Center for Public Service
Armington 214
publicservice@upike.edu
(606) 218-4493

 

“Oasis of Excellence”
– American Council of Trustees and Alumni

Professor Dr. Tyler Syck discussing What is Wrong with Politics at a Constitution Day event

Our Mission

Since its founding in 1889, the University of Pikeville has worked diligently to serve the place we call home: through its religious mission, the development of a vibrant workforce, and efforts to preserve Eastern Kentucky’s unique cultural heritage. The Center for Public Service builds upon this mission by recognizing the overwhelming needs of Appalachia. In a community too often left behind, our citizens are consumed with a lack of self-confidence that makes the functioning of local democracy nearly impossible.

The future of Appalachia must come from within the community itself. By prioritizing the core principles of self-government, faith, civic virtue, local heritage, and pluralism, the Center for Public Service works to restore the tools of democratic citizenship to Appalachia.

“Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave to all.”

A Note from the Director

headshot of Dr. Tyler Syck

“In the American constitutional system, we are not ruled by some distant king or by a hereditary aristocracy. Instead, we, the people, rule ourselves. This requires that the ruling citizenry be given the tools necessary to wisely guide their communities – whether those tools take the form of civic education or potential solutions to pressing problems in their towns.

This is where the Center for Public Service steps in. As an eighth generation resident of the hills and hollows of Eastern Kentucky, I am well aware that there is no place better to be in the whole world. However, our home faces a great many problems. The tradition of self-government, pluralism, and civic virtue that once defined the very best of life in rural America has slowly started to fade away. Our work is to reverse that decline; to restore hope and vibrancy to a region through our work in civic education and policy analysis.”

Jeffery Tyler Syck, Ph.D.

Since its foundation in 1889, the University of Pikeville has been dedicated to serving the place we call home through its religious mission, through the formation of a vibrant workforce and through the preservation of Eastern Kentucky’s unique cultural heritage. The Center for Public Service builds upon this mission by revitalizing Appalachia’s often neglected tradition of self-government. 

More than anything else, Appalachia needs leaders. People who step up and start businesses and who help promote Appalachian culture and advocate for the region in politics and the media. Yet, leadership goes well beyond addressing economic and political struggles. True leadership inspires, promotes and uplifts those who are being led. True leadership provides meaning and purpose to those who may be missing such necessary personal foundations. 

In short, we need individuals who stand up with pride and purpose to boldly show the world the very best of the Appalachian spirit. To prove that this region possesses a culture worthy of preservation and respect. Nothing could be more important to Appalachia’s future than cultivating and platforming leaders in every industry and vocation in the region. 

This is exactly what the University of Pikeville’s Center for Public Service is all about. We want to build a new generation of leaders who can uplift the region we call home. We also want to ensure that the University can serve as a leader in addressing the unique challenges that confront Appalachia. For as Christ said, hours before his death:

“Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave to all.”

This is the spirit we embody – training students to lead through service and leading by example in our commitment to Appalachia’s renewal.

  • Constitution Day
    • The Center for Public Service hosts an annual Constitution Day event. This event invites students from high schools across Central Appalachia and educates them in the principles of self-government. Students participate in a series of group activities and attend a public lecture.
  • School Outreach
    • The Center for Public Service sends representatives to visit schools located in Central Appalachia. During these visits, the professors and UPIKE students discuss and instruct the students about the values of the American political tradition and how to be more engaged in their own community.
  • Public Service Book Club
    • The Center for Public Service hosts a biannual book club where participants learn about the values necessary for democratic citizenship. The fall 2025 book is Darkwater by W.E.B DuBois.
  • Political Science Minor
    • The University of Pikeville’s political science minor is designed to ensure that students from diverse academic backgrounds can cultivate the skills of thoughtful citizenship and principled leadership. By making the study of politics accessible across disciplines, the Center affirms that civic leadership is a calling open to anyone willing to serve their community with wisdom and integrity.
  • Political and Civic Engagement Certificate
  • Allegheny Civic Fellowship
    • The Allegheny Civic Fellowship is a selective, three-week summer seminar for rising high school students interested in leadership and civic engagement. Co-founded by Yale undergraduates and hosted by UPIKE’s Center for Public Service, the Fellowship strengthens students’ academic writing and critical thinking skills through close readings of foundational texts and discussions of democracy, justice and American ideals. Students engage with traditions that shaped American democracy through small-group seminars, interactive debates, writing labs and guest speakers.
  • Civic Educators Fellowship
    • The Civic Educators Fellowship brings together fifty social studies teachers annually for intensive seminars designed to strengthen civics education across Central Appalachia. Funded by the United States Department of Education, the Fellowship equips educators with tools and resources to reinvigorate civic learning through deep engagement with America’s founding documents—including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Mayflower Compact—while exploring timeless themes like liberty, equality and constitutionalism.

If you are interested in any of our initiatives within the program or partnering on a new initiative, please email publicservice@upike.edu.

Theresa Dawhare
Education

Brittany Goetting
Social Science

Gregory Green
Business

Marissa Greer
Vice President of Academic Affairs

Cody Jarman
Humanities

Rob Musick
Student Services

Jessica Slade
Science

Jeffery Tyler Syck
Director


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