Micah J Watson

Dr. Micah J Watson
Associate Professor, PPE Program Director, Executive Director -- Paul Henry Institute Honors Liaison, Pi Sigma Alpha Advisor, Paul Henry Chair in Christianity and Politics
Politics, Henry Institute
Hiemenga Hall 455
(616) 526-6230
mw45@calvin.edu
Curriculum Vitae

Education

Professor Watson is a native of the great golden state of California where he completed his undergraduate degree at U.C. Davis. He earned his M.A. degree in Church-State Studies at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and holds M.A. and doctorate degrees in Politics from Princeton University. Professor Watson joined the faculty at Calvin College in the fall of 2015. He was also selected to serve as the William Spoelhof Teacher-Scholar Chair for the 2015-16 year, and became the Program Director for Calvin's new Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) Program in 2020. Also in 2020, he became the Executive Director of the Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity and Politics and is currently the Paul B. Henry Chair in Political Science.

Biography

Recent Activities

Professor Watson’s research agenda includes ongoing projects on John Locke, a co-authored book on the political thought of C.S. Lewis, and a collaborative effort with his political theory counterparts at Wheaton and Westmont to consider the possibility of an evangelical tradition of political thought.

Hobbies

Professor Watson’s hobbies include basketball, long road trips, rooting for the PAC-12, pretending to be a film critic, and sled run design. He and his wife Julie have four daughters and a son: Abigail, Anastasia, Annika, Alexandra, and John. Accompanied by their decidedly non-pacifist cats, the Watsons make their home in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Academic interests

Micah Watson's broad research interests include political philosophy, politics and religion, politics and literature, ethics and public policy, and constitutional jurisprudence.

Office hours

by appointment

Additional open hours and appointments can be arranged, on request.

Publications

“Beholden to Revelation? Scripture’s Role as Public Knowledge and Moral Authority” in Reason, Revelation, and the Civic Order: Political Philosophy and the Claims of Faith, ed. Paul DeHart and Carson Holloway (Northern Illinois Press, 2014).
“Who Appeals to Heaven? King James I and John Locke on Scripture & Political Authority” in KJV 400 Legacy and Impact, ed. Ray Van Neste (Borderstone Press, 2012).
“Statecraft as Soulcraft: The Case for Morals Legislation” in A Second Look at First Things: A Case for Conservative Politics: The Hadley Arkes Festschrift, eds. Francis Beckwith, Susan McWilliams, and Robert P. George (St. Augustine Press, 2013).

In the news

Micah Watson begins as Spoelhof Chair

Political science professor and Spoelhof Chair Micah Watson joined the Calvin faculty in 2015. In a Q&A, he shares why he's here, what he's researching and where his passions lie.

Learn more about Calvin's excellent faculty and learning environment by scheduling a campus visit.

Visit »