SMCM Center for the Study of Democracy
The Center for the Study of Democracy was founded as a joint initiative of St. Mary’s College of Maryland and its partner institution, Historic St. Mary’s City, the site of Maryland’s first capital. The purpose of the Center is to explore contemporary and historical issues associated with democracy and liberty in national and international contexts. The Center provides a forum for presentations by government officials, journalists, and scholars; publishes scholarly writings on subjects of civil governance; encourages and supports public participation in political processes; and engages undergraduate students in study and research on related subjects.
Michael Cain is the director of the Center and a professor of politics at St. Mary's College of Maryland.
Governance Board
- Harry J. Weitzel, (chair) Chief Financial Officer, Waring Hotels, Inc. and Cherry Cove Companies
- Jon Armajani, Assistant Professor, Department of Theology, College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University
- Benjamin Bradlee, Vice President-at-Large of The Washington Post, former President of Historic St. Mary’s City Commission, and College trustee
- Benjamin L. Cardin, U.S. Senator from Maryland and former College Trustee
- Rosann Catalano, Roman Catholic theologian at the Institute for Christian and Jewish Studies
- Ronald Hoffman, Executive Director of the Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture at the College of William and Mary
- Steny Hoyer, U.S. Representative from Maryland, Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, and College Trustee
- Thomas Penfield Jackson, Former U.S District Judge and College Trustee
- Ted Koppel, Broadcast journalist
- Anthony Lake, Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, former National Security Adviser, and College trustee
- Zach Messitte, Vice Provost for International Programs and the William J. Crowe, Chair, Associate Professor of Geopolitics at the University of Oklahoma; former Director of the Center for the Study of Democracy
- Steven Muller, President Emeritus of Johns Hopkins University and past chairman of the College’s Board of Trustees
- Jane Margaret O'Brien, President of St. Mary’s College of Maryland
- J. Frank Raley, Former Maryland State Senator and Trustee Emeritus at the College
- Terry Meyerhoff Rubenstein, Executive Vice President of the Joseph Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds and a former trustee of St. Mary's College; founding chair of the Center for the Study of Democracy
- Martin E. Sullivan, Director, Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery
