Welcome to the Salvatori Center
Advancing the study of Freedom, Democracy, and American Constitutionalism
History & Mission
The Henry Salvatori Center for the Study of Individual Freedom in the Modern World is the oldest institute at the College. It was founded in 1969 as a result of a conversation between George C. S. Benson, the founding president of CMC, and Henry Salvatori. Its inspiration was Mr. Salvatori's concern for the nature and problems of freedom in the modern world.
In the words of the founding agreement, the Salvatori Center’s mission is to study “the civil, political, and individual liberties of persons living in an ordered society.” The Center is devoted to developing close relations between students and scholars to engage in the study of freedom, particularly as it relates to American Constitutionalism. It seeks to understand and nurture the civic, moral, political, and philosophical underpinnings of democracy in America, including the study of liberal democracy, and the political philosophy that informs it more broadly.
The Center is uniquely positioned to further the College’s mission of promoting responsible citizenship and leadership by encouraging a deeper understanding of democracy and enabling them to affect real-world change.
Our Programs
Big Questions. Real Conversations.
From Friday lunch seminars to Saturday salons, students gather to explore the fundamental questions that shape political and moral life. These discussion-driven programs extend learning beyond the classroom and cultivate a community grounded in open inquiry and thoughtful disagreement.
Engaging Leading Voices
Through partnerships at the CMC Athenaeum and beyond, we bring distinguished scholars and public figures into direct conversation with students. Lectures and lively panel discussions offer rare access to leading minds—and the chance to ask hard questions.
Research That Matters
We support collaborative faculty-student research that turns ideas into action. Salvatori Research Fellows help launch new initiatives, organize programs around visiting speakers, and contribute meaningfully to the intellectual life of the College.