Staff

Carolyn J. Lukensmeyer, Executive Director, National Institute for Civil Discourse

Dr. Lukensmeyer previously served as Founder and President of AmericaSpeaks, an award-winning nonprofit organization based in Washington D.C. that promotes nonpartisan initiatives to engage citizens and leaders through the development of innovative public policy tools and strategies. During her tenure, AmericaSpeaks has engaged more than 165,000 people and has hosted events across all 50 states and throughout the world. Dr. Lukensmeyer formerly served as Consultant to the White House Chief of Staff from 1993-94 and on the National Performance Review where she steered internal management and oversaw government-wide reforms. She was the Chief of Staff to Ohio Governor Richard F. Celeste from 1986-91, becoming the first woman to serve in this capacity. She earned her PhD in Organizational Behavior from Case Western Reserve University and has completed postgraduate training at the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland.

Ann-Eve Cunningham, Director of Development

Ann-Eve Cunningham is the Director of Development for the National Institute for Civil Discourse, having joined the Institute in February of 2012. With nearly two decades of experience leading successful development programs nationally, she came to the University of Arizona to direct fundraising programs at Dr. Andrew Weil’s Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine and Arizona Public Media. She is accomplished in all aspects of fund development including major gifts, planned giving, capital campaigns and annual giving.

Ann-Eve lived and worked in Washington D.C., and the greater New York metropolitan area. Prior to returning to Arizona in 2005, she lived in the Philadelphia area serving as Regional Executive Director and Director of Planned Giving at the American Red Cross, and Executive Director of Gilda’s Club Delaware Valley.

Ann-Eve holds a BA in Communication from the University of Arizona. She is also an accomplished photographer with prints of her work in private collections internationally.

Eric Diters, Assistant to the Executive Director

Eric Diters currently serves as Executive Assistant to Dr. Carolyn Lukensmeyer at the National Institute for Civil Discourse. Eric was a staff member at AmericaSpeaks for several years, where he served as an assistant to Dr. Lukensmeyer. His duties included managing Carolyn’s schedule and a vast range of other responsibilities, including supporting AmericaSpeaks fundraising efforts. Eric started in grassroots organizing as a field manager with US PIRG and the Human Rights Campaign. After exploring his interest in history with a stint at the U.S. Army Center of Military History, he returned to fundraising, first interning with a fundraising consultant at the Ashmead Group and later joining Senator Mark Warner’s 2008 campaign.

Eric grew up in upstate New York. He graduated from The George Washington University with a degree in International Affairs.

Peter Michaels, Communications Director

Peter Michaels

Peter Michaels is the Communications Director for the National Institute for Civil Discourse. With 30-plus years of news management and programming experience, his career includes writing, producing, creating, long-form programming and management of producers, reporters and writers at National Public Radio in Washington, D.C. and at NBC in New York. He holds a BA in English from St. Bernard College in Cullman, Alabama.

Jane Prescott-Smith, Managing Director

Jane Prescott-Smith is the Managing Director of the National Institute of Civil Discourse. She is a twelve-year veteran of the University of Arizona, serving previously in director positions at the Steele Children's Research Center and at the Eller College of Management. Prior to joining the University of Arizona, she was Director of Corporate Relations for Northwestern University. Before beginning her academic career, Ms. Prescott-Smith was a marketing manager at Kraft Foods and a buyer for Macy's and Federated Department Stores. Ms. Prescott-Smith holds an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School and a BS in Economics from Stanford University.