Leadership
Dr. Rita Kirk
William F. May Endowed Director
Dr. Rita Kirk is a Professor of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs at ÃÛÌÒ½´Methodist University. She concurrently holds the William F. May Endowed Chair as the Director of the Maguire Center for Ethics & Public Responsibility. Her work is marked by a passion for aligning resources with innovation, empowering ideas, and building coalitions to implement strategic initiatives successfully.
A frequent news commentator and featured speaker, she is a communication strategist specializing in public argument analysis and the ethical implementation of communication campaigns. Kirk served as an analyst for CNN and other news outlets during presidential elections and major political events for 16 years. She continues to consult with national and multinational corporations on public policy and leadership.
The author of five books and numerous articles, Kirk’s current research focuses on election integrity and the politics of trust. In 2023-2024, she is a Visiting Fellow at Harvard University’s Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics, researching System Trust.
Matt Nadler
Associate Director
Matt Nadler serves as the Associate Director for the Cary M. Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility. He is excited to work with students, faculty, staff, and the greater DFW community to encourage ethics education and research.
Prior to joining the Ethics Center, Matt worked in SMU's Student Affairs division, including the Hegi Family Career Development Center and Residence Life & Student Housing. During that time, he received the Courageous Change Leader award for his work and embodiment of the division’s values.
Matt earned a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Philosophy from Niagara University, followed by a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from The Pennsylvania State University. His recent research focuses on college students’ sense of belonging and the impact of co-curricular experiences on employability.
Rylee Bailey
Program Coordinator
Rylee Bailey is the Program Coordinator of the Maguire Center. She co-manages daily operations, including the Maguire Public Service Fellowship program and Center student staffers. Additionally, she supports the Center’s annual fundraising and academic events and oversees the creation of reports, including the annual report.
Rylee also manages internal and external marketing and design and serves as the producer of the Ethics Center’s podcast, SoundEthics.
A 2022 graduate of ÃÛÌÒ½´with a Bachelor of Arts in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Rylee was actively involved with the Ethics Center as a student staffer for three years. She was recognized by the for her contributions to the and was awarded the 2022 Outstanding CCPA Student in Political Communication at SMU.
In her free time, Rylee works as a freelance journalist and enjoys spending time with her partner and dog in Dallas.