Utah Valley University’s (UVU) Center for Constitutional Studies (CCS) announced today the appointment of Savannah Eccles Johnston, Ph.D., as program director of the Master of Arts in Constitutional Government, Civics, and Law (MACGCL) program. Johnston will begin her new position on July 1.
“Savannah is an outstanding scholar and teacher with a passion for cultivating understanding of our constitutional inheritance,” said Matthew Brogdon, senior director of CCS. “Her leadership will be crucial as the M.A. program grows to serve teachers and citizens from across the country who want to gain expertise on the ideas and institutions necessary to support constitutional government, ordered liberty, and the rule of law.”
Johnston’s expertise lies in American political thought and constitutionalism, and her scholarly work has appeared in publications such as “American Political Thought,” “The Forum,” and “Politics, Groups, and Identities.” She comes to UVU from Salt Lake Community College, where she was an assistant professor of political science.
“UVU’s Center for Constitutional Studies is one of the premier programs for constitutional studies in the United States, so I am thrilled to join the team,” said Johnston. “I have dedicated my life’s work to teaching the next generation how to understand and appreciate the Constitution, civil discourse, and the rule of law.”
A native of Bountiful, Utah, Johnstonreceived a doctorate and a master’s degree in politics and government from Claremont Graduate University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Brigham Young University. With Brogdon, Johnston co-hosts “This Constitution,” a weekly podcast produced by CCS, which aims to engage the most pressing political and constitutional questions of our time.
Johnston’s popular Instagram account @savypolitics draws more than 47,000 followers for its ability to explain politics and American constitutionalism to the general public.
Johnston takes over the MACGCL program director role from Troy Smith, Ph.D., who launched the program in 2023 and shepherded the initial cohort through its first year. Smith is stepping into a new role as director of the UVU-based Constitutional Federalism Initiative, created by HB 488 during the Utah Legislature’s 2025 session.
MACGCL equips students with an understanding of the American founding, the development of the American constitutional system, and the civic virtues it requires.
The program has two areas of concentration: a teaching track geared toward enhancing an individual’s ability to teach social studies in K-12 public and private schools and a research track that prepares individuals to pursue highly competitive doctoral studies programs in constitutional law, history, or political science.
