Pano Kanelos is a senior fellow in the Civitas Institute and the Director of the Center for the Future of Higher Education. A higher education leader, public intellectual, and nationally prominent advocate for the liberal arts, Pano Kanelos was the founding president of the University of Austin and served as the 24th president of St. John’s College, the nation's most storied great books college. A noted Shakespearean scholar, he has authored and edited numerous books, articles, and essays on Shakespeare, including the series “Shakespeare and the Stage.” In 2025, he received the Hero of Intellectual Freedom Award from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni.

Kanelos advises educational leaders and philanthropists on the founding, reform, and long-term sustainability of mission-driven institutions, with a focus on governance, academic freedom, and institutional design. His work with Civitas reflects a deep commitment to liberal education and to cultivating leaders capable of sustaining a free, pluralistic, and humane culture.