BOULDER, Colo. - A government and history professor at Ohio's Ashland University will be the resident conservative at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

CU named Steven Hayward as its visiting scholar in conservative thought in policy, a new temporary position paid for with more than $1 million in private funds.

Hayward has previously worked at the American Enterprise Institute and The Heritage Foundation. He has written books about the Biblical perspective on nature, Ronald Reagan and Winston Churchill.

The university, long considered a stronghold of liberal thought, first unveiled plans in 2007 to establish a visiting scholar endowment but the economic downturn forced the school to scale back the plan and create a pilot program instead.

In addition to teaching, Hayward will be encouraged to foster discussion on campus and beyond.