Gannon University is excited to host several events as part of the annual Jefferson Educational Society's Global Summit 2023 speaker series. The Jefferson Educational Society has invited experts to Erie from around the world to speak on a broad range
of globally important issue as part of the Summit, taking place October 23 - November 10.
This partnership has created an educational opportunity for our students, faculty and staff to engage with these speakers at any of the several speakers' series hosted on Gannon's campus. Registration is now open below for each event.
For instructions on how to register as a member of the Erie campus, please watch this video.
For instructions on how to register
as a member of the Ruskin campus, please watch this video.
Topic
"U.S. Foreign Policy, Russia-Ukraine, Putin, and Campaign 2024"
Monday, October 23 | 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. | Yehl Ballroom - 124 W. 7th St.
About the Speaker
Peter Baker is the Chief White House Correspondent for The New York Times, responsible for reporting on President Biden, the fifth president he has covered. He previously wrote about Presidents Donald J. Trump and Barack Obama for The Times and Presidents
Bill Clinton and George W. Bush for The Washington Post.
Register for the Peter Baker Event
Topic
An evening with Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha
Author of Gannon READS common text
Tuesday, October 24th | 7 p.m. | Warner Theatre - 811 State St.
About the Speaker
Book Title - "What the Eye's Don't See: A Story of Crisis, Resistance, and Hope in an American City"
By the crusading pediatrician who brought the fight for justice in Flint to the national spotlight, What the Eyes Don't See is a powerful first-hand account of the Flint water crisis, the signature environmental disaster of our time, and a riveting narrative
of personal advocacy. Here is the dramatic story of how Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha used science to prove Flint kids were exposed to lead, and how she courageously went public with her research and faced a brutal backlash. With persistence and single-minded
sense of mission, she spoke truth to power.
More about the author is here:
https://www.prhspeakers.com/speaker/dr-mona-hanna-attisha
*Registration for this event is not needed for Erie faculty, staff and students. Gannon alumni, friends and the community are invited to attend free of charge, no registration needed. There will not be a live stream for this event.
Register for the Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha Event
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Topic
"Crushed: How a Changing Climate is Altering the Way We Drink—and Eat"
Wednesday, October 25th | 7:30 p.m. | Yehl Ballroom - 124 W. 7th St.
About the Speaker
Brian Freedman is a wine, spirits, travel, and food writer, restaurant and beverage consultant, drinks educator, event host, and speaker. Freedman is also the author of Crushed: How a Changing Climate is Altering the Way We Drink.
Register for the Brian Freedman Event
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Topic
"The Future of the American City"
Thursday, October 26th | 1 - 2:30 p.m. | Yehl Ballroom - 124 W. 7th St.
About the Speakers
Richard Florida is a university professor at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and School of Cities and a distinguished visiting fellow at New York University’s Schack Institute of Real Estate. His books include The Rise of the Creative
Class and The New Urban Crisis. Most notably, he is the author of multiple books including The Rise of the Creative Class, The New Urban Crisis: How Cities Are Increasing Inequality, Deepening Segregation, and Failing the Middle Class-and What to
Do About It.
Bruce Katz is the Founding Director of the Nowak Metro Finance Lab at Drexel University in Philadelphia. Previously he served as inaugural Centennial Scholar at Brookings Institution and as vice president and director of Brooking’s Metropolitan Policy
Program for 20 years. He is a Visiting Professor in Practice at London School of Economics, and previously served as chief of staff to the secretary of Housing and Urban Development and staff director of the Senate Subcommittee on Housing and Urban
Affairs. Katz co-led the Obama administration’s housing and urban transition team. He is coauthor of The Metropolitan Revolution and The New Localism: How Cities Can Thrive in the Age of Populism, editor or coeditor of several books on urban and metropolitan
issues, and a frequent media commentator.
Register for the Richard Florida and Bruce Katz Event
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Topic
"Poverty in America: Measurement, Politics, and Progress"
Friday, October 27th | 7:30 - 9 p.m. | Jefferson Educational Society - 3207 State St.
About the Speaker
Matt Weidinger is a senior fellow and Rowe Scholar in opportunity and mobility studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where his work is primarily focused on safety-net policies, including cash welfare, child welfare, disability benefits,
and unemployment insurance. Weidinger served as the deputy staff director of the House Committee on Ways and Means and as the longtime staff director of its Subcommittee on Human Resources.
Register for the Matt Weidinger Event
Topic
2024: Politics, Pennsylvania, the Status of the GOP, and "the Race"
Sunday, October 29th | 7:30 - 9 p.m. | Yehl Ballroom - 124 W. 7th St.
About the Speaker
David Urban is an American lobbyist and political commentator for CNN. He is currently the managing director for BGR Group. Prior to joining BGR, David served as Executive Vice President of North American Corporate Affairs for ByteDance, the parent company
of TikTok. David was also the President of ACG, Chief of Staff to former U.S. Senator Arlen Spector, Chairman of the American Battle Monuments Commission, and was awarded a Bronze Star for his service during Desert Storm.
