Research priorities at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation include Civic Engagement; Civil Resistance; Democracy and AI; Institutional Reform; Indigenous Governance; Protest and Dissent.

Research at the Scrivner Institute of Public Policy at the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs include Strengthening Democratic Governance, Reducing Inequality & Enhancing Inclusion, Catalyzing Urban Policy Innovation.

Justice and Inclusion: Democracy requires more than formal procedures; it demands respect for human rights and the rule of law. Kellogg scholars investigate how societies confront inequality and repair injustice, highlighting the roles of social movements, religion, and collective memory in renewing civic life. 

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Democracy and Human Flourishing: We seek to understand the links between accountable governance and human well-being, exploring how institutions can expand agency and opportunity through better health, education, and sustainable development, and how such conditions in turn affect the robustness of democratic life.