Institute Team

Adam heads up the Institute’s operations team consisting of data services, finance, and human resources. Prior to joining the Institute in 2015, he served as Director of Strategy and Business Development and Director of Portfolio Development with Orbital ATK in Baltimore, Maryland, and as Manager of Business Strategy with Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems. Adam earned his M.A. in Security Studies from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and his B.A. in History from American University’s College of Arts and Sciences in Washington, D.C. Contact Adam at acushing@billofrightsinstitute.org

David joined the Bill of Rights Institute as president in 2013 and has worked for twenty years at the intersection of civic engagement and education reform. Having taught courses in American politics and public policy in the history and political science departments of Boston College and Hillsdale College, he was also founding director of a national civic education program for high school teachers at Hillsdale College, as well as the Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Studies, in Washington, D.C. David has designed online educational programs used by more than half a million participants and is a nationally-recognized proponent of civic education that engages the hearts and minds of students. Author of Humility: An Unlikely Biography of America’s Greatest Virtue (HarperCollins, 2013) and Divided over the Declaration: How an Enduring Debate Sustains the Vision of America (Diversion Books, 2026), David has written for the Wall Street Journal and Fast Company, among many other publications. He earned his Ph.D. in political science from Boston College, where he received fellowships from the Pew, Earhart, and Bradley Foundations. Contact David at dbobb@billofrightsinstitute.org

Stan joined the Bill of Rights Institute in 2018 and leads the Education Team, including Content, Programs, Outreach, and Teacher Services . He previously served as the president of the GFC Foundation, a Utah-based grantmaking foundation. He was the senior analyst for Probity Advisors, a registered investment advisor in Dallas, Texas, and worked in the technology industry as a software engineer and database developer. He serves on the board of the State Policy Network, and previously chaired the boards of Sutherland Institute, National Council for Adoption, and Legacy Films Foundation. Stan received an MBA from Southern Methodist University and a BS in computer science from Utah Valley University. Contact Stan at sswim@billofrightsinstitute.org

Since joining the Bill of Rights Institute in 2014, Kirk has made significant contributions to the scope, sophistication, and substance of the Institute’s resource development. He leads the Institute’s Content Team, which guides the Institute’s content creation, including curricular and video resources. Kirk received his B.A. in History from Hillsdale College and his M.A. in History from George Mason University. Contact Kirk.

Joanne joined BRI in the summer of 2019 and handles all aspects of human resources with a keen focus on organizational enhancement and growth. Her experience includes successes in both the for-profit and for-purpose organizations. Years of hands-on human resource experience from HR Director to Chief Administrative Officer have given her a breadth of knowledge on how to recognize, analyze, strategize and ultimately lead organizations to create or enhance effective and purposeful employee-centric cultures. She has a B.S. degree in communication disorders from Bloomsburg University focused on profound hearing challenges in children. Contact Joanne at jrmckinney@mybri.org.

Anthony started at the Bill of Rights Institute in February of 2022, bringing extensive accomplishments developing and implementing strategic sales and marketing plans, coaching and leading sales teams and creating trusted relationships with relevant stakeholders, in both non-profit and for-profit settings. Anthony employs a leadership style that is empathetic and inclusive. He has had long tenures at trade associations, insurance and securities firms, and in the non-profit sector as a manager, developer, and volunteer leader. Anthony’s passion for the mission of The Bill of Rights Institute stems from a youth spent wandering the battlefields of the American Revolution in the Northeast, receiving a degree with a concentration in Federal American History, and maintaining a strong interest in developing an ever-deeper understanding of and appreciation for the ideals of the American Experiment. Anthony has been a syndicated columnist and writes frequently on American history, music and prose. Contact Anthony at asimone@mybri.org.

Curtis heads the Institute’s Civics Innovation Lab. Prior to joining BRI in 2025, he was Vice President at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. He was also with Northrop Grumman for 30 years in a variety of roles in program management, advanced technology development, and business strategy. Curtis also served in the US Navy, retiring at the rank of Commander. He holds a BS in engineering from the US Naval Academy and is a graduate of the Naval War College. Contact Curtis at CPearson@billofrightsinstitute.org

Wendy Connell leads marketing and communications at the Bill of Rights Institute, bringing over twenty years of experience in brand strategy, communications, and team leadership across mission-driven and consumer-focused organizations. Before joining BRI, she held senior marketing roles at Stride, Custom Ink, and several start-ups, where she led rebrands, go-to-market strategies, and scaled teams and technology. Wendy earned her MBA in Marketing from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and her BA in Public Policy Studies from Duke University. Contact Wendy at WConnell@billofrightsinstitute.org

Abby joined the Bill of Rights Institute in 2026 as Project Coordinator for the Content Team. She supports the development and publication of educational resources by managing project timelines, coordinating across teams, and ensuring content meets high standards of quality and accessibility. Before joining BRI, Abby spent five years as a high school social studies teacher, developing innovative learning programs, leading complex projects, and supporting civic engagement initiatives through programs such as Youth and Government and We the People. Abby earned her BA in History Education from Brigham Young University-Idaho and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Organization Development and Knowledge Management at George Mason University. 

