based on information provided by Michigan State University, James Madison College.

Jack Miller Center's Teaching Excellence Award, Junior Scholar

Dr. Cash's award application demonstrated a strong commitment to student engagement through the reading of founding documents as well as lively student simulations of the Constitutional Convention and ratification debates. A former student who now works on Capitol Hill notes that these activities “prepared me tenfold” for work in a congressional office. While playing out these monumental events, students grapple with the challenges and compromises made by the Founders and better realize the great task that they faced in developing our constitutional government. 

In addition to this work with college students, Cash organizes, leads, and teaches civic education programming for K-12 teachers. 
 
Cash offered gratitude for his students and colleagues who aided his development as a teacher. 

“My goal as an educator is to guide my students to possess greater civic knowledge and attain a sophisticated understanding of the society they live in so that they can passionately and intelligently enter the public discourse as informed and clear-thinking individuals. To be recognized for that work with this award is a great honor and I am humbled to receive it. I am also grateful to the Jack Miller Center as well as my friends, colleagues, and students at Michigan State University, Baylor University, and the University of Virginia for their support in helping me develop as a teacher and scholar,” Cash said. 

The Jack Miller Center’s Teaching Excellence Award is an annual honor given to both college and K-12 educators who do an exceptional job engaging students in the story of America through primary documents, new courses, and/or extracurricular activities.

This announcement is based on information provided by Jack Miller Center.