Across our national network, civic learning is sustained by colleagues who are embedded in their campuses and accountable to their communities.
To formalize and strengthen this distributed leadership, Project Pericles has established our inaugural Program Directors Council. The Council brings together leaders who are deeply attuned to the realities of their institutions and committed to strengthening community-engaged civic learning both on their campuses and across the Periclean consortium.
As we implement our strategic plan, Shaping Civic Futures, the Council serves as a collaborative space for advancing shared priorities, strengthening cross-campus connections, and providing strategic guidance aligned with our priorities: Pedagogical Influence, Consortium Strength, and Thought Leadership.
The 2025-2026 Program Directors Council:
- Carleton College | Sinda Nichols
- Drew University | Mecca Madyun
- Elon University | Mat Gendle
- Goucher College | Lindsay Johnson
- Pace University | Heather Novak
- Occidental College | Celestina Castillo
- Skidmore College | Eric Morser
- Widener University | Lauren Shermer
Council Member Eric Morser, Professor of History at Skidmore College, shared, “I am particularly excited by the fact that Pericles is at an exciting crossroads: the organization has a new strategic plan, offers a rich feast of innovative grants and pilot projects for faculty and staff, and provides opportunities to join critical conversations about the role of engaged citizenship in higher education. Now is a rousing time to be involved with a group devoted to community-minded teaching and learning. Membership on the council offers a great opportunity for me to share the work that we have been doing on campus with Periclean colleagues. I am particularly thrilled by the promise of imagining new ways to make already successful initiatives even more powerful for current and future member campuses.”
Since launching in November 2025, the Council has already shaped future membership guidelines, clarified our distinct value within the higher education and democracy ecosystem, and strengthened program design through practical, campus-informed insight.
We are grateful for the time, leadership, and partnership these colleagues are contributing as we work to place community-engaged civic learning at the heart of higher education.