Dole Institute late spring programming to feature former Dole staff leaders, former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates
LAWRENCE — The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas today announced its late spring 2025 programming, including a slate of national leaders, student-led issue programs, an original exhibition and the family-favorite annual Easter Egg Roll.
Featured programs
The Dole Lecture will take place at 7 p.m. April 16 and will honor the 80th anniversary of the late U.S. Sen. Bob Dole’s wounding near Castel d’Aiano, Italy, in 1945. Former Dole staffers Sheila Burke, Rod DeArment and Robert Lighthizer will join Dole Institute Director Audrey Coleman to reflect on Dole’s formative leadership during the Reagan era through his retirement from the U.S. Senate in 1996.
In partnership with KU National Defense Initiatives, former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates will be in conversation with Dole Institute Visiting Fellow Jerry Seib at 7 p.m. April 30. Their discussion is the first of the two-day KU Security Conference sponsored by KU’s Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence, the Center for East Asian Studies, National Defense Initiatives and the Command & General Staff College Foundation. This year’s conference is aimed at understanding China’s long-term geopolitical objectives and how they affect U.S. national security. More information regarding the conference is forthcoming on the ICCAE website.
Student-led programs
This spring’s Student Advisory Board Program will take place at 7 p.m. April 3. This student-driven program, moderated by Dole Institute Student Advisory Board coordinator Kenna McNally, will be highlighting K-12 education policy in Kansas. Panelists will be announced in the coming weeks.
Members of the Dole Institute Student Advisory Board and Washburn University law students will join attorneys Ed Duckers and Pedro Irigonegaray for the spring edition of The Counselors at 6:30 p.m. April 24. The program, presented in partnership with the Washburn University School of Law, contains qualities of both a mock trial and debate — featuring expert witnesses, cross-examination and student-led research. SAB members Cas Casmus, Ava Levin, Jaspreet Kaur and Harini Sreekanth will join Washburn Law students Janira Silva and Ryan Petersen for the program.
Easter Egg Roll
Members of the community are invited to join the ninth annual Easter Egg Roll with Dole from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 19. Modeled after the White House Easter Egg Roll, the event includes live bunnies, family-friendly games, an egg roll and egg hunts. Through the Dole Institute’s partnership with the Lied Center of Kansas, Jim “Mr. Stinky Feet” Cosgrove will perform live music during the event. Additionally, the Lawrence Public Library will have books available for checkout at Dottie, their mobile library; hold storytime reading sessions; and provide a craft activity. The KU Center for Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies (CREES) will also provide an egg decoration activity.
Original exhibit
A new special exhibit, “Dole & Dr. K: A Story of Loss and Recovery Turned Advocacy for Armenia,” opens in the Elizabeth Dole Gallery & Reading Room on April 1. The exhibit, produced by the Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archives and Special Collections, highlights the relationship between Bob Dole and Dr. Hampar Kelikian, an Armenian surgeon who performed multiple procedures on Dole after he sustained serious injuries in World War II. Their interactions inspired Dole as he worked to reimagine his future, build a new life and enter public service. Decades later, Dole championed Armenia in the U.S. Senate and called for official recognition of the Armenian Genocide, which Kelikian survived. The exhibit is based on research conducted by Michael Bobelian, Dole Archives Fellow for Armenian Advocacy, and Julien Zarifian, Dole Archives Travel Grant recipient.
Detailed information on all of this season’s programs, special events and exhibits can be found at doleinstitute.org. All programs, which are free and open to the public, will take place at the Dole Institute and can be streamed live on the institute’s website and YouTube channel. Members of the media wishing to attend any of these programs or view the new special exhibit are asked to contact Jackson DeAndrea at jackson.deandrea@ku.edu to make arrangements.
About the Dole Institute
The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, a vibrant forum for civil discourse, civic engagement and idea exchange across the political spectrum, features historical archives, exhibits and public programs for all ages. Inspired by the public service of native Kansan, veteran, legislator and statesman Bob Dole and that of the trailblazing Sen. Elizabeth Dole, visitor galleries feature changing exhibits, the Kansas Veterans Virtual Memory Wall, architectural-scale stained-glass American flag and Sept. 11 memorial.