James K. Glassman, former Under-Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs under the Bush Administration, is the newly appointed executive director of the George W. Bush Institute, reports the news site Chron. The independent institute will be part of Bush's presidential center at Southern Methodist University, along with a library and museum operated by the National Archives.

"Laura and I are delighted to have Jim Glassman join us to develop a world-class institute that will promote policies and programs rooted in the core ideals of freedom, opportunity, responsibility, and compassion," Bush declared in a statement. Glassman added that the institute will combine serious academic research and practical programs that will aim to improve the lives of people around the world.

The institute is to promote the former president’s ideals through research, discussion, scholarship and action, enabled through specific programs and research initiatives.

The George W. Bush Institute, along with the library, will be housed SMU in Dallas, explains Peter Baker for the New York Times. While presidential libraries are eventually turned over to the National Archives and Records Administration to be run as educational centers and storehouses of documents and artifacts, the institute Bush envisions will become his main organizational vehicle for continuing to participate in public life and attempting to shape his legacy.