The Novak Award, named after distinguished American theologian Michael Novak, is a $15,000 prize recognizing outstanding new scholarly research on the relationship between religion, economic freedom, and the free and virtuous society. It is awarded to early-career scholars who demonstrate exceptional intellectual merit in advancing the understanding of theology’s connection to human dignity, the rule of law, limited government, religious liberty, and economic freedom.
This year, the Calihan Lecture, "How to Rebel," will be delivered by Dr. Kirstin Anderson Birkhaug, Novak Award winner and assistant professor of political science at Hope College. Dr. Birkhaug teaches courses in political theory and American politics. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2023, completing a dissertation on the civic contributions of founding-era women. Her published research focuses on citizenship, liberty, and constitutionalism, and she also serves as the book reviews editor for the Journal of Religion, Culture & Democracy.
