History

Hellems Arts and Sciences Building, home of the Center for Values and Social Policy

Hellems Arts and Sciences Building, home of the Center for Values and Social Policy

The Center is located in Hellems 269 (Professor Chris Heathwood with graduate students Eric Lee and Jay Geyer)

The Center is located in Hellems 269 (Professor Chris Heathwood with graduate students Eric Lee and Jay Geyer)

Frances Kamm keynote address on the trolley problem at CVSP’s Rocky Mountain Ethics Congress VI

Frances Kamm keynote address on the trolley problem at CVSP’s Rocky Mountain Ethics Congress VI

Professor Luvell Anderson of the University of Memphis, giving a 2016 CVSP Think! Talk

Professor Luvell Anderson of the University of Memphis, giving a 2016 CVSP Think! Talk

Prof. Adam Hosein introducing speakers at the CVSP panel on Affirmative Action, August 2016

Prof. Adam Hosein introducing speakers at the CVSP panel on Affirmative Action, August 2016

Kicking off CVSP’s Rocky Mountain Ethics Congress VII with a special event in honor of CU Professor Alison Jaggar

Kicking off CVSP’s Rocky Mountain Ethics Congress VII with a special event in honor of CU Professor Alison Jaggar

The 2017 Colorado High School Ethics Bowl Tournament, sponsored by CVSP

The 2017 Colorado High School Ethics Bowl Tournament, sponsored by CVSP

Poster session at CVSP’s Rocky Mountain Ethics Congress V

Poster session at CVSP’s Rocky Mountain Ethics Congress V

CU graduate student Spencer Case and Russ Jacobs (Washburn University) debating the nature of marriage during the poster session at CVSP’s Rocky Mountain Ethics Congress VIII

CU graduate student Spencer Case and Russ Jacobs (Washburn University) debating the nature of marriage during the poster session at CVSP’s Rocky Mountain Ethics Congress VIII

The Center for Values and Social Policy was founded in 1980. Faculty active in the creation of the Center included Jerry Martin, who headed the effort, Leonard Boonin, Arthur Millman, David Perry, and Dale Jamieson. Jim Nickel was hired as the first Director of the Center in 1982 and served until 1988. Nickel was followed by Dale Jamieson (1988-91), Leonard Boonin (1991-93), and Ann Davis (1993-95). For the decade following Davis’ departure, the administrative functions of the Center were decentralized and the Center did not have an official Director. The Director position was reinstated when Ben Hale was appointed Director in 2006 and he served until 2008, when Ajume Wingo was hired.  Professor Wingo served as Director from 2008-2016.  David Boonin served as Director from 2016 until 2020 when he became Chair of the Department. The current Director is Graham Oddie.

Since its inception, the Center has been housed in the  and has been focused on the promotion of teaching and research on issues involving values and social policy. In the spring of 2016, the Center’s bylaws were revised to reflect its equally strong commitment to public outreach, and to enable it to develop stronger connections with units outside the Department.  One welcome result of this recent change has been the development of its network of CVSP Faculty Fellows consisting of faculty from a number of departments in the , as well as from the , the , and the .