executive summary csd strategic plan 2016 · 2016. 8. 12. · and the former director of the...

CenterfortheStudyofDemocracy47407OldStateHouseRoad,SuiteN106,St.Mary'sCity,MD20686,USA

democracy@smcm.edu,(240)895-6432

ExecutiveSummary

StrategicPlan2016-2020

TheCenterfortheStudyofDemocracyStMary’sCollegeofMaryland

TheCenter for theStudyofDemocracy(“CSD”or “theCenter”)was founded in2002asa joint initiativeofSt.Mary’sCollegeofMaryland(SMCM)anditspartnerinstitution,HistoricSt.Mary’sCity(HSMC),thesiteofMaryland’sfirstcapital.AffiliationwithSMCMandHSMCgivesCSDaccesstoexceptionalresourcestostudyearly forms of democratic governance in America. CSD’s location, only 70miles from theWashington, DCmetropolitanarea,benefitstheCenterbyprovidingitwithavarietyofopportunitiestousethevasthistoricalandpoliticalresourcesavailableintheregion.In thepast14years,CSDhas contributed toSMCM’s studentsand faculty, and theSouthernMarylandandMarylandcommunitiesbyprovidinganarrayofprogramsthathaveenrichedtheirlivesandinspiredthemtotakeanactiveroleinlocalandregionalpolitics.CSDhassupportedtheSMCMmissiontoinstillinstudentsadedicationtolifelonglearningandserviceandthedesiretocontributetothesocial,political,economicandculturalvitalityof thecommunity.Empoweredwithanever-increasingnetworkofsupporters, fellows,andaffiliatedexperts,CSDhascultivateditspublicroleasacenterofpoliticaldebate,researchandadvice.Ithasprovided research support, published scholarly writings, encouraged public participation and organizededucational events, contributing to the body of knowledge available to guide citizens, public officials andfutureleadersinmakinginformeddecisionsonmattersthatareimportanttolocalcommunities,thenationandtheglobalsociety.1.ThemissionTheCenterexplorescontemporaryandhistoricalissuesassociatedwiththeideasofdemocracy,libertyandjusticeinnationalandinternationalcontexts.Itsupportsresearchthatenhancesourunderstandingofliberaldemocracyand its critics.CSD facilitatesactivities that strengthendemocracyand the ruleof law;enhancesecurity and individual freedoms; invigorate the civil society; encourage free enterprise; and increaseeconomic,environmental,educationalandculturalequity.2.VisionCSDaspires tobecomea regionalandnationalhub forcreative thinking, innovativeactionandstimulatingdialoguethatempowersindividualsandcommunitiesnearandfartobuilddemocraticpolitiesandimprovethelivesofpeopleeverywhere.3.WhereWeHaveBeenSinceitsfounding,CSDhashostedmorethan250eventsinvitinglegendarymediapersonalitiesaswellasU.S.legislators,judges,policyspecialistsandhigh-rankingmembersofthenationaldefensecommunitytotalkonthe campus. Past speakers include television journalists such as Tom Brokaw and Gwen Infill and printjournalistssuchasCarlBernstein,BobWoodward,RobinWright,NeilIrwinandDavidIgnatius.CSDhasalsohosted senior government officials, including the formerDirector ofNational Intelligence,MikeMcConnelland the former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, James Woosley. CSD also regularly hosts U.S.

