National Civic Learning Initiative Names Executive Director

Mary Ellen Auriemma to lead Educating for American Democracy from its new home at the Adams Presidential Center

QUINCY, Mass. — (July 31, 2025) — The Adams Presidential Center today announced the appointment of Mary Ellen Auriemma as executive director of Educating for American Democracy (EAD), a nationwide effort to provide students with access to high-quality history and civic learning opportunities. Selected following a national search that drew more than 150 applicants, Auriemma, a former educator and non-profit leader, will guide the nonpartisan initiative through its next phase of growth, with an emphasis on expanding adoption of EAD resources, strengthening educator support, and building long-term sustainability.

Auriemma has spent her entire career in education, bringing over 20 years of experience leading strategy, coalition-building, and program growth to her stewardship of EAD. Most recently, she served as executive director of state & district partnerships at the College Board, where she led a multimillion-dollar portfolio and influenced strategic planning with district and state partners to advance academic opportunities for millions of students throughout the country. Auriemma began her career as a high school social studies teacher in rural Missouri, where she designed and implemented the district’s first-ever AP U.S. History and AP Government & Politics courses and helped expand civic learning opportunities for all students.

“Educating for American Democracy reflects something I believe at my core: that every student deserves equal access to educational opportunities—including rich, meaningful civic learning,” said Auriemma. “I’ve experienced firsthand how civic education can shape a young person’s sense of agency and possibility. I’m honored to help carry this vision forward and to work with partners across the country to build the systems and support that will sustain it for generations to come.”

The 2021 launch of Educating for American Democracy highlighted the critical need to reinvest in history and civics education. National test scores for civics recently declined below 1998 levels, with only 22% of U.S. students demonstrating proficiency in this subject.

To help expand access to high-quality learning opportunities, EAD’s Roadmap to Educating for American Democracyoffers educators a strategic framework, including content guidance and instructional and implementation strategies, to support history and civics education. EAD and its Consortium members also facilitate grantmaking and provide customizable classroom materials, fellowship opportunities, and professional learning programming for educators.

Auriemma’s appointment builds on the recent announcement that EAD is now part of the Adams Presidential Center, in alignment with the Center’s mission to foster lifelong civic learning. John Adams was a champion for public education and believed it was essential to the health and stability of democracy. Before studying law, he worked as a teacher; he would later write the Massachusetts state constitution, the first to establish a duty for the state to provide public education for all. The Adams Presidential Center aims to share the history of a great American family and inspire future generations to serve their communities and our nation.

“EAD will be a major initiative of the Adams Center, and we are thrilled to welcome Mary Ellen as its executive director,” said Dr. Kurt Graham, President of the Adams Presidential Center. “She brings a unique blend of classroom experience, organizational leadership, and systems-level thinking to this role. Her passion for U.S. history and civic learning is matched by her ability to turn vision into action – and her appointment ensures that the promise of EAD will continue to grow and thrive.”

Auriemma joins a growing team at the Adams Center; Graham was named the Center’s inaugural president last fall, and Sadie Troy was recently appointed as the Center’s Director of Education and Public Programming.

One of her early mandates is to develop a strategic plan to guide EAD’s evolution and efforts to deepen educator support, scale high-impact implementation, and build sustainable partnerships. Auriemma will work closely with Graham and the EAD Steering Committee, chaired by Peter Levine of Tufts University. EAD Steering Committee members serve as centers of excellence for EAD implementation and sponsor exemplary projects that achieve implementation with integrity of the EAD Roadmap in domains such as curriculum, professional development, civic learning plans, state standards, and research.

EAD is proud to recognize Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello as a founding partner in the work. iCivics, which previously housed EAD, remains involved in and supportive of the work. Monticello President Jane Kamensky and Louise Dubé, CEO of iCivics (including CivxNow), remain actively involved as members of the EAD Steering Committee. 

To learn more about Educating for American Democracy, visit educatingforamericandemocracy.org. To learn more about the Adams Presidential Center, visit theadamspresidentialcenter.org.

About the Adams Presidential Center

The Adams Presidential Center aspires to reinvigorate the democratic ideals that inspired the Adamses and drove them to build a new nation. The Center will create dynamic experiences that bring to life the story of the Adams family. Highlighting the Adamses’ contemporary relevance, the Center will inspire future generations to serve their communities and our nation. For more information, visit our website.

About Educating for American Democracy Educating for American Democracy is a nationwide effort to provide students with access to high-quality history and civic learning opportunities. In addition to its Roadmap to Educating for American Democracy, a learning framework that provides content guidance and instructional and implementation strategies for educators, EAD and its Consortium members facilitate grantmaking and offer customizable classroom materials, fellowship opportunities, and professional learning programs for educators. To learn more about Educating for American Democracy, visit educatingforamericandemocracy.org