DALLAS—Today, the George W. Bush Foundation announced that Dr. Shilo Brooks has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of the George W. Bush Presidential Center. He will also join the Bush Foundation’s board of directors.
Brooks, who will begin his duties on September 2, 2025, succeeds Ken Hersh, who previously announced his intention to retire after nine years in this role. Hersh will remain on the organization’s board.
“Shilo is a brilliant thinker who has developed programs that help people grasp America’s founding principles and civic responsibilities. He understands and professes the importance of leadership in our society. Shilo’s expertise in civil discourse, civic literacy, and American political thought align with the values and mission of the George W. Bush Presidential Center. The energy and intellect he will bring to our policy work and community engagement will benefit the North Texas community and beyond,” said President George W. Bush. “Laura and I are thrilled to welcome Shilo and his family back home to Texas.”
Brooks is the Executive Director of Princeton University’s James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions focused on exploring enduring questions of American constitutional law and Western political thought. In partnership with Professor Robert P. George, the Madison Program’s founder, Brooks has transformed the program into one of the Ivy League’s most visible and engaged centers. He is also a Lecturer in Princeton’s Department of Politics where enrollment in his marquee course on Statesmanship and the American Presidency grew from 40 to 250 students in one year.
“We are fortunate to have found Shilo after a broad search led by our board’s search committee,” said Donald L. Evans, Chairman of the Bush Foundation board of directors. “He is a gifted thought leader, regarded by his colleagues as an exceptional communicator, and a rising star on the national stage. We are excited to introduce him to the Bush Center community.”
Brooks writes and lectures widely on topics in politics, leadership, and the humanities, and is author of the forthcoming book, The Ambitious Soul. He frequently appears on podcasts and in the media. His upcoming podcast project with The Free Press, Old School, will focus on encouraging intellectual engagement and personal growth through reflection on transformative books and the guidance they provide for everyday life.
“The Bush Center is uniquely positioned to lead a national conversation about the enduring principles and ideas that animate the American spirit,” said Brooks. “The Bush Center’s focus on engaged citizenship, compassionate leadership, and ensuring opportunity through freedom and accountability deeply resonates with me. I am honored and excited to join the Bush Center’s excellent team, whose commitments to scholarship, public service, and public education shine edifying light on the world, our nation, my home state of Texas, and the North Texas community.”
Before joining Princeton University, Brooks held a senior leadership role at the Bruce D. Benson Center for the Study of Western Civilization at the University of Colorado, where he led programming that championed civil discourse, civic literacy, and the exploration of American political thought. He also designed and directed the school’s Engineering Leadership Program, which creates cross-disciplinary opportunities for students to examine technological advancements’ moral and political implications.
“Dr. Shilo Brooks brings a unique combination of intellectual depth, civic-minded leadership and a deep appreciation for the values that shape our democracy,” said SMU President R. Gerald Turner. “His dual appointment with the George W. Bush Presidential Center and SMU will enrich our academic community and enhance our shared commitment to fostering thoughtful dialogue and leadership with integrity.”
Concurrent with his appointment at the Bush Center, Brooks will join SMU as Professor of the Practice in the Political Science Department, Senior Fellow at the Center for Presidential History, and Senior Fellow at the Tower Center for Public Policy and International Affairs.
“Dr. Shilo Brooks is a dynamic leader and scholar whose work exemplifies the values of civil discourse, civic responsibility and intellectual engagement,” said SMU President-elect Jay Hartzell. “We are proud to welcome him to the Hilltop, where his appointment will strengthen the academic bridge between SMU and the George W. Bush Presidential Center, and offer our students meaningful opportunities to explore the ideas that shape our nation and world.”
Brooks has also held faculty appointments at Bowdoin College and the University of Virginia. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from St. John’s College in Annapolis and his Ph.D. in Political Science from Boston College. He is a West Texas native, and he and his wife have one daughter.
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About the George W. Bush Presidential Center
Located on the SMU campus in Dallas, Texas, the George W. Bush Presidential Center is a nonpartisan institution advancing the timeless values of freedom, opportunity, accountability, and compassion. The Bush Center comprises the George W. Bush Presidential Museum and the George W. Bush Institute, a solution-oriented policy organization focused on ensuring opportunity for all, strengthening democracy, and advancing free societies through policy solutions and public engagement. The Bush Center also houses the George W. Bush Presidential Library, operated by the National Archives and Records Administration, which provides access to official documents and artifacts from the George W. Bush Administration. Learn more about the Bush Center at bushcenter.org.
