News

Students working on computers
News | August 15, 2025
August 15, 2025

A Civic Moonshot: College Is Still Our Best Path Forward

Executive Director Melody Barnes and board member John Bridgeland co-wrote an op-ed asserting that despite rising skepticism, college remains the best path to economic mobility and civic renewal. Barnes and Bridgeland are former directors of the White House Domestic Policy Council under Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, respectively.

richmond.com

Melody Barnes
News | October 19, 2023
October 19, 2023

Democracy Isn't Guaranteed

“My concern is that people think our democracy is inevitable,” Karsh Institute Executive Director Melody Barnes told UVA Today. “It’s not. It requires our engagement, our attention, and our hard work.”

news.virginia.edu

Columns

August 9, 2023

Karsh Institute To Host Democracy Event in October

The Karsh Institute of Democracy will host Democracy360 in Charlottesville from Oct. 19-21, bringing together journalists, policymakers, scholars and students to explore the biggest challenges facing democracy today.

Courts and press

September 21, 2023

Democracy360: More Events, More Speakers

The Karsh Institute announces full Democracy360 program and welcomes VPM as streaming partner.

D360 Launch Announcement

August 9, 2023

UVA’s Karsh Institute of Democracy Announces Democracy360

The free three-day event features an impressive lineup of speakers and The Atlantic as the official media partner.