Benjamin Barber

Gershon and Carol Kekst Professor of Civil Society and Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland

Benjamin R. Barber is Gershon and Carol Kekst Professor of Civil Society and Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland and a principal of the Democracy Collaborative.

An internationally renowned political theorist, Dr. Barber brings an abiding concern for democracy and citizenship to issues of politics, culture and education in America and abroad.

He consults regularly with political and civic leaders in the United States and Europe, including Governor Jim McGreevey of New Jersey, former President Bill Clinton, former Senator Bill Bradley, and former President Roman Herzog of Germany.

Mr. Barber spent his first year of college in Switzerland at the Albert Schweitzer College.

From there he went to Grinnell College in Iowa and spent a year at the London School of Economics before graduating from Grinnell. He got his PhD at Harvard University.