You Might Be Right What Do Universities Owe Society? – with Ron Daniels
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Oct 28, 2025 
Ron Daniels, President of Johns Hopkins University and author of *What Universities Owe Democracy*, dives into the essential social contract between higher education and society. He emphasizes universities’ roles in fostering civic education and equal opportunity. Daniels discusses restoring trust through viewpoint diversity, advocating for conservative scholars on campuses. He also highlights strategies for improving social mobility and engaging first-generation students, stressing the need for universities to actively support democracy and public governance.
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Universities As Engines Of Democracy
- Universities concretize the American dream by enabling social mobility through education and opportunity.
- They also serve democracy by training citizens, pursuing truth, and modeling pluralistic discourse.
Make Academic Expertise Accessible To Government
- Share faculty research and expertise directly with public decision makers and convene focused advisory groups.
- Build institutional channels that make academic advice accessible and actionable for government.
Actively Build Viewpoint Diversity
- Recruit and support scholars who represent conservative and other diverse intellectual traditions on faculty.
- Demonstrate internal viewpoint diversity to restore credibility with broader publics and policymakers.