The Objectivist Center to Move to DC

The Objectivist Center to Move to DC - Edward Hudgins to be Executive Director.

For immediate release, December 15, 2004

David Kelley, the executive director of The Objectivist Center announced today that the Center will move to Washington, D.C. in early 2005, and that Edward Hudgins will be replacing him as executive director.

Hudgins is a veteran of Capitol Hill, the Heritage Foundation, and the Cato Institute. As Washington director of The Objectivist Center since 2002, he spear-headed the organization's campaign to address current issues from an Objectivist standpoint.

The Center will continue its political and cultural advocacy, its educational and scholarly programs, and its development of the Objectivist community. Hudgins stated, "One program focus will be the defense of capitalism as a moral ideal, not merely an economic one. Business people are creators who should take pride in their success and stop apologizing for creating the richest country on Earth." Another program focus will be the culture wars over religion, values, and the clash of civilizations.

As executive director, Hudgins will serve as chief executive officer. Kelley will continue to serve on the board of trustees but devote most of his time to cultural analysis and philosophical research. "After managing the organization since 1990, I'm eager to focus now on writing, research, and working with students and other scholars. Ed will bring fresh energy and new ideas to the job, as well as a fund of experience. I'm eager to join him in Washington, the center of the think-tank world."

He also said, "Next February will mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ayn Rand, the writer and thinker who gave us Objectivism, and the 15th anniversary of the Objectivist Center, which I created to promote that philosophy through independent thought and open debate—a promise we have carried through our seminars, conferences and publications, thanks to our dedicated staff and supporters."