Before joining the BRI team in 2024, Allison worked for 18 years as a middle and high school teacher. Her classroom experience includes World History, Economics, AP Government and AP U.S. History, among others. She prides herself on making content relatable and accessible to students and producing curriculum materials that are helpful to teachers. Allison has a M.Ed. from Wright State University and a M.A. in American History from Pace University.

Ally joined the Bill of Rights Institute team in 2022 after ten years working in public history and museum education. In her Communications role, she develops messaging for BRI stakeholders and leads media outreach to expand the organization’s visibility nationwide. Ally earned a M.A. in History from Virginia Commonwealth University and a B.A. in History from the University of Virginia. Contact Ally.

Amanda serves as the Creative Director at the Bill of Rights Institute, where she leads the in-house studio and collaborates with various teams to ensure the success of all video projects produced by BRI. Prior to joining the team in 2024, Amanda worked as a video producer in the field of online education, collaborating with academics from diverse disciplines to create video content for a wide range of programs. Additionally, she has contributed her video expertise within the nonprofit sector, serving as a producer at a government think tank and PBS. Amanda received her B.A. in Film – Video from Pennsylvania State University.

Andy brings nearly a decade of experience across brand design, marketing, photography, and visual storytelling, with work spanning agencies, mission-driven organizations, and e-commerce. He has held design roles at Mekanic, a branding agency, as well as at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, creating accessible, research-driven materials for policy and academic audiences, and previously spent several years as an Art Director at Custom Ink supporting large-scale campaigns and brand systems. At BRI, Andy applies his design expertise in service of civic education, using thoughtful, purposeful design to help connect BRI’s mission with educators, students, and the broader public.

Becky joined BRI as an intern in Fall 2020 and has now joined the Development team where she works on data organization, moves management organization, and gift acknowledgement. She is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University with an MA in Museum Studies and Certificate in Nonprofit Management, and of Millersville University of Pennsylvania with a BA in History and German. Prior to her role at BRI, Becky worked for 5 years in the title insurance industry. Contact Becky at bleakway@mybri.org.

C.C. joined the Bill of Rights Institute in April 2025 and supports the content team in producing resources to teach history and civics. She is a lifelong learner and history lover with a particular interest in early American history and the way that information has been shared and understood in the past. Before coming to the Institute, C.C. worked in a variety of classroom settings, instructing students ranging in age from middle school through advanced undergraduate. She earned a B.A. in History and Government from Georgetown University and a Ph.D. in History from George Washington University.

Before joining BRI full time in February of 2017, Chris worked for seventeen years in sales and marketing for The Washington Post’s Newspaper in Education program. He has also done marketing, public relations, and fundraising for several small theater companies in Washington, D.C., has worked as an education aide and consultant for The Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery and has written curriculum for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF’s TeachUNICEF program. Chris has a B.A. in History and Drama from Thomas More College in his native state of Kentucky, and an M.A. in Theater History, Literature, and Criticism from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Contact Chris.

Cole joined the Bill of Rights Institute as an intern in 2023. The son of a K-12 librarian, Cole is thrilled to continue his work at the Institute, where he can pay forward his passions for education, history, and civil discourse. Cole is responsible for ensuring the Development team has the tools needed to expand funding for BRI’s growing number of programs and initiatives.   Cole is a recent graduate of Missouri State University’s Defense and Strategic Studies Master’s program, and earned his Bachelor’s with Distinction in History. He earned the university’s highest honor as a Citizen Scholar, spearheaded the creation of Missouri State’s History Club, volunteered as an intern for the United States Senate, and was a Graduate Fellow of the Rumsfeld Foundation. Contact Cole.  

Danny became a part of the BRI team in Summer 2023. Prior to his association with BRI, he amassed over a decade of experience in web development. Holding several certifications in full-stack development, Danny is deeply committed to the craft of software engineering. He possesses an innate ability to navigate challenges and design optimal solutions. Beyond the realm of web development, Danny also brings to the table expertise in graphic design and interactive media production, showcasing his multifaceted skill set.

Dominque joined BRI in the Summer of 2023. She is a 2017 graduate of Howard University with a degree in marketing. Her experience comes with a wealth of knowledge in the digital marketing space, specifically in the life sciences and marketing consulting industries. Dominque has remained passionate about history throughout her life. She is excited to merge her interests in history and marketing, adding to BRI’s mission and value.

Don Jenkins joined the Bill of Rights Institute in 2025 as Manager of Program Partnerships after teaching a wide variety of social studies classes in grades 6-12 for thirty years in Illinois and Washington State.  Throughout his career, he has been fortunate to work with organizations such as the Korean War Legacy Foundation, iCivics, Center for Civic Education, and The Genocide Education Project.  In his role at BRI he designs and leads educational programs for teachers across the country. He spent the 2024-2025 school year in Norway as a Fulbright Roving Scholar in American Studies holding workshops for over seven thousand students on American history and government topics as well as leading professional development for teachers concerning AI, civic education, and best practices in education. He has participated in Fulbright programs to the Philippines and Germany working with teachers on developing lessons integrating design thinking and civic education. He has also presented at several National Council for the Social Studies conferences on topics such as global and civic education. Don earned his B.S. in Social Studies Education from Southern Illinois University and an M.S. in Secondary Education from Western Washington University.