About the CCE

Through its mission, the Center for Civic Engagement helps break the barrier between campus and community. The Center seeks not only to be a “convener of conversations,” but also a resource that offers balanced and diverse viewpoints on society’s most important issues and questions.

The Center also is uniquely positioned to provide unbiased and impartial information regarding politics, policy and American democracy. This focus ensures that the Center is a valuable commodity for OU students seeking fair and unbiased information regarding topics of interest and concern to them.

Founded in September, 2018, the Oakland University Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) was created to address observed deficiencies in civic literacy and to position OU as a “convener of conversations” regarding issues of public interest and importance. As such, the Center seeks to facilitate conversations that are civil, respectful, deliberate and productive. The Center is committed to diversity of thought as a valuable tool for building community and enhancing civil discourse.

Programming at the Center for Civic Engagement is always intended to showcase multiple and varied perspectives. Though participants in programs may sit left or right of partisan lines, careful consideration is always given to ensure that a multitude of viewpoints are represented. Additionally, the Center encourages dialogue surrounding topics of public concern, and strives to ensure that multiple voices are heard in an effort to demonstrate the many ways to confront provocative or potentially divisive issues.

Since its inception in 2018, the Center for Civic Engagement has steadily expanded its footprint and influence as a leader in facilitating public discourse and civic literacy thanks to the passion and leadership of founding director, David Dulio. Generous event sponsorships have supported programming efforts thus far and are a demonstration of confidence in the work being done at the Center. The Center continues to be sought after as a partner for other opportunities, further enhancing the reputation of the Center for Civic Engagement and Oakland University.

Leadership and Faculty Affiliates

David Dulio, Director
David A. Dulio is Interim Chief Community Engagement Officer at Oakland University. Dulio is also a Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Civic Engagement. He teaches courses on campaigns and elections, Congress, political parties, interest groups, and other areas of American politics. Dulio has published 16 books, with two of his most recent being “Congress and Religion: The Intersection of Faith and Politics” and “Campaigns and Elections American Style: The Changing Landscape of Political Campaigns.” He has written dozens of articles and book chapters on subjects ranging from the role of professional consultants in U.S. elections to campaign finance. Dulio is also a former American Political Science Congressional Fellow on Capitol Hill where he worked in the U.S. House of Representatives Republican Conference for former US Rep. J.C. Watts, Jr. (R-OK). Dulio also regularly provides political analysis for state, national and international news outlets including CNN, CBC, BBC and many others.

Since its founding in 2018, Dulio has led OU’s Center for Civic Engagement with the intent on making OU known as a convener of conversations about issues of public importance. The Center has hosted dozens of events and programs that have taken on a wide range of public policy issues, hosted world-renown leaders – including former US Secretary of State Madeline Albright and former President of Poland, Lech Walesa – and sought after speakers including election analysts Donna Brazile and Karl Rove. In addition, the Center hosted three debates in 2022 between candidates running for office: Haley Stevens and Andy Levin; the GOP gubernatorial primary candidates; and Gretchen Whitmer and Tudor Dixon. A theme present in all of the work the Center does is civility. The Center has partnered with Nolan Finley and Stephen Henderson’s The Civility Project for several events that seek to bolster civility in public life.

Nicole Mathew, Assistant Director, Department of Political Science
Nick DiPucchio, Faculty Affiliate, Department of History
Mark Navin, Faculty Affiliate, Department of Philosophy
Rose Wedemeyer, Faculty Affiliate, School of Medicine