About The Mansfield Center
“I look to the future not with despair, but with confidence. The torch of history passes on. How it is used will determine ours and the world' s future.”
Senator Mike Mansfield
Founded by an Act of Congress in 1983, the Mansfield Center fosters globally minded leaders of integrity in honor of the legacy of Senator Mike Mansfield and his wife, Maureen Hayes Mansfield. We honor their legacy of patriotic statesmanship to bridge divides from a variety of perspectives, unified by our love of country and commitment to civic education and civil discourse.
The Mansfield Way
Rising from a hardscrabble childhood, service in three branches of the military, and the depths of Butte’s copper mines, Mansfield’s life was changed when he was encouraged by his wife Maureen to earn an education and become a professor at the 91´ÎÔª. In further service to the nation, he became Majority Leader in the U.S. Senate and later our nation’s Ambassador to Japan under presidents of both political parties. As the Senate’s longest-serving Majority Leader, Mansfield offered an example of statesmanship and ethical leadership in tumultuous times.
If our democracy and way of life are to survive, it is imperative that we build upon Senator Mike Mansfield’s legacy of statesmanship, ethical leadership, and bipartisanship to address the challenges facing our world today.
Who We Are
Grounded in rural Montana, the Mansfield Center fosters globally minded leaders of integrity. We honor Senator Mansfield’s legacy of patriotic statesmanship to bridge divides from a variety of perspectives, unified by our love of country and commitment to civic education and America's founding principles. Guided by Senator Mansfield’s example, our work emphasizes civil exchanges of ideas from a diverse range of viewpoints, the importance of our government institutions, the integration of international relations, and the role that ethical values play in public life. Our staff is advised by a bipartisan Board of Advisors and supported by citizens nationwide representing government, business, non-profit, education, service, and youth sectors.
Our Unique Capacity to Address Our National Challenges
The Mansfield Center is uniquely positioned by physical location and longstanding relationships to address the rural-urban divide that is at the center of our political and cultural challenges. We are based in the heart of rural America and have established relationships that cross parties and cultures, including the lands of Indian Country. These are our communities. Our work begins from Mike Mansfield’s belief that “constitutional authority and responsibility…lies with all of us individually, collectively, and equally.”
Join Us in Bolstering Civic Education and Global Leadership
Join us in our work to advance civic education and inspire global leadership. Contact Executive Director Deena Mansour at deena.mansour@umontana.edu to learn more about work and engage in our programming.