National Issues Forums Institute Appoints Maggie Commins, Ph.D. to Board of Directors 

Maggie Commins, Ph.D., Shelton Professor of Political Science at Queens University of Charlotte, was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the National Issues Forums Institute (NIFI). Commins is one of eight new directors elected to this distinguished group. Her appointment beings this year and will run through Spring 2025. 

“As someone who seeks to promote civic deliberation in the classroom, on campus, and in the Charlotte community, I am honored to serve on the Board of Directors for the National Issues Forums Institute,” said Commins. “As educators, we rely on organizations, like the NIFI, to promote the development of civic skills on university campuses and to contribute to essential collaborations in the communities in which we live.” 

Based in Dayton, Ohio, NIFI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that serves to promote public deliberation about difficult public issues. Its activities include publishing the issue guides and other materials used by local forum groups, encouraging collaboration among forum sponsors, and sharing information about current activities in the network. 

“I have used NIFI materials for years and look forward to contributing to the critical task of re-envisioning and supporting the work of this organization,” said Commins. “Their resources structure and encourage deliberative dialogues about challenging issues while encouraging students to think clearly, critically, and openly.”  

The NIFI group is comprised of directors and officers from diverse fields such as government, journalism, and secondary and higher education. Many NIFI directors also have extensive experience in neighborhood and civic organizations, libraries, and religious organizations.