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Institute for Public Leadership Names 8 Senior Fellows

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The Institute for Public Leadership (IPL) at the School of Public Policy has named eight senior fellows: Angela Bies, M. Apolonia Calderon Cervantez, Claire Dunning, Elizabeth Duke, Philip Joyce, Juan Pablo Martínez Guzmán, Anthony McCann and Luke Spreen. With their diverse backgrounds and wealth of experience in various sectors of public policy, these individuals will strengthen IPL’s commitment to fostering innovative solutions and effective leadership in addressing some of society’s most pressing issues.

As senior fellows, their contributions will drive impactful research initiatives and expand the boundaries of public leadership. They will also offer guidance and support to students in the Thurgood Marshall Research Fellowship Program, which is tailored to support undergraduate and graduate students passionate about exploring racial and/or social equity within public leadership. They will help to nurture a vibrant intellectual community and serve as models and mentors to students. 

"These inaugural fellows are a stellar group of award winning teachers, scholars and public servants with a truly impressive list of accolades,” noted IPL Director John Ronquillo. “Among them are three of the School's several elected fellows of the National Academy of Public Administration, a Russell Sage Foundation grant winner, a former editor-in-chief of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly and individuals with deep experience at federal agencies such as Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs and the Congressional Budget Office. Additionally, several of them have been recognized by the Association for Budgeting and Financial Management, the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action and the Midwest Political Science Association. Their affiliation brings immediate enrichment and we look forward to working with each of them to further realize the goals and objectives of the Institute for Public Leadership."

The fellows will actively engage with public-facing entities, including governmental bodies and nonprofit organizations, to effect tangible and meaningful change. IPL Research Director Cullen Merritt noted, “IPL senior fellows are dedicated scholars committed to supporting students and advancing public leadership in Maryland and beyond. Their wide-ranging areas of expertise illuminate the numerous knowledge areas that empower leaders to make a difference in their communities.”

Merritt added that the appointment of this diverse group of fellows highlights IPL's commitment to inclusive public leadership, which enriches the community and reinforces the notion that effective public leadership takes many forms. “With their research at the forefront,” said Merritt, “IPL is poised to emerge as a national beacon for cultivating pathbreaking leadership research that leaves a lasting impact on the public.”

In pursuit of advancing public leadership, IPL adopts a comprehensive approach that includes research, teaching, experiential learning, mentorship and the empowerment of underrepresented voices in public service. Committed to diversity, equity and inclusion across all its endeavors, IPL’s senior fellows strive to cater to a broad spectrum of learners, creating an environment where every voice is valued and contributes meaningfully to the field of public leadership.


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Megan Campbell
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