Provost Holden Thorp has appointed Stephanie Kurtzman, director of the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement, as interim executive director.
Kurtzman takes the helm from Amanda Moore McBride, the Bettie Bofinger Brown Associate Professor at the Brown School, who departs for the University of Denver.
The university will launch this fall a nationwide search for a permanent faculty director.
“We believe that Gephardt needs to continue to have an important academic agenda,” Thorp said. “We owe it to the institute and its prior accomplishments under Amanda’s leadership to make sure that the person who helps us further advance that agenda is the best person in the whole country.”
Meanwhile, the institute will continue its work building engaged citizens and strong communities. Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton said Kurtzman possesses the experience and leadership to push the institute forward.
“I am personally thrilled that Stephanie has agreed to take the reins of the Gephardt Institute,” Wrighton said. “She has served as the very effective leader of our Community Service Office for many years, and has been a key partner with Amanda since we formally integrated the Community Service Office with the Gephardt Institute. She will be able to sustain our momentum over the next year or so as we search for Amanda’s successor.”
Kurtzman, an 18-year veteran of the university, said she will continue important initiatives in the community and the classroom.
“I am honored to carry this torch as we continue cultivating engaged citizens who have the inspiration, knowledge and skills to make positive contributions to the challenging issues facing our communities,” Kurtzman said.
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