Register for the David Urban Event
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Topic
"Artificial Intelligence, the Environment, and Resiliency: Focus and Priorities for Leadership Today, Tomorrow"
Monday, October 30th | 7:30 - 9 p.m. | 124 W. 7th St.
About the Speaker
Rich Lesser is the Global Chair of Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he engages with CEOs, boards of directors, and senior leaders around the world on critical topics, including climate and sustainability, resilience, and purpose. He served as BCG’s
CEO from 2013 to 2021. Boston Consulting Group is a global consulting firm that partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities.
Register for the Rich Lesser Event
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Topic
"Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What To Do About It"
Tuesday, October 31st | 7:30 - 9 p.m. | Yehl Ballroom - 124 W. 7th St.
About the Speaker
Richard V. Reeves is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Economic Studies, where he holds the John C. and Nancy D. Whitehead Chair and leads the Boys and Men Project. His research focuses on boys and men, inequality, and social mobility. He
is the author of Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male is Struggling, Why it Matters, and What to Do About It.
Register for the Richard Reeves Event
Topic
"Promoting Racial and Economic Equity: Ways to Lead Community Relations"
Wednesday, November 1st | ![]()
7:30 - 9 p.m. | Yehl Ballroom - 124 W. 7th St.
About the Speaker
Since 1992, Ms. Clark has brought this vision to fruition as President of The Enterprise Center – an organization at the forefront of the Greater Philadelphia region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, guided by the mission to cultivate and investin minority
entrepreneurs to inspire economic growth in communities.
Register for the Della Clark Event
Topic
"Insights on the Decline of Democracy & the Rise of Illiberalism"
Thursday, November 2nd | 7:30 - 9 p.m. | Yehl Ballroom - 124 W. 7th St.
About the Speaker
Nichols previously taught international relations and government at Georgetown University and Dartmouth College and taught as a Secretary of the Navy Fellow at the Naval War College. He also served as an aide in the United States Senate, and was a fellow
at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. Fun Fact: Tom Nichols is a 5-time Jeopardy Champion!
Register for the Tom Nichols Event
Topic
"The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World"
Wednesday, November 8th | 7:30 - 9 p.m. | Jefferson Educational Society - 3207 State St.
About the Speaker
Robert S J. Garland is the Roy D. and Margaret B. Wooster Emeritus Professor of the Classics, Colgate University. Garland is also the author of many books including but not limited to; The Greek Way of Death, The Eye of the Beholder, and Athens Burning:
The Persian Invasion of Greece and the Evacuation of Attica (Witness to Ancient History).
Register for the Robert Garland Event
Topic
"From Erie to the White House and Beyond"
Friday, November 10th | 7:30 - 9 p.m. | Yelh Ballroom - 124 W. 7th St.
About the Speaker
Edward L. Bolton is a retired United States Air Force Major General, who also served as a senior executive at the Federal Aviation Administration and as a senior vice president in the space/defense industry.
*Major General Bolton is also being honored as the Thomas B. Hagen Dignitas Award Recipient.
Register for the Major General Bolton Event
Topic
"The Road to the White House 2024 and the State of Media"
Sunday, November 12th | 7:30 - 9 p.m. | Yehl Ballroom - 124 W. 7th St.
About the Speakers
Karen Tumulty is a deputy opinion editor and columnist for The Post. In her previous role as a national political correspondent for the newspaper, she received the Toner Prize for Excellence in Political Reporting. She joined The Post in 2010 from Time
magazine, where she had held the same title. During her more than 15 years at Time, Tumulty wrote or co-wrote more than three dozen cover stories. She also held positions with Time as congressional correspondent and White House correspondent.
Laura Coates is a CNN Anchor and Chief Legal Analyst, SiriusXM Talk Show Host. Since 2017, she has hosted the daily eponymous talk show, “The Laura Coates Show,” on SiriusXM, now airing weekdays 7-9 AM ET on the P.O.T.U.S. channel.
Register for the Karen Tumulty and Laura Coates Event
Topic
"The State of American Politics: A Conversation with Val Demings and Michael Steele"
Monday, November 13th | 7:30 - 9 p.m. | Cathedral Preparatory School Auditorium - 250 W. 10th St.
*Please note that the event location has changed from Yehl Ballroom to the Cathedral Prep Auditorium. Cathedral Prep is located at 10th & Myrtle. It is 0.4 miles west of Waldron Campus Center.
About the Speakers
Michael Steele: When he was elected Lt. Governor of Maryland in 2003, Michael Steele made history as the first African American elected to statewide office; and again with his subsequent chairmanship of the Republican National Committee in 2009.
Val Demings is an American politician and former police officer who served as the U.S. representative from Florida's 10th congressional district from 2017 to 2023.
Register for the Michael Steele and Val Demings Event
*Schedule Subject to Change