McConnell Center kicks off 25th anniversary with series on key citizens, statesmen

    By Matt Lambert -
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    LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The McConnell Center at the University of Louisville will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a free, public lecture series on “Citizens and Statesmen” this spring.

    “It is necessary that we explore our rights and responsibilities as citizens and reflect on what we want from our political leaders; especially in the current political climate of distrust of politics and our political institutions,” said Gary Gregg, McConnell Center director.

    Here are details on the lecture series:

    • “The Wisdom of Statesmen,” William B. Allen, former chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and former dean of Michigan State University’s James Madison College, 6-7 p.m., Jan. 19, Ekstrom Library’s Chao Auditorium
    • “Abraham Lincoln: Moments of Statesmanship,” Joseph Fornieri, director of Rochester Institute of Technology’s Center for Statesmanship, Law and Liberty, 6-7:30 p.m., Feb. 12, Ekstrom Library’s Chao Auditorium. Cake and a celebration of Lincoln’s 207th birthday to follow.
    • “The Kentucky Resolutions: Lessons in Statesmanship,” Kent Masterson Brown, award-winning documentary filmmaker and Kentucky historian, 6-7 p.m., March 7, Ekstrom Library’s Chao Auditorium.
    • “1944: FDR, Statesmanship and the Year that Changed History,” Jay Winik, New York Times best-selling author of 1944: FDR and the Year that Changed History and April 1865: The Month that Saved America, 6-7:30 p.m., April 4, the PNC Club in Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. Book signing to follow.

    The non-partisan McConnell Center, created at UofL in 1991, prepares Kentucky’s top undergraduate students to become future leaders; offers civic education programs for teachers, students and the public; and conducts strategic leadership development for the U.S. Army.

    In the past 25 years, the Center has awarded more than $3.5 million in scholarship awards to more than 200 students. Its lectures, books, studies and conferences have garnered international attention, with the American Council of Trustees and Alumni recently naming the Center “an oasis of excellence in higher education.”

    For more details, contact GlyptusAnn Grider Jones at 502-852-4579 or see McConnellCenter.org.

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    Matt Lambert
    Matt Lambert
    Matt has served in multiple communications and marketing roles since joining UofL in 2012 and is currently a communications specialist in charge of national media outreach for research and academics. He came to UofL following a successful tenure as the Associate Director of Public Affairs and External Relations at Loyola University New Orleans. In his 20-plus year career in communications, Matt has worked as an award-winning journalist, owned his own political consulting firm and served as a communications director in the U.S. Congress. He is not only employed by UofL, but also a recent graduate, earning his MBA from the College of Business in May 2016.