Liberty In a Pluralistic Society
2026-03-25 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66045, United States
Liberty is America’s founding ideal, bursting from our shores and spreading to nations far and near. But, our own story is rife with contradictions and presents challenges even today as we balance the desires of a changing society. How do we balance competing ideas of liberty in a pluralistic country? How can we secure this most American of ideals for all within our nation?

Jeff King serves as the executive vice president of the Rodel Institute, where he founded and runs fellowships for judges of all ideological persuasions, as well as bipartisan groups of elected officials, to explore ways that leaders can transcend differences to promote judicial independence and cross-party dialogue. A former Kansas Senator (R) representing southeastern Kansas, Jeff worked extensively on criminal justice issues, pension reform, education finance and tax policy as chair of the Senate Judiciary, Pension, and Rules committees. A former Tenth Circuit clerk and president of the Appellate Section of the Kansas Bar, Jeff has handled over 60 appeals across the country on issues of school finance, trust, state government and constitutional law. He holds degrees from Brown University, Yale Law School, and the University of Cambridge.
Mark McCormick is a New York Times bestselling author with nearly 30 years of experience as a reporter, editor, and columnist. He most recently served as the inaugural executive director of the Kansas Black Leadership Council and deputy director of the ACLU of Kansas. He also served for a total of six years as executive director of The Kansas African American Museum. An alum of the University of Kansas, McCormick is a trustee of the William Allen White School of Journalism at KU, served as a professional in residence at the University of Oklahoma, and was appointed by Governor Laura Kelly to two Kansas state commissions, including the Kansas African American Affairs Commission. He has earned numerous awards and recognitions over his career and was inducted into the Kansas Newspaper Hall of Fame last year.

Lawrence Reviewed at the Dole Institute
2026-03-09 17:30 - 19:30
The Anthropocene Reviewed: Civic Education Edition invites students and community members to critically engage with their own local slice of the Anthropocene by contributing their own reviews, modeled by Green’s work. Stop by the Dole Institute of Politics on March 9 anytime from 5:30-7:30 p.m. to view our America at 250 Special Exhibits and explore our museum gallery. Also, see the World’s Largest Stained Glass American Flag Window as well as the September 11 Memorial.
And as part of Lawrence Reviewed, you can leave a review, talk with Lawrence Reviewed and Dole Institute staff, and participate in fun activities! As always, admission is FREE.

Plan your visit →

The Case for Limited War: European Military Treatises through Machiavelli
2026-03-04 15:00 - 16:00
Warfare in the European Middle Ages (c. 500-1500) can be broadly characterized as limited: limited objectives, limited budgets, and limited size of armies. Despite medieval society having an overall martial culture, these factors conspired to make warfare episodic, defensively oriented, and positional in character. This lecture will explore the intellectual underpinnings of medieval limited war by surveying the major writers on the subject, including Vegetius, Maurice, Leo VI, Nikephoros Phokas, John of Salisbury, Giles of Rome, Honoré Bouvet, Christine de Pizan, and Niccolò Machiavelli.

John D. Hosler (Ph.D. University of Delaware) is a Professor of Military History at the Command and General Staff College. Before coming to Fort Leavenworth, he was a tenured Full Professor of History at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. An expert on medieval warfare in Europe and the Near East, he is the author or editor of nine books, including The Third Crusade, 1189-1192 (2025), the Routledge Handbook of Medieval Military Strategy (2024), Jerusalem Falls: Seven Centuries of War and Peace (2022), and The Siege of Acre ( 2018). He is a book series editor of “War and Conflict in Premodern Societies” for ARC Humanities Press and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He is currently writing his tenth book, a world history of the relic of the True Cross in war from A.D. 325-2025, for Yale University Press.
The Ft. Leavenworth Series is an annual roster of lectures focusing on significant historical events, usually with an emphasis on military history. Each lecture is presented by faculty from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Established by General William Tecumseh Sherman in 1881, the CGSC is the graduate college for U.S. Army and sister service officers. The esteemed faculty and guests of the CGSC provide unique and captivating insights into the history of military conflict from the ancient to the modern ages at the Dole Institute of Politics.

The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency.

Inside the Electorate: A Bipartisan Look Ahead to the 2026 Midterms
2026-02-26 19:00 - 20:30
The nation enters a critical midterm election year with voters trying to come to grips with economic anxieties, international disruptions, and ongoing debates about the nation’s culture. The Wall Street Journal’s new bipartisan polling team, Democrat John Anzalone and Republican Adam Geller, will join Dole Institute Visiting Fellow Jerry Seib for their first public appearance to discuss the nation’s mood as seen through their surveys and extensive experience.

