Posted By Vincent DiFonzo on Jul 9, 2025 | 1 comment

By Vincent DiFonzo ’25, Guest Writer

Editor’s Note: Scott Boddery served as faculty advisor to The Gettysburgian from 2019 to 2025 and has advised the author of this article. 

Scott Boddery, judicial scholar and professor of political science, will leave Gettysburg College next month after eight years with the school. He advised pre-law students, taught constitutional law courses and directed the Eisenhower Institute’s Fielding Center.

Boddery is leaving higher education and moving to Massachusetts with his wife and two young children. There, he plans to continue in education through community programs, a local high school and consulting work.

Professor Scott Boddery

“Gettysburg College is a special place. The faculty members here are devoted to their craft, and they care deeply for the student body,” Boddery said. “With their guidance the institution’s future is bright, and I’ll be cheering from afar.”

He earned his law degree at Florida State University and Ph.D from Binghamton University and worked at Davidson College for two years before joining Gettysburg’s faculty in 2017. 

As associate professor of political science, Boddery taught courses on constitutional law, American government and legal policy. In 2018, he won the College’s Ralph Cavaliere Endowed Teaching Award. 

Boddery said that more than anything, he’ll miss the classroom. 

“Each semester I found there’s a moment when the class gels and the discussion becomes fluid and dynamic,” he said. “Those moments make for great classes, irrespective of the topic, and that’s because of Gettysburg’s incredible students, who I’ll never forget. Truly.”

As head of the Eisenhower Institute Fielding Fellows, he led Gettysburg seniors on international research trips to London, Oxford, Amsterdam and the Hague. He also advised The Gettysburgian for six years. 

Community Reflections 

The Gettysburgian reached out to a number of Boddery’s students, advisees, and colleagues, and asked what impact he had on them.  

Former Gettysburgian editor-in-chief Anna Cincotta ’21, who after graduation earned her law degree at Villanova University, said Boddery “shaped my life in ways that I didn’t think were possible before stepping foot on Gettysburg College’s campus.”

She credits Boddery for helping her find her passion for political science and her decision to apply to law school.

“Perhaps most importantly, his encouragement and support helped me build both personal and professional confidence. I tend to second guess myself, but Professor Boddery helped me see that I deserve to trust my instincts,” she said. “I’m forever grateful for his ongoing mentorship. 

Former fielding fellow and Gettysburgian editor Kyle Hammerness ’23 said Boddery was the “most influential professor of my undergraduate education.” He recalled two times when Boddery went above and beyond in his academic advisor role.

Before studying abroad in Nantes, France in 2021, Hammerness explained that he got cold feet. Soon before his departure, he called Boddery, telling him he was reconsidering his semester abroad. Boddery who reassured him that he’d succeed, and flat out told him he’d regret it if he dropped the program. Hammerness  studied abroad as planned, which he credits to this phone call. 

“His encouragement made me reconsider, and he was completely correct,” he said. “It was the most wonderful and gratifying experience, and without [Boddery’s] support I would not have studied abroad.”

Additionally, Boddery helped him through two law school application cycles and in finding his first job. He landed a job at the Federalist Society after a recommendation by Boddery, and was recently accepted to study law at the University of Chicago. 

Boddery with stoles of gratitude given to him by students. (Photo by Gettysburg College)

The namesake of the Fielding Fellows, former White House Counsel Fred Fielding ’61, praised Boddery’s work in a statement to The Gettysburgian.

“Scott’s tenure was vividly marked by his outstanding energy, enthusiasm and instinct in guiding the program, and his pre-law work with skill, imagination and genuine care,” Fielding said. “In addition to my appreciation  and admiration, he has earned the deep lifelong  affection and respect from those fellows and students fortunate enough to have shared his vision and the pleasure of his company.” 

Colleagues commended his work as a teacher and advisor to students.  

Historian and interdisciplinary studies professor Ian Isherwood ’00 knew Boddery before he started at Gettysburg, and when they became friends, “it became apparent why he was such a popular teacher. He’s brilliant, funny, charismatic, and most importantly for the work that we do here, he deeply cares about our students’ lives both in and out of the classroom.”

Isherwood praised Boddery for mentoring students before and after their graduation.  

“Of course, I will dearly miss seeing my friend daily, but I know that Scott will continue his virtuous work beyond our walls,” he concluded. 

Public policy professor Dave Powell, who joined the Fielding Fellows on a trip to London earlier this year, said the experience allowed him to “see firsthand how [Boddery] connected with students, deftly shifting from mentor to tour guide to something like a wise older brother without missing a beat.”

Powell called Boddery “one of the most insightful and engaging teachers on the faculty here — not merely a professor, but a teacher in the truest sense of the word.”

“He challenged students even as he put their needs and interests first,” he said. “It’s no wonder they think so highly of him. I’ll miss having him around, and I know our students will too.”

Powell concluded: “On a personal note, this is a difficult blow. I’ve been here for 17 years so I’ve seen colleagues come and go, and have been fortunate to stay in touch with many of them. But Boddery’s departure feels different. We lose something as a community whenever one of our colleagues leaves the faculty, and Scott’s contributions were such that it’s difficult to imagine anyone taking his place. He’s just been a hell of a good colleague, and a good friend to boot. Our loss is going to be someone else’s gain, for sure.” 

Upon moving to Martha’s Vineyard, Boddery plans to teach his kids to swim and sail. He’s also working on opening a “combination bookshop and pub.” 

The name of this planned future business: “The Sabbatical.”