He is author of the award-winning 2011 book, Power, Politics and the Missouri Synod: A Conflict That Changed American History.
Burkee is a long-time advocate for civility in public discourse, running for office in 2008 with a unique, bi-partisan campaign for Congress in the fifth congressional district of Wisconsin for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Burkee graduated from Lutheran High School of San Diego, now Victory Christian Academy in Chula Vista, California.
Running with a faculty colleague and staff composed of students at Concordia University Wisconsin, Burkee generated national news with the bipartisan campaign, ultimately earning a ruling from the Federal Election Commission allowing both a Democrat and Republican to raise funds through a joint campaign structure.
He is a strong advocate for public-private partnerships between colleges and universities and private organizations, and with the corporate sector.