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legislators and state and localpolitical candidates, and ithasworked closelywithMarylandgovernors. In2013, the Center hosted former Lt. GovernorMichael Steel with his MSNBC colleague SteveMcMahon. In2016, the Center organized a two-day forum,UnitedNotDivided: Economic Inequalityand theOpportunityGap in Baltimore, featuring speakers such as Rep. StenyHoyer; Rep. John Sarbanes; andKurt L. Schmoke,PresidentoftheUniversityofBaltimoreandformerMayorofBaltimorefrom1987to1999.TheCenterhasawardedover35WilliamDonaldSchaeferInternshipsandsponsored21InternationalMellonScholarswhohavetraveledtocountriessuchastheGambia,Thailand,Brazil,andSenegal.Ithascollaboratedwith The Patuxent Partnership (TPP) for more than 10 years, organizing annual joint events such as thePatuxentDefenseForumandPatuxentPolicyGroup.The CSD Advisory Board has been an important asset to the Center and the local community. Among thenotablepersonswhohavehelpedtheCentertothriveare:formerU.S.DistrictCourtJudgeThomasPenfieldJackson; former National Security Adviser, Anthony Lake; former State Senator, J. Frank Raley, Jr.; formerMaryland Governor, William Donald Schaefer; and former Washington Post Editor-in-Chief, Benjamin C.Bradlee.TheHonorableBenjaminLouisCardin,U.S.SenatorfromMaryland,andtheHonorableStenyHoyer,U.S. Representative for Maryland’s 5th congressional district, currently serve as members of the AdvisoryCommittee.4.GoalsandStrategiesThegoalsof theCenter reflectavisionof theCSDasanactiveandvibranthubof innovativeand thought-provokingresearchanddialogueonmattersrelatingtodemocracy,libertyandjustice.1. Advance historical and contemporary knowledge and understanding of ideas and practices

associatedwithdemocracy,libertyandjustice.Ø Provide a forum for presentations by SMCM faculty and students, government officials,

journalists, scholars and civic activists on subjects related to governance, justice, civil society,diversity,toleranceandglobalization.

2. Developnewprogramsandenhanceexistingprograms.

Ø Expand programming thematically and geographically, engaging external communities andunderrepresented groups. Form an enthusiastic, capable and innovative team to provideexcellentservices,programsandresourcestoCSDanditsstakeholders.

3. RaiseCSD’svisibilityandreputationasacenterofresearchandtheleadingnonpartisanforumfor

civiceducationanddialogue.Ø ServeasMaryland’s leadingproducerofspeakerevents,seminars,conferences,civiceducation

workshops,andpublicdebates.Organizeeventsaton-andoff-campuslocations.CultivateCSD’spublicroleasacenterofpoliticaldebate,researchandadvice.

4. EnhanceCSD’sinternationalreputationasahubofdemocracystudies.

Ø Providelearningopportunitiesthattranscendinternationalboundariesthroughglobalnetworksthat involve institutes of higher education, nongovernmental organizations, businesses andgovernmententities.

5. Facilitate citizen involvement in politics and social life. Encourage students, staff, faculty and

otherstakeholderstocontributetotheoveralldiversityandvitalityofthelocalcommunity.Ø Provide experiential opportunities for students to work in civil society organizations and

businesses and at various levels of government through an increasing number of paid andunpaid internships. Build and expand the use of communications and marketing tools andtechnologiestoadvanceCSD’smission.

6. Increaserevenuethroughfundraising,consulting,grantsandcontracts.

Ø Raisephilanthropicdollarsandapplyforgrantfinancingin2015-2016.Implementafundraisingcampaign,startingintheFallof2016.

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5.FinancialOverviewTo finance its operations, the Center has relied on external support from major donors, trusts andfoundations.TheinitialfundingforCDSwasprovidedbyagiftof$250,000fromTerryMeyerhoffRubenstein,a member of the CSD Advisory Board and a SMCM Trustee from 1996 to 2007. In 2004, CSD secured aprestigious$500,000WethePeoplematchinggrant(of threetoone) fromtheNationalEndowment for theHumanities to support its development. This grant, along with other smaller donations, helped establishCSD’sendowmentandensureditssustainability.CSDcurrentlyhasa$3.2millionendowmenttohelpfunditsactivities. After 2012, the most substantial donation came from J. Frank Raley, a member of both theMarylandHouse of Delegates and theMaryland Senate, amember of the College Board of Trustees and afoundingmemberoftheCenteranditsAdvisor.ThecurrentendowmentvalueoftheJ.FrankRaleyFundis$1,043,371.Theannualrevenuesfromendowmentpayoutsandprivatedonationshavesustaineditsoperationsoverthepastseveralyearsataconstantlevel.Toexpanditsoperations,includingsponsorships,grantsandstipends,beyondthecurrent levels, theCenterwill increaseits fundraisingactivities.Philanthropicdollarsandgrantfinancingwillbeespeciallyimportantinthefuture.