Ronald J. Pestritto

Biography

Dr. Ronald J. Pestritto is Graduate Dean and Professor of Politics at Hillsdale College, where he teaches political philosophy, American political thought, and American politics, and holds the Shipley Chair in the American Constitution.  He is also a Senior Fellow of the Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Political Philosophy.  He has published eight books, the latest of which is America Transformed: The Rise and Legacy of American Progressivism; he is also the author of Woodrow Wilson and the Roots of Modern Liberalism.  Dr. Pestritto has served as a Visiting Scholar at the Social Philosophy and Policy Center at Bowling Green State University, an Academic Fellow of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and is a Past President of The Philadelphia Society.  He has written widely on progressivism and the administrative state for publications such as the Wall Street Journal and the Claremont Review of Books.  Dr. Pestritto earned his Ph.D. from the Claremont Graduate University in 1996.

Recent contributions

Symposium on Associate Justice Clarence Thomas’s Remarks on the Declaration of Independence

Constitutionalism
May 1, 2026
View all
Latest from

Ronald J. Pestritto

No items found.
Show more

Symposium on Associate Justice Clarence Thomas’s Remarks on the Declaration of Independence

May 1, 2026
Show more
No items found.
No items found.
No items found.
No items found.
No items found.
No items found.
Civitas Outlook
The Courage of Justice Thomas

Courage was the theme of Justice Clarence Thomas’s recent, profound speech at the University of Texas.

Civitas Outlook
On the Liberating and Living Truths of the Declaration of Independence

Clarence Thomas has done more to repudiate D.E.I. and restore America’s founding principles than any other American in the 21st century.

Join the newsletter

Get the Civitas Outlook daily digest, plus new research and events.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Ideas for
Prosperity

Tomorrow’s leaders need better, bolder ideas about how to make our society freer and more prosperous. That’s why the Civitas Institute exists, plain and simple.
Discover more at Civitas