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Karsh Institute of Democracy

About Us

About Us

We are dedicated to a future in which democracy’s aspirations and reality are aligned.

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Mission and Story
Democracy @ UVA
By the Numbers
Resources

By the Numbers

The Karsh Institute connects people and ideas across disciplines to strengthen democracy through research, teaching, and public engagement.

Our People

Our People

Get to know our leadership and staff, advisory board, and affiliated faculty and fellows.

Meet the team

Leadership and Staff
Advisory Board
Affiliated Faculty

Melody Barnes

Founding executive director Melody Barnes leads the Institute on an action-oriented path to realizing the promise of democracy in both principle and practice.

Our Work

Our Work

Learn more about how we are confronting the key challenges to democracy.

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Fellowships
Featured Initiatives
Research
Democracy Labs & Working Groups

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Featured Initiatives

Explore key Karsh Institute projects that study and strengthen democracy, from local journalism to global ideals and civic dialogue.

Events

Events

Explore events hosted and supported by the Karsh Institute.

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All Events
Democracy360
Event Series

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Democracy360

The Karsh Institute's biennial Democracy360 convenes leaders and citizens to explore bold ideas and shape the future of democracy.

News

News

Read the latest news and stories from the Karsh Institute.

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Recent

Two Organizations Are Leading a Charge for Local Civic Engagement October 8, 2025
Ken Burns’ New Documentary Kicks off Karsh Institute’s ‘Democracy360’ October 8, 2025
Democracy360: Imagining the Next 250 Years of American Democracy September 26, 2025

Give

Give

Support the Karsh Institute’s work realizing the promise of democracy.

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Our Building

Evening rendering of new Karsh building

The Karsh Institute Building

Opening in 2027, the Karsh Institute’s new building will be a hub for research, collaboration, and public engagement around democracy.

Recommended

By the Numbers 2024-2025
Democracy Labs & Working Groups
Virginia Local News Ecosystem Study
Our People
Mission and Story

Resources

Columns

Opportunities

View job openings, calls for proposals, student positions, and other opportunities at the Karsh Institute of Democracy.

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Democracy Course Guide

Courses offered at UVA that are about—or related to—democracy.

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Website

Karsh Institute on YouTube

Watch the latest videos from the Karsh Institute on YouTube.

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Karsh Institute of Democracy

600 Brandon Avenue
Charlottesville, Virginia 22903

Email: karshinstitute@virginia.edu

Email: karshinstitute@virginia.edu

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