The National Civic League is introducing a new resource for communities, Senior Fellows, with the announcement of the first three individuals to serve in this role. “Our goal is to have approximately a dozen individuals available to us as their expertise and experience is needed by communities around the country,” said League president Doug Linkhart. “These first three senior fellows reflect the character and quality of the individuals we are seeking, with each having particular knowledge and skills that will help us advance civic engagement to create inclusive, thriving communities.”
Joseph Hoereth, PhD
Joe Hoereth was appointed Director of the Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement (IPCE) at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) in January 2009. IPCE creates opportunities for scholars, concerned citizens, students, and government to participate in public discourse and educational programs on current policy issues and social trends. As Director, he is responsible for the overall management of the Institute.
Joe came to UIC in 2004 as the Associate Director of the Great Cities Institute (GCI), bringing a wide range of experience in community development research and evaluation, having previously worked for university research centers, non-profit organizations and private consulting firms. As an independent consult, he conducted research projects on housing and comprehensive community building.
Joe has also worked for two private consulting firms, including an urban planning firm specializing in fiscal and economic impact studies for housing developers and a firm conducting research and program evaluation for foundations and non-profits. He has held positions at the Center for Urban Research and Learning (CURL) at Loyola University Chicago and the Center for Urban Policy Research (CUPR) at Rutgers University. Additionally, he has authored multiple reports and papers on housing, community economic development, and urban planning. Joe holds a B.A. in economics from the University of California at Berkeley, a Masters, and a Ph.D. in urban planning and policy from Rutgers University. He has taught courses as adjunct faculty in the Department of Urban Planning and the Department of Public Administration.
Larry Schooler
Until May, 2017, Larry Schooler managed public engagement and alternative dispute resolution for the City of Austin, Texas. Larry now works as a mediator, facilitator, and public engagement consultant for outside clients through Public Participation Partners. He is a senior fellow at the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life at the University of Texas and has taught in the graduate dispute resolution program at Southern Methodist University. He has served as president of the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2-USA); on the leadership council of the Association for Conflict Resolution Environment and Public Policy Section; and on the American Bar Association Public Policy, Consensus Building, and Democracy Committee.
Larry’s work has been featured by a variety of organizations and publications, including Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and the National League of Cities. Larry recently accepted the position of local board chair for Generation Citizen in Central Texas. He has served on the board of Interfaith Action of Central Texas (iACT) and hosted interfaith dialogue for the organization. He has also mediated disputes between military personnel and civilian employers for the U.S. Department of Defense.
Larry holds a master’s degree in conflict analysis and resolution and is pursuing a doctorate in the same field, along with a bachelor’s degree in history. Larry was an award-winning reporter and anchor for National Public Radio and Voice of America. He is the author “The ‘Public’ in Public Policy: Keys to a Successful Community Meeting” and a forthcoming book on the first Truth and Reconciliation Commission in the United States.
Lilian Ndangam, PhD
Prior to joining the National Civic League, Lilian worked as a program director for the African Canadian Social Development Council (ACSDC) – an umbrella organization for agencies serving the African Canadian community in Toronto from 2008 – 2012. During that time, she developed programs, oversaw the Council’s projects, strategic planning and worked with community organizations to address issues affecting immigrant communities in Toronto.
Lilian has also worked as a researcher and consultant for the World Association for Christian Communication – an international social justice organization in Toronto, Canada where she helped coordinate and co-author the 2010 and 2015 report for the Global Media Monitoring Project which monitors gender portrayal in the media globally.
Lilian holds a PhD in Journalism and Media Studies from the University of Sheffield, UK, an MA in Communication Studies from the University of Leeds, UK and BSc in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of Buea, Cameroon. She has been an Andrew Mellon Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Rhodes University, South Africa. Her research has been published in international media and communication journals. As a Senior Fellow at the National Civic League, her research will focus on local programs that foster inclusion for immigrants and strengthen international connections.
