School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership forms advisory board

The School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership at Arizona State University has formed a National Board of Counselors to advise the school on its mission to develop a new understanding of America’s civic principles and to help foster a vigorous and civil discourse.

The National Board of Counselors, which held its first meeting in March at ASU’s Barrett & O'Connor Washington Center in Washington, D.C., will also work with the school’s Center for Political Thought and Leadership. These national and civic leaders are committed to:

• Improving civil discourse and constructive disagreement in our democracy.

• Increasing America’s engagement in and learning about the fundamental civic principles that should inform robust debate on political and economic issues.

The school is still actively recruiting additional board members.The following distinguished public servants and civic leaders have joined the bipartisan project:

Co-chairs:

• Kathleen Kennedy Townsend — former lieutenant governor of Maryland.

• Jon Kyl — former U.S. representative and senator from Arizona.

Members:

• Dan Cardinali — president and CEO, Independent Sector.

• Ron Christie — former special assistant for domestic policy to President George W. Bush.

• Grady Gammage Jr. — senior research fellow, ASU’s Morrison Institute for Public Policy.

• Tom Gentzel — executive director and CEO, National School Boards Association.

• Rich Lowry — editor in chief, “The National Review.”

• Donald Graham — former publisher, “The Washington Post.”

• Marc Morial — president, National Urban League.

• Anna Tovar — Mayor of Tolleson, Arizona and former state legislator.

Arizona State University launched the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership in 2017 to develop new leadership and engagement on political civility, education in our fundamental civic principles, and rigorous open discussions on economic and policy issues. The school, with special funding from Arizona’s Legislature and governor, seeks to play a major leadership role in developing new understanding of and commitments to America’s civic principles; fostering vigorous yet civil discourse; and turning America’s current polarized politics toward a more effective liberal democracy in the 21st century.  

More information on the school and its Center for Political Thought and Leadership is available at scetl.asu.edu. For more information on the National Board of Counselors, please reach out to Joe Martin, marketing and communications manager at the School for Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership.