Jonathan Becker Interviewed in Inside Higher Ed About Youth Voting Rights

Jonathan Becker, vice president for academic affairs and director of the Center for Civic Engagement at Bard College, was interviewed by Susan D’Agostino ’91, Bard alumna and former Language and Thinking faculty member, in her monthly column The Public Scholar for Inside Higher Ed. Becker spoke about his longstanding work to protect youth voting rights, as well as the challenges that student voters face and the ways in which educational institutions can provide guidance and assistance in overcoming them. “Voting is the most foundational democratic right and an essential part of our educational mission,” said Becker. “If we avert our eyes from violations, then we are hypocrites. When we act with students, we model behavior we want them to carry when they go out into the world. Also, people who vote young tend to vote for life. So we’re modeling future behaviors. Through our actions, we reaffirm that our institutions’ deeds are consistent with our words.”

Post Date: 03-04-2026