A Strong Foundation of Leadership for CIRCLE’s Future
As we celebrate CIRCLE’s 20th anniversary, we are honored by the partnership and vision of leaders who are investing in CIRCLE’s continued ability to serve as an anchor institution in the fields of civic learning and engagement, and in pursuit of the mission of creating more equitable opportunities for all youth. We are excited to share two major developments: in addition to a group of impressive national experts who have joined CIRCLE’s new advisory board, the directorship of CIRCLE is now an endowed position.
Newhouse Foundation Endows the Directorship of CIRCLE
We are exceedingly honored and grateful to announce that the Samuel I. Newhouse Foundation has endowed the position of Director of CIRCLE through a gift to Tisch College, CIRCLE’s institutional home at Tufts University. Our current director, Dr. Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, will now hold the title of inaugural Newhouse Director of CIRCLE.
“I am so thankful to the Newhouse Foundation for its extraordinary generosity, and I take on the title of Newhouse Director with pride, humility, and a sense of tremendous responsibility,” says Kawashima-Ginsberg. “I believe this endowment is, first and foremost, a well-deserved recognition of the wonderful team I’m privileged to lead. And I’m excited about the ways it will strengthen CIRCLE and allow us to expand and deepen our impact in the future.”
The Newhouse Foundation, based in New York City, has long been a supporter of the Tisch College of Civic Life and Tufts University. We are grateful to Tufts alumni Elyse and Michael Newhouse and to our colleagues at Tisch and Tufts, especially to recently retired Tisch College Dean Alan Solomont, for their help in securing this historic donation.
Tisch College’s new dean celebrated the news: “I am exceedingly grateful to the Newhouses for this gift. At the heart of CIRCLE and Tisch College’s work is a central tenet: that our democracy is incomplete until every young person has the ability and the opportunities to help co-create our communities, our institutions, and our nation,” said Dayna Cunningham, Dean of the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life, which houses CIRCLE. “This gift will help us continue to advance our understanding of what kind of country we can aspire to be and what it’s going to take to get us there.”
Launching a New Advisory Board
In this momentous anniversary year and in support of Kawashima-Ginsberg’s directorship, CIRCLE is thrilled to announce the formation of a group of impressive leaders who will join our newly reformed advisory board. This prestigious group of experts bring to CIRCLE considerable experience in research and practice on youth voting, civic education, youth development, philanthropy, organizing, public policy, and other areas that intersect with civic life.
Co-chaired by Keesha Gaskins-Nathan, Director of Democratic Practice at the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and by Chris Kaneb, Principal at Catamount Management and Vice President of Real Estate at HP Hood LLC, this group will advise CIRCLE regularly on strategy, impact, and sustainability. The advisory board also includes three young people—Andrew Brennen, Zoë Jenkins and Zachary Patterson—all of whom are experts on various aspects of youth engagement research and practice.
The CIRCLE team looks forward to learning from and with the advisors. Please read more about this impressive group of leaders here.