Leadership & Staff
Co-chairs — Ben and Myrna Cardin
Ben Cardin and Myrna Cardin have devoted their lives to public service, education, civic leadership, and strengthening the communities they call home. Across decades of service in government, education, nonprofit leadership, and civic institutions, they have championed the values of principled leadership, civil discourse, democratic participation, and service to others, guided by a shared belief that lasting progress is achieved by bringing people together in pursuit of the common good.
Recognizing that a healthy democracy depends upon each generation embracing the responsibilities of informed citizenship, civil discourse, civic engagement, and public service, the Cardins established the Center at Towson University to preserve and carry forward the values that have shaped a lifetime of service in the public interest. Today, the Center stands as a lasting legacy, inspiring and preparing future generations to lead with integrity, respect, and a steadfast commitment to the common good while advancing the enduring democratic ideals at the heart of the American experiment.
Executive Director
Nora Demleitner brings more than 30 years of experience across public service, legal affairs and higher education. She currently serves as a senior fellow at the Council on Criminal Justice, a national nonpartisan organization dedicated to safety, fairness and justice for all, and previously served as president of St. John's College in Annapolis.
Demleitner was dean of the Washington and Lee University School of Law from 2012 to 2015 and later the Roy L. Steinheimer Jr. Professor of Law there from 2015 to 2021. She also held faculty and academic leadership roles at St. Mary's University School of Law in Texas (1994–2001) and at Hofstra University's Maurice A. Deane School of Law in New York (2001–2015), serving as dean from 2007 to 2012. She earned her JD from Yale Law School, an LLM with distinction in international and comparative law from Georgetown University Law Center, and a bachelor's degree from Bates College, and clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. during his tenure on the Third Circuit.
Special Assistant to Presidential Scholar, Senator Ben Cardin
Debbie Yamada
Special Assistant to Presidential Scholar, Senator Ben Cardin
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Debbie Yamada is a seasoned congressional and government affairs professional with over two decades of experience in the U.S. House and Senate. For nearly 30 years, she served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Scheduling to U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, managing the Senator’s complex schedule across local, national and international platforms. In this role, she coordinated high-level engagements, oversaw all briefing materials and official communications, and served as a liaison to members of Congress, federal agencies, foreign dignitaries and the military.
Known for her ability to navigate complex institutions and facilitate strategic engagement at the highest levels, she has also led internship and youth programs, including the U.S. Senate Page Program. Debbie holds a B.S. in Human Resources from Virginia Tech.