NCWC Announces Partnership with the University of Maryland School of Public Policy

BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. (May 4, 2026) — The National Cold War Center (NCWC), designated by Congress in 2023 as America’s official Cold War museum, today announced a strategic partnership with the University of Maryland School of Public Policy to support the Center’s development and expand its national and global reach.

Through the partnership, the School of Public Policy’s History & Public Policy Program will help guide early planning and program development, including community engagement and coordination with leading scholars, policymakers, and subject matter experts to inform the Center’s design and interpretive framework.

“This partnership significantly expands the intellectual and institutional capacity of the National Cold War Center at a pivotal stage in its growth,” said Mary Gay Shipley, chair of the NCWC Board of Directors. “Together with the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, we are building a foundation that ensures the Center is both historically authoritative and globally relevant.”

The collaboration will also strengthen research and public access to Cold War history through expanded work on one of the world’s leading digital archives of Cold War-era materials.

“The Cold War shaped every aspect of modern life—from global politics to technology and culture,” said Christian Ostermann, Executive Director of the National Cold War Center and research professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. “By connecting the Center’s immersive, place-based experience with the University of Maryland’s academic leadership and archival resources, this partnership bridges scholarship and public understanding in a powerful way.”

The Center will bring the history of the Cold War to life—connecting past events to the forces shaping the world today.

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About the University of Maryland School of Public Policy

Located just miles from Washington, DC, the University of Maryland School of Public Policy is uniquely positioned at the center of local, national and global policymaking. As a leading public institution, the School brings a distinct commitment to interdisciplinary research, hands-on learning and collaboration with public and private partners to empower the next generation of leaders to advance the public good. Learn more at spp.umd.edu.