Director of Civic Education Receives Award for Civic Leadership

Lena holding her framed award

Lena Morreale Scott, director of civic education and engagement initiative at the University of Maryland College of Education, has received Transform Mid-Atlantic’s Civic Leadership Award for contributing to the development of civic and community engagement in the Maryland, DC, and Delaware region.

Transform Mid-Atlantic, a non-profit membership association that advocates for and supports higher education institutions participation in public service and civic engagement programs, presented Scott with the award on Dec. 13 during their annual awards ceremony. 

“I am humbled to receive this award and thankful for the chance to use it to acknowledge the talented individuals who share our mission and contribute to our work,” said Scott. By nature, a lot of the work I do is bridge building, and I find so much joy in connecting people to opportunities to do wonderful work in the world of civic education.”

Scott has spent the past 35 years advancing civic education in Maryland schools and across the country. She is widely known for co-founding the Maryland Civic Education Coalition, a statewide, cross-partisan network of more than 150 middle and high school students, educators, university researchers, civic partners and community members dedicated to ensuring equitable and meaningful civic education and service-learning opportunities for all Maryland students. 

“The Maryland Civic Education Coalition is committed to creating an inclusive space where different perspectives and experiences contribute to the success of the programs and initiatives we’ve developed,” said Scott. “Representation and agency matter, and bringing a diverse group of students together with educators, activists, and experts is critical for creating a comprehensive and meaningful education.” 

Since being named director of civic education and engagement initiatives in 2020, Scott has helped strengthen civic education in the College of Education and across the University of Maryland. Through college and campus-wide collaborations, such as the #EdTerpsVote campaign and celebrations of civic holidays, she is bringing students, faculty, and staff together to elevate civic and community engagement.

The need for democracy education and civic empowerment is greater than ever and I am so appreciative of the support and vision of Dean Kimberly Griffin and the College of Education,” said Scott.