John Dodd, President Emeritus

Since joining The Jesse Helms Center as president in 1994, John Dodd has focused on the continuing development of numerous initiatives promoting liberty and our country’s founding principles. Under the direction of Dodd, the Center has developed a nationally-acclaimed experiential learning program on entrepreneurship and freedom that has over 10,000 graduates; Dodd also conducted a five million dollar capital campaign leading to the construction of the 23,000 square-foot Helms Center headquarters which was dedicated by Lady Margaret Thatcher.

Dodd also worked directly with governmental and educational leaders in Mexico to introduce the John Templeton Foundation’s Laws of Life character education program throughout the country and was integrally involved in the formation and development of the Virtual Trade Mission Foundation’s APEC Voices of the Future program. In his position as President Emeritus, Dodd continues to work directly with President Brian Rogers to advance the work of The Jesse Helms Center. 

Dodd completed his undergraduate degree at the College of William and Mary and received his Master’s in Education from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Prior to his work with the Center, Mr. Dodd was president of J&T Dodd, a consulting firm where he worked with political candidates and nonprofits. Dodd is the co-author of And The World Came His Way-Jesse Helms’ Contributions to Freedom and has appeared on numerous radio and television programs to discuss Senator Helms and the programs of the Jesse Helms Center.

Dodd is also a successful lacrosse coach, having taken his Wingate University team to the 2001 NCAA DII semi-finals and his 2016 Marvin Ridge High School team won the North Carolina state championship. Dodd is a senior fellow of the American Leadership Forum and has served as a member of the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation Scholars Review Jury. He and his wife Teresa have two adult daughters, Katie and Mary. After over 25 years of service to The Helms Center, Dodd retired in the fall of 2019.