In memory of Dr. Morton Coleman, IOP Founding Director

The Institute of Politics’ founding Director, Dr. Morton Coleman passed away on January 27, 2019.

Moe’s legacy will live on at the Institute in the lessons that he shared with so many of us as an advisor, mentor, teacher, and friend. He was blessed with an exuberant spirit and a thoughtfulness that quietly and effectively mediated some of this region’s most contentious issues. Over the past 30 years, we were privileged to observe Moe’s keen ability to craft collaborative policy solutions with a disarming leadership style, a quick wit, and a bounty of data-driven recommendations; three characteristics that Moe believed were essential in creating consensus and enabling civil discourse even among a topic’s most strident opponents.

Moe created the Institute as a safe space for policy debate; and we will maintain that space in his honor. As he recently noted, “…we are in dangerous times, this polarization cannot continue. Policymakers need to talk to one another for the betterment of our whole society”.

As we move forward in an era when disagreement far too often dominates political dialogue, our response will be to persevere in Moe’s absence with an energized commitment to his enduring legacy of Finding Common Ground.

The Coleman Family has asked us to share their request that memorial contributions can be made to the Institute of Politics via online or the Office of Institutional Advancement, University of Pittsburgh, 128 North Craig Street, Pittsburgh, PA  15260, or to The Pittsburgh Foundation, 5 PPG Place, Suite 250, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.