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Professor Ryan Weaver standing in front of street mural in progress
Professor Ryan Weaver helped guide Presidential Citizen Scholars in their project to design and paint a street mural in front of the Newton Street Community Center in Salisbury.

SU's Weaver Named American Democracy Project Civic Fellow

Monday February 23, 2026

By SU Public Relations

SALISBURY, MD---Ryan Weaver, professor of interdisciplinary studies at Salisbury University, has focused his efforts at SU toward leadership training for civic-minded students who want to make the world a better place.

Over the next year or more, he will take this guidance outside the confines of Salisbury and even the Eastern Shore, as an American Democracy Project (ADP) Civic Fellow focused on student engagement for the American Association of State College and Universities (AASCU).

Through his fellowship position, he also will serve as an ex-officio member of the ADP Steering Committee while continuing his duties with SU’s Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement (PACE) and its Presidential Citizen Scholars (PCS) program.

The non-partisan ADP is a network of 300 state colleges and universities, in partnership with the New York Times, working collaboratively to prepare students who are empowered to be engaged and the lead in the future of democracy. AASCU is looking to reimagine the ADP initiative this year.

As the program’s fellow focused on student engagement, Weaver will design and lead a student-facing initiative engaging civic-minded students from ADP member campuses that includes identifying students across member institutions.

“Thanks to my work at SU through PACE and PCS, I’ve seen the best of the Salisbury University community, whose efforts have led to a better community at large,” said Weaver. “I’m excited to join others with the same enthusiasm for helping on a national level, and to connect with like-minded students from institutions around the country.”

The work toward a reimagined ADP begins at American Democracy Project at Compact26, the organization’s annual conference, held March 15-16 in Chicago, where Weaver will begin his efforts.

For SU students, Weaver’s leadership with ADP may open more opportunities for networking and project coordination through PCS and PACE on a national level. His appointment is for one year, with a possibility of reappointment for a second. 

For more information about ADP, visit the program website.

Learn more about SU and opportunities to Make Tomorrow Yours at www.salisbury.edu.