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NEW YORK–The Board of Directors of Project Pericles is delighted to announce the election of Sanda Balaban as its new Executive Director following a national search. An alumna of Swarthmore College and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Balaban brings more than 20 years of experience in education and nonprofit leadership to Project Pericles. She will begin her new position in mid-July, succeeding Jan Risë Liss who has led the organization since 2005.  Balaban is currently the Co-Founder and Director of YVote/Next Generation Politics, an organization that engages young people through issue-driven and peer-led civic learning and leadership programs. She founded the organization in 2017 as a response to the societal challenges highlighted by the tumultuous 2016 election cycle. In collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders, leading activists, and with young people at the center, Balaban created the organization’s five signature programs, established a strong media presence, and secured $2 million in funding over the years. YVote/Next Generation Politics is a highly effective and well-regarded youth civic organization, serving more than 1,500 secondary school students to date in developing civic identity, agency, and efficacy. “Sanda's strategic and entrepreneurial vision, substantial leadership experience, knowledge of civic education, and experience in advocacy for democratic participation will strengthen the programs on our college and university member campuses, enhance Project Pericles as a driver of excellence, and contribute to greater civic engagement throughout the country,” said Richard Ekman, Project Pericles Board Chair. Search Committee Chair Eugene Tobin added: “Sanda’s commitment to liberal education, social justice, and passion for encouraging and motivating young people to view democracy and its institutions as vehicles for positive change represent an inspirational model that will resonate powerfully across American higher education.” Earlier in her career, Sanda served as the Executive Director of the New York State Governor's Committee on Scholastic Achievement mentoring program, Director of Strategic Learning Initiatives for Facing History and Ourselves, and held several leadership roles at the New York City Department of Education. She has also worked in philanthropy at the Ford Foundation and Goldman Sachs Foundation, and for nonprofits including the Boston Private Industry Council and The Teachers Network. Her current board memberships include Generation Vote, the Human Schools Project, the Hope Reichbach Memorial Fund, and the Chalkbeat National Reader Advisory Board. Jan Risë Liss, Founding Executive Director of Project Pericles who will be stepping down in July, highlighted her confidence for the future: “Under Sanda Balaban’s leadership, the organization will continue its commitment to empower students through signature programs which equip our campuses to drive meaningful change at the local and national levels. Project Pericles is at a high point organizationally and the timing is right for generational change. Sanda’s leadership presents a prime opportunity to create an even brighter future in service of our member institutions, civic engagement, democracy, and higher education more broadly.” “I am honored to join Project Pericles and build upon its legacy,” says Balaban. “Leading Project Pericles offers a powerful platform through which to continue creating programs to foster civic agency and to deepen the ways in which colleges and universities prepare students for effective civic participation. Influencing the growth of students during this important developmental window of early adulthood is the key to American democracy’s vitality in the future.” Balaban emphasizes the importance of Project Pericles’ work: “If we are to counter some of the alienating headwinds that divide us and instead cultivate ways of being and doing that unite us, we must invest in young people and create meaningful ways for them to engage in constructive civil discourse and civic action. I look forward to working in partnership with presidents, provosts, and Periclean program directors to create a springboard for lifelong civic participation and social responsibility.” About Project Pericles: Project Pericles is a consortium of colleges and universities that promotes civic engagement within higher education. Building on the innovative vision of Eugene M. Lang, Project Pericles works at the forefront of civic engagement and social responsibility in areas including faculty and course development, curricular coherence, community engagement, and research into best practices. Its programs empower college students by giving them the tools they need to address society's grand challenges including: climate change, economic justice, education access, immigration, mass incarceration, public health, race and inequality, and voter engagement. In addition to working with 29 Periclean campuses, Project Pericles works with faculty at more than 50 colleges and universities. Project Pericles has received support from a wide range of individuals and organizations including The Eugene M. Lang Foundation, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, the Mellon Foundation, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, The Students Learn Students Vote Coalition, The Teagle Foundation, and Up to Us/Net Impact. Contact: For inquiries, contact Arielle del Rosario at [email protected] and (908) 510-6287. A PDF of the press release can be downloaded here.  Project Pericles is saddened by the passing of long-time Board of Advisors member, Christopher F. Edley, Jr. He served on our Board of Advisors since the beginning of the organization in 2001. He was deeply committed to social justice and a life-long advocate for civil rights. Mr. Edley will be greatly missed.
 Are you looking for creative ways to engage students around the 2024 election? Here's a recap from Project Pericles and the Center for Artistic Activism (C4AA) Creative Civic Learning: Faculty-Led Ideas to Strengthen Democracy in 2024 from May 13th at 12 pm ET. Faculty Fellows from C4AA and Project Pericles’ Civic and Voter Engagement Fellowship Program have shared their approaches to implementing creative civic lessons in their classroom, and how other faculty and staff on campus can navigate civic discussions this election year.
Project Pericles is excited to announce the winners of the Spring 2024 Debating for Democracy (D4D) Letter to an Elected Official Competition. This year, we have winners from Pitzer College in California, Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, and Wagner College in New York. Student teams won $500 to advocate for policy changes addressing public safety, education rights and racial equity, and sustainability. Congratulations!
The new year has started strong. Last month, Project Pericles held two compelling sessions at the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) Annual Meeting, making it 18 years in a row that Project Pericles has presented at this prestigious venue.
After nearly two decades of leading Project Pericles to its place of leadership in American higher education, I am announcing my intention to retire as Executive Director effective Spring 2024.
Project Pericles is ending 2023 on a high note. We invite you to read about exciting updates to our programs that empower faculty, students, administrators, and their communities to advance democratic and civic engagement.
Project Pericles launched redesigned and expanded Civic Engagement Resources for faculty and staff available free on our new website. Materials include an interactive database with 100+ civic engagement syllabi and modules for deliberative dialogue, voter engagement, and addressing voter suppression.
A panel of Periclean faculty presented an engaging panel, "The Power of Collaborations: A Multi-Perspective Conversation" at the Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement (CLDE) Meeting May 31 - June 2, 2023, in Boston. The room was packed with administrators, faculty, staff, students, and nonprofit partners all interested in learning how to advance and overcome obstacles to community-engaged learning in the classroom.
Project Pericles presented two energizing panels “Creating Curricula, Empowering Communities” and “Collaborating for a Healthy Democracy” at The American Association of Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) 2023 Annual Meeting held in San Francisco January 18-20. With both a 75-minute and a 60-minute panel, an honor to have two chosen by the AAC&U’s selective process. This was a valuable opportunity to share the incredible work of nine Periclean Faculty Leaders–each of whom develop innovative curricula that create experiences that equip students to transform our political and social landscape.
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