1776 and Today: Charlottesville February 2026 conference

Charlottesville Conference: February 20–22 (Friday evening to Sunday morning) 2026

Organizers: Dan Klein, Erik Matson, Gerard Alexander (Blue Ridge Center), Kenneth Elzinga (UVA)

Contact: Michaela Loughran (who works with Dan and Erik): maloughran014@gmail.com.

Other partners: John William Pope Foundation; Teresa Manning (Virginia Association of Scholars, VAS; and NAS)

Meeting spaces on Saturday and Sunday: Warner Hall, University of Virginia, Rooms 104, 110, 115, and 209. 

Presenters confirmed thus far for the conference program:

Kenneth Elzinga (UVA); Ronald Michener (UVA);  Luke Sheahan (Duquesne University); Ethan Davey-Alexander (Campbell University, NC); Matthew Kelly (Campbell University, NC); Mark Steckbeck (Campbell University); Rebecca Munson (Liberty University); Carey Roberts (Liberty University); Mike Munger (Duke); Daniel Klein (GMU); Erik Matson (CUA, GMU); Sarah Gustafson (CUA); Sandra Peart (URichmond); Clifford Thies (Shenandoah U); John Robinson (James Madison U); John Gentry (Institute of World Politics); Garrett Brown (Mercatus Center); Zachary Yost (independent scholar); Caleb Petitt (Independent Inst.); Brian Mandeville (GMU); Eugenio Garza (GMU); Eric Hammer (GMU PhD);  ...

Plenary presentations: Kenneth Elzinga; Luke Sheahan 

The year 2026 is the 250th anniversary of The Declaration and Adam Smith’s WN (which appeared a few months prior to July 4).

In 2024, Gerard, Ken, Erik, Dan, and members of VAS worked together to do a splendid conference— Liberal Civilization Scholarship Conference—in Charlottesville with sessions held in the Blue Ridge Center:

And a dinner generously hosted by Professor Elzinga in his home:

This year's plan:

Professor Elzinga is generously offering his home for a Friday night dinner. Whether there will be room enough for all who would like to join that occasion is to be seen — unfortunately the weather will not permit expanding the scene into the outdoors. If there are more than can be accommodated at Professor Elzinga's home, other dinner venues will be coordinated.

Saturday: 9:15AM – 5:30PM. The main day of sessions. We expect a total of 150–200 people, and so will have concurrent sessions (we have four UVA Warner Hall classrooms reserved.) Coffee and water provided throughout the day. Lunch will be provided, at the BLUE RIDGE CENTER. As for dinner, expect venues to be coordinated but not paid for by we the organizers, so you pay for your own dinner.

Sunday morning: Session from 9:15 – 11:30AM. (No lunch provided, but people may wish to organize their own gatherings.)

This year we aim to make it larger, to better network with scholars throughout Virginia schools:

The map above is colleges and universities in VA. (I notice that it does not include Patrick Henry, Christendom, Liberty, btw.) 

 Also, VAS people from around the state are likely to participate.

 The conference would again be a broad conservative/classical liberal scholarly conference—with 1776 themes.

We plan on concurrent sessions during some time slots. 

 I think that if we got a plan set up we could attract people from many of the schools. There are people at at least 9 schools to reach out to. I know of people or at least have contacts who at:

1. GMU
2. UVA
3. JMU
4. URichmond
5. Patrick Henry
6. Christendom
7. Hampden-Sydney
8. Shenandoah
9. Liberty

Also, Carolinians—e.g., Ethan Alexander-Davey, Matt Kelly (Campbell), Jane Shaw Stroup, Mike Munger—some already confirmed. Also, the GMU Adam Smith Program has received a small grant from the John William Pope Foundation for this conference!

It will be a good networking event: Schools gaining exposure to graduate students soon on the job market.

If you are interested in participating or have any questions, write to Michaela Loughran maloughran014@gmail.com.

We look forward to a rewarding convention to appreciate the Semiquincentennial!