WASHINGTON—The Heritage Foundation today announced its first round of Freedom and Opportunity Academic Prizes.

The Heritage Foundation launched the new initiative in January with the purpose of supporting professionals in higher education who advance research aligned with Heritage’s priority issue areas.

These winners include the following recipients:

• Dr. Daniel Burns, associate professor of politics at the University of Dallas
• Dr. William English, assistant professor of strategy, economics, ethics, and public policy at Georgetown University
• Philip Hamburger, professor of law at Columbia Law School
• Dr. Matthew Kroenig, professor in the department of government at Georgetown University
• Dr. Allen Mendenhall, associate dean and professor at Troy University
• Robert Miller, professor and associate dean at the University of Iowa College of Law
• Dr. Catherine Pakaluk, associate professor of social research and economic thought at Catholic University of America
• Dr. James Patterson, associate professor at Ave Maria University
• Dr. Ionut Popescu, assistant professor of political science at Texas State University
• Dr. Siri Terjesen, professor and associate dean at Florida Atlantic University
• Dr. Andew Walker, associate professor of Christian ethics and apologetics at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
• Dr. Bradford Wilcox, professor of sociology at the University of Virginia

“We are proud to award the Freedom and Opportunity Academic Prize to these scholars,” said Heritage Foundation president Dr. Kevin Roberts. “From fighting the politicization of corporate governance to standing up for marriage and family life, these distinguished educators are advancing the truth in the university, which is sorely needed in our current academic climate.”

The winners will receive between $15,000 and $20,000 for being actively engaged in research and teaching that explore economic freedom, the dignity of the person, human flourishing, constitutional governance, national sovereignty, and other issues related to freedom, opportunity, and traditional American values. The prize winners are also invited to participate in a Summer Colloquium and Workshop.

“The Heritage Foundation stands as a bulwark for ordered liberty in America,” said prizewinner Dr. Andrew Walker. “There is a fight for America’s soul and Heritage not only knows what time it is, it runs toward the battle. I’m deeply honored to be a recipient of a Freedom and Opportunity Academic award and work alongside other recipients to carry the torch for a vision for conservatism that causes all persons to thrive in accordance with what is true.”

Prizewinner Dr. Brad Wilcox added the following:

“The success of the American experiment depends upon strong and stable families. That is why I have dedicated my life to studying the State of Our Unions, along with cultural initiatives and public policies that can help revive the falling fortunes of marriage and family life in the United States. Given the central role the Heritage Foundation has played in supporting families, I’m extremely honored to be the recipient of the Freedom and Opportunity Academic Prize.”

Learn more about the Freedom and Opportunity Academic prize here.