Dole Institute releases spring 2015 program schedule

LAWRENCE — The Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas has released its programming schedule for the spring 2015 semester, including this year’s installment of the popular Presidential Lecture Series, "The First Woman President 2.0.” During this series, the public will hear from women leaders, including Kathleen Sebelius, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and Kansas governor.

All events are free, open to the public and located at the Dole Institute unless otherwise noted.

"We're proud of the diverse programming this spring,” said Dole Institute director Bill Lacy. “Our reboot of our '06 series on women and leadership is especially relevant as Secretary Clinton and Carly Fiorina begin to organize presidential campaigns."

Other spring highlights include a moderated forum on the recent decision by the U.S. to formally recognize Cuba and a special program that unites the Dole Institute with KU Alumni Association and Washburn University to highlight former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole’s legacy through archival materials.

In addition to afternoon staples, the Fort Leavenworth Series and Study Group sessions, the Dole Institute will host a number of other events, including hand-picked programs by the Institute’s director as a part of the new Director’s Series. The series will kick off with former Dole Fellow Steven Jacques and his new novel, “Advance Man.”

The Dole Institute’s currently scheduled programs for the spring semester:

Evening programs
2015 Presidential Lecture Series: "The First Woman President 2.0"
With attention turning toward the next presidential race, we look at a question we first addressed nine years ago: Will the U.S. elect its first woman president? What unique challenges must women overcome to rise through the ranks to some of the highest positions in public service, politics and business or to be president of the United States? Following the historic election of our first African-American president in 2008, we update the Dole Institute’s 2006 series on women in leadership and look at this possibility for 2016:

Part I: "An Evening with Kathleen Sebelius"
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12
Kathleen Sebelius, former Kansas governor and secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will be interviewed about her journey in public service from her days in Kansas politics to her presidential appointment in Washington as well as the challenges she faced in her two pivotal executive roles.

Part II: "The New Paradigm for Women’s Political Success"
with Adrienne Kimmell
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, at the Dole Institute
Adrienne Kimmell, executive director of the nonpartisan Barbara Lee Family Foundation, joins us to look at how research is helping women candidates utilize advantages unique to their gender to tailor ads, speeches and messaging into successful campaigns. From personal traits to actions that convey qualification and likability to recovery from mistakes, this program will look at what it takes for women to seek and win elective office.

Part III: "Women Legislative Leadership"
with panelists Rep. Gilda Cobb Hunter, Beka Romm & Joan Wagnon
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, at the Dole Institute
Barbara Ballard, Dole Institute associate director state representative, will moderate this discussion on leadership, time pressures and what it takes to successfully lead on the local, state and federal levels. Come hear more about confronting and overcoming hurdles – be they political, personal or social – from those working in the legislative arena.

Part IV: "Women’s Leadership on Campus: Discovering the Leader in You"
with KU faculty panelists Mary Banwart, Ann Cudd & Alice Lieberman
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, at the Dole Institute
Do you communicate confidence, ambition and capability? Panelists from the departments of Communications Studies and Philosophy as well as the School of Social Welfare, along with moderator Barbara Ballard, will be on hand to discuss leadership potential. Topics will explore values, tactics and beliefs, all factors that contribute to becoming the leader you would like to be.

“Your Story, His Story, the Legacy” visits Topeka
Time TBA, Thursday, Feb. 26, Washburn University, Topeka
This popular program highlighting the legacy of Dole hits the road with the KU Alumni Association and in partnership with Washburn University to present a special program featuring materials and information from the Dole Archive and Special Collections. More details coming.

"Recognizing Cuba"
with Frank Calzon and Marifeli Perez-Stable
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, at the Dole Institute
Frank Calzon, executive director of the Center for a Free Cuba, and Marifeli Perez-Stable, professor at Florida International University, join us for a moderated and timely discussion on formal U.S. recognition of Cuba, beginning with lines of commerce and travel that have been restricted since 1960. This program is co-sponsored by the Pan American Association of Kansas City (PANAM-KC).

"Appomattox 150"
with historical interpretations of generals Grant & Lee
7 p.m. Wednesday, April  1, at the Dole Institute
Commemorating the 150th anniversary of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s surrender to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865. Join historical interpreters Larry Clowers (Grant) and Ted Kachel (Lee) as they bring two iconic American military leaders to life, taking us back to the meeting that brought an end to the Civil War.

Afternoon programs

2015 Fort Leavenworth Series
"Military Innovations in Peace and War"
3 p.m. the first Thursday of each month, Feb. 5-Nov. 5

The military historians from the Army’s Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth return with a new series that provides in-depth and expert knowledge of the military innovations that have been created to support our country’s armed services during peace and war time. From cavalry tactics to entire battleships, necessity has been the mother of invention.

Spring 2015 Study Group
"All Politics is Personal – A Gay Conservative Looks at the Culture Wars"
with spring fellow Jimmy LaSalvia
4-5:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Feb. 18 & 25, March 4, 11 & 25, and April 1 & 8
Gay activist Jimmy LaSalvia, a conservative, looks at a variety of cultural issues, including gay marriage, the War on Women, and the rise of Fox and MSNBC from a nonpartisan perspective as we begin the 2016 presidential elections. Join us as we ask what created these critical issues? And how large will they loom in 2016?

"The Director’s Series" – Spring 2015
3 p.m. Feb. 26, March 26, April 7 & April 16
The Director’s Series is a group of programs selected each semester by the Dole Institute that enhances afternoon programming with interviews on diverse political topics that are of particular interest to Director Bill Lacy.

Full details on each installment of the three afternoon series, as well as other individual afternoon programs, are available on the Dole Institute’s website.

The Dole Institute of Politics is dedicated to promoting public service, civic engagement and politics.  It is located on KU’s west campus and, in addition to being home to the Robert J. Dole Archive & Special Collections, offers free public programming with world-renowned guest speakers on a variety of topics that intersect politics, as well as research and educational opportunities for students of all ages and professionals. 

More information on all programs, as well as ongoing additions to the schedule, can be found on the Dole Institute’s website.