Spencer D. Morgan
Spencer D. Morgan, executive director of the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site, will deliver the 2025 Constitution Day keynote.
“The Birth of the Modern Presidency” will be presented by Mr. Morgan, a SUNY Fredonia alumnus, in Williams Center Room S204 on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 11 a.m.
As we head into another pivotal election year, it’s important to reflect on the origins of presidential power in the U.S.” - Spencer D. Morgan
The lecture is free and open to the public.
Morgan will explore how Theodore Roosevelt redefined presidential power, reshaped public expectations of executive leadership and laid the foundation for the modern presidency.
“As we head into another pivotal election year, it’s important to reflect on the origins of presidential power in the U.S.,” Morgan commented. “Theodore Roosevelt was a transformational figure — not just in politics, but in how Americans came to view the role of the president. His approach changed everything.”
Department of Communication Associate Professor Angela McGowan-Kirsch emphasized the timeliness of Morgan’s visit: “This year’s Constitution Day keynote invites us to consider how presidential power has evolved and what that means for democracy today. We’re thrilled to welcome a Fredonia alum back to campus to help us connect history to the present moment,” remarked Dr. McGowan-Kirsch, who also serves as chair of the American Democracy Project.
Cookies and lemonade will be served during the talk. A free lunch will immediately follow in the same room and is open to all.
In addition to his current role at the TR Site, Morgan serves on numerous historical and civic boards throughout western New York, chairs the Erie County Historical Commission’s Committee on Historic Buildings, Markers, and Graves, and is a published author. In 2020, he earned the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential, a globally recognized certification in philanthropic fundraising.
A 2008 graduate with a degree in History and a minor in American Studies, Morgan has over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit, museum and development sectors. After interning at the Darwin R. Barker Historical Museum during his undergraduate years, Morgan went on to earn a Master of Arts degree in History with a concentration in Museum Studies from SUNY Buffalo State University. He has also held leadership positions at several major western New York institutions including the Buffalo Zoo, SUNY Fredonia and the Steel Plant Museum of WNY.
A voter registration drive will be held just outside Room S204 from 10 to 11:50 a.m. Everyone is encouraged to attend both the talk and the lunch.
The Constitution Day address is co-sponsored by the American Democracy Project and Leadership Studies minor with support from the Carnahan Jackson Fund for the Humanities of the Fredonia College Foundation.
