American Democracy Project Steering Committee 

Serving as advisers and thought partners, the ADP Steering Committee is comprised of talented and thoughtful individuals who are dedicated to the collective purpose of preparing the next generation of informed and engaged citizens.

Our members are leaders and advocates.

The role of the ADP Steering Committee is not only to provide guidance and expertise on the design and development of programs and practices that are integral, relational, organic, and generative, but also to champion these efforts and envision the thriving democracy we aspire to enact and support through our work. ADP Steering Committee meetings are also attended by ad hoc members, notably the current Civic Fellows and our recent ADP Civic Engagement Award winners. 

Shannon

Calderone

Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership

Washington State University Tri-Cities

Byron Craig

Byron

Craig

Assistant Professor, School of Communication

Illinois State University

David

Hoffman

Director, Center for Democracy and Civic Life

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Dimetri Horner

Dimetri

Horner

Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs

Harris-Stowe State University (MO)

Romy Huebler

Romy

Hübler

Director of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility

Towson University (MD)

Jyl

Josephson

Professor of Political Science, Women, and Gender Studies

Rutgers University Newark (NJ)

Cheryl Z. Kerchis

Cheryl Z.

Kerchis

Assistant Professor

Slippery Rock University (PA)

H. Gibbs

Knotts

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Coastal Carolina University (SC)

Julie

Lester

Associate Professor of Political Science and MPA Program Coordinator

Valdosta State University (GA)

Kara Lindaman

Kara

Lindaman

Dean, College of Liberal Arts

Winona State University (MN)

Angela M. McGowan-Kirsch

Angela M.

McGowan-Kirsch

Associate Professor of Communication

State University of New York at Fredonia

Julie Mowrer

Julie

Mowrer

Acting Director, Center for Community Engagement; Director, English Language Institute

University of Hawai’i at Hilo

Leah Murray

Leah

Murray

Director, Olene S. Walker Institute of Politics & Public Service

Weber State University (UT)

Elizabeth Parmalee

Elizabeth

Parmelee

Associate Vice President of Undergraduate Studies

Metropolitan State University of Denver (CO)

Chapman Rackaway

Chapman

Rackaway

Professor and Chair, Political Science

Radford University (VA)

Ron Rochon

Ronald S.

Rochon

President

California State University Fullerton

Bidhan Chandra Roy

Bidhan Chandra

Roy

Professor of English and Program Director

California State University, Los Angeles

Amy Sayward

Amy

Sayward

Professor of History

Middle Tennessee State University

Justin Vaughn

Justin

Vaughn

Professor and Director of the Center for Applied Civic Leadership

Coastal Carolina University (SC)

My institution’s robust civic learning and democratic engagement work has benefited immensely from opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to collaborate and learn with ADP colleagues.

David Hoffman

Director of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life
University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Learn more about the ADP steering committee.

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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.

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Civic 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.

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.

Byron Craig

Assistant Professor, School of Communication
Illinois State University

Over the course of my career, I’ve transitioned from primarily focusing on the deployment of civic engagement in my curriculum and co-curriculum to embedding civic skill building into the overall structure and culture of a university. Being an ADP Civic Fellow has allowed me to adapt my work to the changing nature of my leadership as a faculty member in higher education.

Chapman Rackaway

Professor and Chair, Political Science
Radford University

Apply to become a civic fellow.