Our Leadership
Maureen Tobin - Executive Director
Maureen Tobin is an accomplished and highly regarded leader in the field of public engagement and civic leadership. As the Executive Director of the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership, Maureen has made significant contributions to shaping effective public engagement practices. Her passion for fostering productive relationships between local governments and communities drives much of her work.
Before taking on her role at the Davenport Institute, Maureen served as the first Communications and Engagement Director for the City of Morgan Hill, where she earned national recognition for her leadership in community engagement. Her work included overseeing high-impact projects, such as a complete street pilot project that garnered national attention and the city's largest infrastructure initiative to date. She also led a year-long community conversation focused on fiscal sustainability for the city, showing her ability to guide complex and essential civic discussions.
Maureen's work is informed by a wealth of experience in various sectors, including healthcare, education, and consulting. Her leadership in these areas complements her strong educational foundation, which includes a bachelor’s degree in Health Science from San Jose State University, certifications in public participation and crisis communications, and professional coaching credentials from the Coaches Training Institute.
As a nationally recognized speaker, trainer, and author, Maureen’s influence extends far and wide. She guided the development and implementation of the highly successful online program, Local Government and Community: Partnering for Success, which provides emerging community leaders with a comprehensive understanding of local government processes, funding, and the importance of civic engagement. Her commitment to the greater good earned her the 2021 IAP2 USA Greater Good Award, a testament to her enduring dedication to improving communities through public participation.
With a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by both local governments and the communities they serve, Maureen continues to empower others to engage meaningfully in the democratic process and work together for positive social change.
Robert Jordan (MPP '22) - Assistant Director
As Assistant Director of the Davenport Institute, Robert is able to combine his passion for local government and working with students. He leads on-campus programming, builds partnerships with local government leaders, and connects graduate students with opportunities in the public sector. Robert also leads and supports the Institute’s training programs, speaks at conferences and serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Pepperdine Graduate School of Public Policy, teaching a course titled "Leadership and Public Engagement". Robert brings experience in local government and community engagement from time spent working in the Mayor's office in the City of Riverside and the local government consulting firm, Tripepi Smith. Outside of work, he enjoys coaching swimming and exploring new restaurants in his neighborhood.
Fellows
Pete Peterson - Senior Fellow, Civic Engagement Training
Pete Peterson was the first executive director of the bi-partisan organization Common
Sense California (CSC). In 2010, CSC became the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement
and Civic Leadership at Pepperdine University. Currently, Peterson serves as dean
of Pepperdine's School of Public Policy. Along with teaching a class on the subject
at Pepperdine, Peterson co-developed the Davenport Institute's training seminars which
have been offered to more than 1,000 public sector leaders. He's also consulted on
many participatory governance projects throughout California on issues ranging from
budgets to water policy. Pete serves on the advisory boards of California's Institute
for Local Government, the Public Policy Institute of California, and the DaVinci Charter
Schools in Hawthorne, CA. Pete earned his BA in History from George Washington University,
and his Masters in Public Policy from Pepperdine's School of Public Policy. He was
the 2014 Republican nominee for California Secretary of State.