Executive Director, Miller National Academy for Free Expression & Pluralism

TheUniversity of Denverseeks a founding Executive Director to lead the Miller National Academy for Free Expression and Pluralism a new initiative dedicated to strengthening civil discourse pluralism and free expression in American public life.

At a time of profound polarization and declining trust across institutions the Miller National Academy is designed to connect ideas to actionbringing together leaders from civic nonprofit media business philanthropic and educational communities to model how disagreement can be principled rigorous and constructive. Housed at the University of Denver and national in scope the Academy will combine scholarly insight with real-world leadership serving both the campus community and a broad public audience.

The Executive Director will build and lead the Miller National Academy as a visible influential and financially sustainable institution. Working in close partnership with a distinguished Academic Director (reporting to the Executive Director)who will provide academic leadership and guide scholarly engagementthe Executive Director will focus on strategy growth fundraising public engagement and national positioning.

DU is looking for someone to be the founding executive director who brings a passion for the mission of free speech and pluralism an entrepreneurial spirit and experience bringing together staff scholars funders and other contributors to advance important initiatives.

The Opportunity

About the Miller National Academy:The Miller National Academy of Free Expression and Pluralism at the University of Denver will have as its stated mission to foster a culture that encourages students faculty and staff to embrace the values of free expression civil discourse and pluralism as the DU community engages with a diverse set of some of the countrys most prominent scholars and -curricular and faculty-driven experiences on free expression and pluralism will be part of every DU students experience; grant funding will be available to support internal and external research projects dedicated to free expression; and visiting faculty and speakers will be given a platform to share their experiences and expertise. The Miller National Academy will expand its reach beyond the university community with a focus on turning theory and thinking into action by for example launching a Scholars-in-Residence program to host leading thinkers/researchers convening an Annual Summit on Pluralism developing K-12 pedagogy and offering opportunities to the corporate community to engage more deeply in pluralism and principled disagreementamong other initiatives.

About DU:The University of Denver (DU) is a thriving 160-year-old private university known for its strong emphasis on research innovative teaching and vibrant campus life. DU is one of only 45 private universities (and one of only nine without a medical school) holding the prestigious R-1 designation for its commitment to research as well as the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement. Located in the heart of Denver DU offers a unique blend of academic excellence and lifestyle appeal. Known for its commitment to student engagement DU strives to foster a collaborative environment that encourages intellectual growth and community involvement. The universitys diverse programs dedicated faculty and state-of-the-art facilities prepare students to become leaders in their fields making DU a dynamic place to work and learn. DU maintains a strong commitment to free expression and pluralism through its current programmingand is eager to expand that focus through the new Miller National Academy on Free Expression and Pluralism.

About Denver:Known as the Mile-High City Denver offers stunning views of the Rocky Mountains 300 days of sunshine each year and an active lifestyle that attracts professionals families and entrepreneurs alike. With a fast-growing metro-area population currently at 3 million and a booming economy Denvers amenities are legion. From the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and Opera Colorado to the Five Points Jazz Festival and rock concerts at Red Rocks Amphitheatre or at many smaller venues music fans have a wide array of options; sports fans are in one of the few cities with teams from all four major professional leagues (NBA NFL NHL and MLB); and the Denver Art Museum the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver History Colorado the Black American West Museum & Heritage Center the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and so many other cultural venues bring the world to life for the citys residents and visitors. The area is perhaps most well-known for its celebration of the outdoor lifestyleand for those who enjoy hiking skiing mountain biking rafting or any other outdoor sport or hobby Denver is a great place to call home.

Position Overview:The inaugural Executive Director will provide visionary leadership and strategic direction to establish and grow the Miller National Academy. This individual will be responsible for advancing the Miller National Academys mission leading fundraising to support a program with a $5-7M annual budget and an endowment goal of $75M-$100M overseeing its initiatives and representing the Miller National Academy both within the university the broader community and collaboration with the Chancellor and the Provost the Executive Director will develop a strategic plan and staffing plan to ensure a robust and enduring program. The Executive Director will report dually to the Chancellor and Provost and will oversee an Academic Director and work collaboratively with faculty students staff and external partners to create a vibrant and inclusive institution for free expression and pluralistic discourse.

This role offers the opportunity to build a new national institution from the ground upone anchored at a leading university and designed to operate well beyond campus. The Executive Director will balance two related imperatives: providing leadership within the University of Denver community; and developing programs partnerships and platforms that achieve national visibility credibility and impact.

Success will be measured not only by campus engagement but by the Academys influence in national conversations its ability to convene leaders across political ideological and cultural differences and its long-term financial and institutional strength. DU is open to applications from nonprofit leaders business leaders journalists practitioners of policy and politics and academic lifethough this is not a faculty position offering tenure.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Institution Building

• Set and execute a clear strategic vision that establishes the Miller National Academy as a nationally recognized platform for advancing free expression and pluralism.
• Build organizational infrastructure governance and staffing to support long-term growth and impact.
• Work closely with the Provost Chancellor and Advisory Board with counsel from the Academic Director on strategic priorities and institutional direction.

Campus Leadership & Integration

• Provide leadership on campus by working with students faculty and administrators to advance a culture of free expression and pluralism.
• Ensure the Academys work is meaningfully integrated into university life while maintaining a clear outward-facing posture.
• Serve as a visible and trusted leader within the DU community and nationally.

Fundraising & External Relations

• Lead a comprehensive fundraising effort to raise $75100 million over 57 years.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with major donors foundations and institutional partners.
• Serve as the primary external representative of the Academy to donors media partners and national audiences.

Public Engagement Thought Leadership & Programming

• Oversee the development of high-impact programs convenings and initiatives that translate ideas into practice.
• Engage prominent voices across sectors including journalism nonprofit leadership business philanthropy and civic life.
• Design programs that are rooted at DU but built for national reach ensuring the Academy contributes meaningfully to public discourse.

Partnership with Faculty Leadership

• Oversee an Academic Director to be determined after the Executive Director has been named who will help lead academic content research integration and faculty engagement.
• Ensure strong alignment between scholarly work and public-facing initiatives with clear distinction of roles and responsibilities.

Operations & Team Leadership

• Recruit lead and manage a high-performing mission-driven team.
• Oversee budgeting operations reporting and compliance in alignment with university policies.
• Foster a strong organizational culture aligned with the Academys mission and values.

Qualifications

Required

• Senior leadership experience in a mission-driven organization company university or major initiativewith experience in public policy and media a major plus. Entrepreneurial mindset.
• Deep commitment to free expression pluralism and constructive civic (and civil) discourse.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising partnership development and/or revenue growth.
• Strong public presence and credibility with external stakeholders.
• Experience building and leading organizations programs or national initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to build initiatives that achieve credibility and influence beyond a single institution or community.
• Understanding of the ecosystem and culture of a universityand ability to diplomatically navigate its corridors.
• Ability to operate effectively in complex multi-stakeholder environments.

Reporting & Structure

• Reports dually to the Chancellor and Provost of the University of Denver.
• Oversees an Academic Director responsible for academic leadership.

Search Process

For inquiries or nominations please contact . Please see the Stock Executive Search website for additional information.