Summary

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 Academy’s 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,

Description

The University of Denver seeks 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 action—bringing 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 engagement—the 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 country's most prominent scholars and practitioners. Co-curricular and faculty-driven experiences on free expression and pluralism will be part of every DU student’s 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 disagreement—among 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 university's 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 programming—and 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, Denver’s 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 city’s residents and visitors. The area is perhaps most well-known for its celebration of the outdoor lifestyle—and 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 Academy’s 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 nationally. In 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 up—one 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 Academy’s 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 life–though 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 Academy’s 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 $75–100 million over 5–7 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 Academy’s mission and values.

Position Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Reporting To: Dually to Chancellor Jeremy Haefner and Provost Elizabeth Loboa

Qualifications

Required

Senior leadership experience in a mission-driven organization, company, university, or major initiative–with 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 university—and ability to diplomatically navigate its corridors.
Ability to operate effectively in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.

Reporting & Structure