BOUNTIFUL—Dr. Savannah Eccles Johnston knew from the time she was in the sixth grade that she was meant to study politics. Johnston, a Bountiful native, followed that passion into academia and was recently appointed as program director of Utah Valley University’s (UVU) Center for Constitutional Studies Master of Arts in Constitutional Government, Civics & Law (MACGCL).

“My dad loved politics,” said Johnston. “It was during the 2008 Republican Convention that I saw Sarah Palin in a red suit. I was entranced by seeing a woman in politics.”

Other girls had pictures of stars on their walls, she said. “It was silly, I had each president’s picture on mine. I slowly took down the ones I didn’t like.”

Johnston said she was very opinionated. “In high school I would argue with my history teachers. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else except studying politics.”

 Her scholarly work has appeared in publications such as American Political Thought, The Forum, and Politics, Groups, and Identities. Johnston was an assistant professor of political science at Salt Lake Community College before coming to UVU, a UVU release said.

Johnston received her PhD and MA in Politics and Government from Claremont Graduate University and a BS in political science from Brigham Young University. 

Johnston is taking over MA program-director Dr. Troy Smith’s role. Smith launched the program in 2023. He became director of the UVU-based Constitutional Federalism Initiative, created by HB 488 in the 2025 session of the Utah Legislature.

"UVU’s Center for Constitutional Studies is one of the premier programs for constitutional studies in the United States, so I am thrilled to be joining the team,” said Johnston. “I have dedicated my life’s work to teaching the next generation how to understand and appreciate the Constitution, civil discourse and the rule of law. I look forward to taking on this important role and continuing to build on Dr. Smith’s excellent work in the MA program."

The MACGCL is a one of a kind master’s program, she said. “It’s primarily aimed at K-12 teachers” to improve their ability to teach social studies in public or private schools. 

Teachers could use more knowledge or a refresher, Johnston said. “It’s aimed at helping teachers increase their own knowledge of the Constitution and then have that filter down to their students.”

There is also a research track. “It prepares individuals to pursue highly competitive doctoral studies programs in constitutional law, history or political science,” the release said.

Johnston said she will teach constitutional literacy every summer. “The key to a republic is an informed citizenry. If teachers don’t know then how will students know?”

One of the teachers came back to school after raising a family, said Johnston. “She said she wanted to know how to be a better citizen. Citizenship is hard. Engaging is the only way to save our government.”

The MACGCL program is offered by the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University through the School of Education and includes a residential study-abroad experience at Pembroke College, University of Oxford, through CCS’s partnership with the Quill Project. Learn more at https://www.uvu.edu/ccs/macgcl/index.html.