Executive Director, Ben and Myrna Cardin Center for Civic Engagement and Civil Discourse

Towson University (TU) invites applications for the position of the Ben and Myrna Cardin Center for Civic Engagement and Civil Discourse (the Center). The Executive Director will provide visionary leadership and day-to-day management in support of the Center’s mission to advance civil discourse, respectful dialogue and strengthening inclusive participation through student engagement, faculty and staff collaboration, and involvement from the greater TU community. The Executive Director will develop, implement, manage, and evaluate programs for the Center that fosters informed public discussion on local and national issues by promoting connections between the university and the broader community. Through this work, the Executive Director will lead the Center to become recognized as a leading national platform for civic engagement and constructive, respectful public discourse.

This position has a flexible schedule with a guaranteed minimum of 30 hours each week.

The Executive Director will elevate the Center as a hub for civic engagement and civil discourse at Towson University and throughout the region. In this high-impact role, the Executive Director will collaborate closely with Ben and Myrna Cardin, university leadership, and strategic partners to implement a vision that addresses emerging civic issues while fostering constructive dialogue within the community.

The Executive Director is responsible for the design and implementation of innovative programmatic initiatives, ranging from public forums and speaker series to student-centered internships and experiential learning programs focused on public service. By promoting interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty and staff, the Executive Director ensures that the Center’s mission is deeply integrated into the university’s academic fabric and campus life. This involves building and sustaining partnerships with local, state, and national organizations, as well as representing the Center in media engagements and public forums.

Beyond programmatic leadership, the Executive Director will drive the Center’s financial and operational sustainability by soliciting external funding through grants and philanthropy. The Executive Director will manage the Center’s budgets and daily operations while maintaining a transparent and productive relationship with the Advisory Board and university shared governance.

The selected candidate will hold a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 8-10 years of related work experience, including at least 3 years in a leadership capacity, preferably in the academic, government, public affairs, civic engagement, nonprofit or other public service sectors. An advanced degree in public policy, political science, public administration, education, law, or another related field is strongly preferred. There also is strong preference for experience developing programs, activities and initiatives that brought together diverse stakeholders for respectful dialogue and the consideration of complex issues, and demonstrated effective and successful experience in the following skill areas:

• Communication (oral and written) and presentation/public speaking skills.
• Ability to successfully engage and promote the programs of the Center with academic, government, civic and community audiences.
• Organizational and project management.
• Experience and record of success in fundraising and relationships with philanthropic organizations.
• Budget development and management to include preparation of grants, partnership building, and fiscal management.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.