American Democracy Project Civic Fellows
ADP Civic Fellows explore assessment, research, and programmatic efforts that enact and support ADP’s mission and national work during a one or two-year renewable terms.
Apply NowCivic Fellows help to support ADP’s mission.
Who should participate?
- Faculty and staff seeking a national platform to develop and advance their ADP-aligned research and programmatic ideas.
How will you benefit?
- Exchange ideas and feedback with Civic Fellows, ADP’s Director, and the ADP Steering Committee.
- Opportunity to lead national initiatives and influence their future direction.
- Build connections with ADP institutions to expand the scope and impact of your work.
- Receive support in publication and program development.
ADP invites rolling applications for this opportunity designed to give professionals/scholars in our network a national platform to develop their research and programmatic ideas. ADP Civic Fellows will be part of a cohort experience and will work closely with our director and steering committee to design and advance ADP national initiatives.
Each Fellow is expected to provide the following information to the ADP Director:
- A one-page proposal delineating the focus of your Civic Fellowship, including where ADP can assist you and your intended timeline and outcomes;
- Specify a one-or two-year appointment (both types are renewable);
- An overview report and an updated proposal at the halfway mark of your term, delineating your progress;
- A final report at the conclusion of your term, which can be leveraged to re-start the Civic Fellowship;
- Updates to the Steering Committee and the larger ADP community about your project as needed.
- Participate in calls with the ADP Director
- Participate in the ADP Steering Committee as an ex officio member during the term of the fellowship.
If you are interested in joining as a team to be in the Civic Fellow program, the only modification would be that you ask one member of your team to be the Steering Committee ex officio member. All reports that you provide would be as a team and quarterly calls would ideally include the full team.
2026 Civic Fellows
Pam
Martin
Professor and Exec Director, RISE Center, a UN Regional Centre on Education for Sustainable Development
Coastal Carolina University (SC)
Chapman
Rackaway
Professor and Chair, Political Science
Radford University (VA)
Justin
Vaughn
Professor, Department of Political Science; Director of the Center for Applied Civic Leadership
Coastal Carolina University (SC)
Ryan
Weaver
Lecturer, Interdisciplinary Studies / PACE Presidential Citizen Scholars Program Coordinator
Salisbury University (MD)
PAST Civic Fellows
Shannon
Calderone
Associate Professor of Educational Leadership
Washington State University – Everett
Paul
Cook
Professor of English
Indiana University Kokomo
Byron
Craig
Assistant Professor, School of Communication
Illinois State University
Kara
Dillard
Associate Director, Madison Center for Civic Engagement and Assistant Professor, School of Communication Studies
James Madison University (VA)
Steve
Elliott-Gower
Associate Professor of Political Science
Georgia College & State University
Romy
Hübler
Director, Office for Social Impact
Towson University (MD)
Steve
Hunt
Professor and Director, School of Communication
Illinois State University
J. Scott
Jordon
Cognitive Psychologist and Chair of the Department of Psychology
Illinois State University
Julie
Lester
Associate Professor of Political Science and MPA Program Coordinator
Valdosta State University (GA)
Erin
O’Hanlon
Coordinator of Service-Learning
Stockton University (NJ)
Allison D.
Rank
Associate Professor and Chair, Political Science
State University of New York at Oswego
Kim
Schmidl-Gagne
Assessment & Accreditation Officer
Keene State College (NH)
Hear from our civic fellows.
Being an ADP Civic Fellow has allowed me to better engage with the way my scholarship and service can inform matters of race, gender, sexuality, and socio-economic class as rhetorical acts. In the work I do at Illinois State University, I include civic engagement and democratic participation as central pieces. My interest in advancing civic engagement has grown through my role as Civic Fellow.
