Our Teachers

CO-FOUNDER & TEACHER

Leo Greenberg graduated with a B.A. in History and Philosophy at Yale College in 2026. He completed Yale’s Directed Studies Humanities Intensive, led Yale’s largest organization for politics and public speaking, and has worked as a Sunday school teacher and writing tutor for high school students in New York City. He will spend next year as a journalist covering politics and security in Eastern Europe.

CO-FOUNDER & TEACHER

Brennan Columbia-Walsh graduated with a B.A. in Political Science and English from Yale College in 2026. At Yale, he completed the Directed Studies program, served as President of Yale’s Political Union, worked for the US Congress, and showcased original plays and essays in international theatres and journals. He will pursue an MPhil in Political Theory next year at the University of Cambridge.

DIRECTOR, PIKEVILLE LOCATION

Jeffery Tyler Syck Ph.D. is an assistant professor of politics and the founding director of the Center for Public Service at the University of Pikeville in his native Eastern Kentucky. A scholar of American political thought, Prof. Syck’s broader research focuses on the moral and civic foundations of American democracy. He received a PhD and MA in government from the University of Virginia.

TEACHER

Kate Reynolds graduated with a B.A. in History from Yale College in 2025. A former managing editor of Yale’s political magazine, communications manager for Yale’s political action group, and fellow at the Peace and Dialogue Leadership Initiative, Kate now works as a freelance writer and a reporter for the Nevada Independent.

TEACHER & ALUMNUS

A native of Floyd County, KY, and an alumni of Kentucky’s Governor’s Scholar Program, Landon Williams is a sophomore at the University of Louisville in the McConnell Scholars Program, majoring in political science. He was a Fellow of the ACF’s inaugural cohort and returned as a counselor after deepening his understanding of civics in college.

TEACHER

Abigail Nissley is a rising junior at Yale studying Global Affairs, hailing from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Her interest in Global Affairs began during her gap year, when she worked for several anti-human trafficking nonprofits in Thailand, Spain, and Kenya. Outside of academics, she plays on the Yale Club Lacrosse team, debates with the Yale Political Union, and enjoys long conversations over tea.