Meet the Team
Adam SeagraveCo-Lead on Curriculum Project
Adam Seagrave is Associate Professor of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership at Arizona State University. He served on the Executive and Steering Committees, and co-chaired the Political Science Task Force, for the Educating for American Democracy project from 2019-2021. He has published three books, including The Accessible Federalist, and was awarded the American Legion National Education Award in 2021. He was the inaugural Managing Editor of the academic journal American Political Thought. Professor Seagrave writes and teaches widely on topics relating to American political thought and history, with a particular focus on the relationship between racism and American historical ideals.
Tia LorennaWentworth Elementary School
I am an educator dedicated to getting my students to ask tough questions comfortably, as early as possible. Oftentimes my students, 6 and 7 years old, are more self-aware, critical in thought, and globally minded than other adults in the building. I believe in the power of children especially when they’re directed to find their own voice. My role as a teacher is to guide young learners to themselves; afterall, brilliant children become brilliant adults.
Nicholas BuccolaWriter, Lecturer, Teacher
Nicholas Buccola is a writer, lecturer, and teacher who specializes in the area of American political thought. He is the author of The Fire Is upon Us: James Baldwin, William F. Buckley Jr., and the Debate over Race in America (Princeton University, 2019), for which he won an Oregon Book Award. He is also the author of The Political Thought of Frederick Douglass: In Pursuit of American Liberty (New York University Press, 2012). He is the Elizabeth and Morris Glicksman Chair in Political Science at Linfield University in McMinnville, Oregon. His essays have appeared in scholarly journals as well as popular outlets such as The New York Times, Salon, The Baltimore Sun, and Dissent.
Jonathan BurackCurriculum Developer
Jonathan Burack has been publishing history curriculum materials for middle and high school students for more than three decades. He grew up in the factory town of Norwalk, Connecticut, whose rich mix of ethnic, racial, and cultural communities helped awaken a lifelong fascination with this society’s complex past. With a B.A. from Harvard, he did graduate work at Harvard’s School of Education and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He taught high school history and soon became involved in educational publishing. Starting in 1995, he conceived and began to create the MindSparks line of history materials focused on teaching students to interpret primary sources, write DBQ essays, develop debating skills, and master other strategies that foster sound habits of historical thinking. He lives with his wife Ingrid in East Lansing, MI.
Irasema Coronado, PhDArizona State University
Irasema Coronado received her bachelor’s degree in political science and a certificate of Latin American Studies from the University of South Florida. She has an M.A. in Latin American Studies and a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Arizona. Her area of specialization is comparative politics. She is the Director of the School of Transborder Studies at Arizona State University. Previously, she was a professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), where she held the Kruszewski Family Endowed Professorship.
She is co-author of the book titled “Fronteras No Mas: Toward Social Justice at the U.S.-Mexico Border” and “Styles, Strategies, and Issues of Women Leaders at the Border” Eds. Mattingly, Doreen and Hansen Women and change at the U.S.-Mexico Border Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Press.
She has co-edited “Digame! Policy and Politics on the Texas Border” and the book “Juntos Pero No Revueltos: Estudios sobre la frontera Texas-Chihuahua”. She also coauthored “Latinas in Local Government, Políticas: Latina Public Officials in Texas” in 2008. She was the recipient of a Fulbright to Germany in 2002, and a Border Fulbright in 2004 at the Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez.
President Barack Obama appointed her to serve on the Joint Public Advisory Committee of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation in North America in 2010.
Irasema Coronado served as the executive director of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation of North America 2012-2016. The Commission for Environmental Cooperation facilitates collaboration and public participation to foster conservation, protection and enhancement of the North American environment for the benefit of present and future generations, in the context of increasing economic, trade, and social links among Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Hispanic Business Magazine named her one of the Top 100 Influential Hispanics in the United States in October of 2010.
She serves on the MS Magazine academic advisory board and is co-chair of the Coalition Against Violence Toward Women and Families on the US-Mexico border.
Her present research includes the impact of the deportation process on families and children, women in politics, environmental cooperation, and U.S.-Mexico border politics.
She grew up in Nogales, Arizona and served as an intern for then Governor Bruce Babbitt in the 1980s.
Donald L. Fixico, PhDArizona State University
Donald L. Fixico (Shawnee, Sac and Fox, Muscogee and Seminole) is a Regents’ and Distinguished Foundation Professor of History in the School of Historical, Religious and Philosophical Studies; Affiliate Faculty in American Indian Studies and Distinguished Scholar of Sustainability in the Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability at Arizona State University. He has been on faculty at four universities and a visiting professor at seven universities (including the University of Nottingham in England and the John F. Kennedy Institute at the Freie University in Berlin, Germany) with postdoctoral fellowships at UCLA and The Newberry Library in Chicago. He has worked on more than 25 documentaries on American Indians, and he is the author and editor of 15 books. In 2018, Dr. Fixico was the President of the Western History Association.
Albert PaulssonWest Windsor-Plainsboro High School
Albert Paulsson is a Social Studies teacher of 23 years at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North in New Jersey. He was recently recognized with a national award from the American Lawyers Alliance for his work in Civic and Legal education.
Albert currently teaches Advanced Placement American Government, Economics and a course entitled Introduction to Political and Legal Experiences. He also coordinates the We the People program where his students have qualified multiple times for the national competition. In addition, Albert has developed curriculum for FIRE (The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education) to help promote a deeper understanding of the First Amendment.
William ReuschSocial Studies
William Reusch has taught high school social studies in Los Angeles for 15 years in several schools that served very diverse populations. He is still currently teaching US History, Government & Economics, and Civics and holds a CA credential in both secondary Ed. Social studies and multi-subject K-8. William is the co-moderator of the Heterodox Academy K-12 Education community, He is the host of the Cylinder Radio podcast and has expanded his educational reach to utilize social media as a way to promote viewpoint diversity and intellectual inquiry. William currently resides in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, has three sons, and his hobbies include martial arts, auto mechanics, and outdoor activities.
Ruben SandovalCoronado High School
Ruben Sandoval is a Dual Credit Social Studies teacher in El Paso, Texas and has been teaching since 1991. Mr. Sandoval grew up in East Los Angeles and graduated with Honors from Schurr High School in 1982. In 1988, he graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Political Science from Cal State University, Los Angeles and is a first-generation college graduate. In 1990, he completed an M.A. in International Relations from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas and earned the title of “Distinguished Graduate” from the university. Ruben received his Teacher Certification at U.T. El Paso in 1991 and obtained Texas teaching license in History, Government and Composite Social Studies. He is also credentialed to teach college level Dual Credit courses in History and Government. Mr. Sandoval has been teaching at Coronado High School since 2000 and currently teaches Dual Credit History and Government. He also works as an Adjunct Professor for El Paso Community College, teaching History and Government.
