Former Trump Veep teaches first class at Grove City College

The man who became a target of derision by some demonstrators during the January 6, 2021, disturbance at the U.S. Capitol has started teaching classes at Grove City College.

Former Vice President Mike Pence taught his first political science class Thursday, according to a news release on the college’s website.

The release from the college does not mention Donald Trump or the fact that Pence has said he won’t be voting for the former president in the upcoming election. 

There was also no reference to the federal indictment that alleged that Trump and his “co-conspirators” attempted to convince the then-Vice President to “use his ceremonial role at the January 6 certification proceeding to fraudulently alter the election results.”

Pence refused to delay certifying the election, which resulted in calls from some protestors who chanted, “Hang Mike Pence.”

The release says Pence and College President Paul J. McNulty are team-teaching Political Science classes this fall.

According to the release, Pence’s professorship is part of a larger institutional effort to explore the role that Christian faith plays in major American institutions, including government, academia, the media, and business.

Grove City College has established the Center for Faith & Public Life and named Pence its first Distinguished Fellow for Faith and Public Life to help pursue that goal.

The former vice president said he was excited about his new role. “I just have immense respect for the mission of Grove City College and the opportunity to teach several courses with young men and women who I know are going to be Christian leaders in this country in the years ahead is a great privilege,” he said.

On Thursday, Pence and McNulty taught two classes – Christianity and Public Policy, a small seminar course for students affiliated with the college’s Institute for Faith & Freedom think tank, and Faith and Public Service, a larger lecture class that has more than 200 students signed up.

“When I first came to Christ as a freshman in college after growing up with an interest in politics, I thought I was going to have to choose between living out my Christian faith or living out my goal of public service,” he said. “You don't have to make that choice. You can live as a Christian believer and stay true to your principles and, through public life, have an impact on the nation.”

The classes meet once a week with McNulty presiding in person and Pence videoconferencing from his home base in Indiana if he isn’t on campus.

In addition to teaching, Pence toured the campus, speaking with college faculty and staff, and meeting and mingling with students.

“I'm extremely impressed with the graciousness of the student body,” Pence noted. “The warm welcome that I've received from students from literally every background has been very humbling.”