CINCINNATI, March 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The
Scripps National Spelling Bee has appointed J. Michael Durnil, Ph.D. – an accomplished national
nonprofit leader who has dedicated his recent work to helping
at-risk children pursue their dreams through education – as
executive director, effective immediately.
In this role, Dr. Durnil will lead all aspects of the Bee's
year-round educational program and will build additional
opportunities for the iconic and mission-focused brand to connect
with and inspire audiences across the country.
Durnil, 59, has more than 35 years of professional experience in
leading teams and charting operations across nonprofit, educational
and media-based organizations, with a track record of bettering
communities through diversity and philanthropic initiatives.
"Michael is a seasoned, entrepreneurial executive with a proven
track record leading mission-oriented teams, a deep understanding
of the media landscape and the leadership acumen to help steward
the global brand of the Scripps National Spelling Bee," said
Scripps President and CEO Adam Symson. "His commitment to educational
causes and his work with highly diverse and geographically
distributed communities make him a great fit for Scripps. We see many opportunities ahead for the
Bee program under his leadership."
Durnil served most recently as president and chief executive
officer of the Simon Youth Foundation, an Indianapolis-based nonprofit committed to
helping at-risk kids graduate and pursue their dreams through
education. He launched a strategic framework that drove growth and
national recognition for the organization's scholarships and other
programs. In his more than 10 years with the organization, his
entrepreneurial leadership helped the nonprofit become more
responsive to the diverse communities it served while also
increasing the diversity of its board of directors.
"The Scripps National Spelling Bee is a timeless brand, having
engaged and inspired audiences for many decades," said Durnil. "I
am looking forward to joining the talented teams at Scripps to continue such a beloved tradition as we
build the brand to reach new audiences across the country, and in
support of the Scripps mission to
create a better-informed world."
From 2008 to 2010, Durnil served in executive leadership roles
for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), a
national media, education and culture advocacy organization. He
served as interim president and senior vice president, roles that
had responsibilities as chief operating officer, chief financial
officer and chief diversity officer. He also served as executive
producer of the international GLAAD Media Awards.
Durnil holds a bachelor's degree in biological sciences and a
Master of Science from Illinois State
University. He holds a doctor of philosophy in educational
leadership from Loyola University
Chicago. Durnil earned a post-doctoral certificate in
educational management from Harvard
University and has served as a Fellow of the American
Council on Education since 2004.
He serves on several national and regional boards and volunteers
for a variety of organizations, including the American Council on
Education, the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Opera. He and his husband,
Lynn Burnside Smith II, will move
from Indianapolis to Cincinnati, home to the Scripps National
Spelling Bee and Scripps' corporate
headquarters.
The Bee recently announced its plans to host the 2021 Scripps
National Spelling Bee at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at
Walt Disney Resort near Orlando,
Florida. For more information, visit spellingbee.com.
About the Scripps National Spelling Bee:
The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the nation's largest and
longest-running educational program. The purpose of the Scripps
National Spelling Bee is to help students improve their spelling,
increase their vocabularies, learn concepts and develop correct
English usage that will help them all their lives.
Visit spellingbee.com for more information about the
Scripps National Spelling Bee, which is administered on a
not-for-profit basis by The E.W. Scripps Company.
About Scripps
The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) is a diversified media
company focused on creating a better-informed world. As the
nation's fourth-largest local TV broadcaster, Scripps serves communities with quality, objective
local journalism and operates a portfolio of 61 stations in 41
markets. The Scripps Networks reach nearly every American through
the national news outlets Court TV and Newsy and popular
entertainment brands ION, Bounce, Grit, Laff and Court TV Mystery.
Scripps is the nation's largest holder
of broadcast spectrum. Scripps runs an
award-winning investigative reporting newsroom in Washington, D.C., and is the longtime steward
of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Founded in 1878, Scripps has held for decades to the motto, "Give
light and the people will find their own way."
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SOURCE The E.W. Scripps Company