Jerry Seib has been a journalist with The Wall Street Journal for almost 45 years. He served as the Journal’s Executive Washington Editor and wrote the weekly “Capital Journal” column for 29 years. He also reported from the Middle East for the Journal in the mid-1980s, covered the White House, has moderated three presidential debates, and interviewed every president since Ronald Reagan.
John Anzalone, one of the nation’s leading Democratic pollsters, is the founding partner of Impact Research. A veteran of Democratic politics, he’s served as the chief pollster for President Joe Biden in 2020. He also polls for Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Roy Cooper’s 2026 U.S. Senate race (NC) and House Democratic Caucus Chair, Pete Aguilar (CA). John also conducts public opinion research for many Fortune 500 companies, as well as national associations and advocacy groups such as the AARP.
Adam Geller is the chief executive officer of National Research, Inc., a polling and political research firm. Active in numerous Republican campaigns over the years, he was a pollster for President Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and Trump-aligned super PACs during the 2020 and 2024 presidential election cycles, in addition to working with many congressional, senatorial, and gubernatorial campaigns. Adam also regularly works with corporate, public relations, and C-suite executives to provide political insights and strategies.

What Does It Mean to Be United?
2026-02-11 16:00 - 17:00
Since its founding, America has been a land awash with contrasts and divisions. Are we truly a “melting pot” where one must assimilate to belong or are we more the quiver of arrows on our national seal – many people bound by a “political ideology centered on the abstract ideals of liberty, equality, and republicanism.” What are the foundational beliefs that unite but also threaten to divide us? How can we come together as a United States today?

Jeff King serves as the executive vice president of the Rodel Institute, where he founded and runs fellowships for judges of all ideological persuasions, as well as bipartisan groups of elected officials, to explore ways that leaders can transcend differences to promote judicial independence and cross-party dialogue. A former Kansas Senator (R) representing southeastern Kansas, Jeff worked extensively on criminal justice issues, pension reform, education finance and tax policy as chair of the Senate Judiciary, Pension, and Rules committees. A former Tenth Circuit clerk and president of the Appellate Section of the Kansas Bar, Jeff has handled over 60 appeals across the country on issues of school finance, trust, state government and constitutional law. He holds degrees from Brown University, Yale Law School, and the University of Cambridge.
Mark McCormick is a New York Times bestselling author with nearly 30 years of experience as a reporter, editor, and columnist. He most recently served as the inaugural executive director of the Kansas Black Leadership Council and deputy director of the ACLU of Kansas. He also served for a total of six years as executive director of The Kansas African American Museum. An alum of the University of Kansas, McCormick is a trustee of the William Allen White School of Journalism at KU, served as a professional in residence at the University of Oklahoma, and was appointed by Governor Laura Kelly to two Kansas state commissions, including the Kansas African American Affairs Commission. He has earned numerous awards and recognitions over his career and was inducted into the Kansas Newspaper Hall of Fame last year.

Sunzi and the Chinese Way of War
2026-02-04 15:00 - 16:00
Dr. Geoff Babb from the Department of Military History at the US Army Command and General Staff College will discuss Ancient Chinese War with an emphasis on the thirteen chapters of Sun Tzu’s Art of War. After a brief look at The Six Secret Teachings of Tai Kung, the presentation examines enduring phrases from each chapter. Dr. Babb also provides examples from American military history that show the application of Sun’s theories to warfare 2500 years later. The presentation ends with how Sun Tzu ideas are applied in the study, planning, and conduct of war today.

Dr. Geoff Babb was commissioned from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine in 1973 as a US Army Military Intelligence Officer. After serving in the Defense Intelligence Agency as a ground forces analyst, he was assigned to Monterey, California, Hong Kong, and Beijing for language and area studies. He was then assigned to Joint and Army Headquarters in Hawaii. In 1991, he joined the Command and General Staff College faculty at Fort Leavenworth. After retiring from the military, he earned a Masters in East Asian Languages and Cultures, and a Doctorate in History from the University of Kansas. He has published numerous book chapters and articles on China and Asia. He currently serves as a professor in the Department of Military History.
The Ft. Leavenworth Series is an annual roster of lectures focusing on significant historical events, usually with an emphasis on military history. Each lecture is presented by faculty from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Established by General William Tecumseh Sherman in 1881, the CGSC is the graduate college for U.S. Army and sister service officers. The esteemed faculty and guests of the CGSC provide unique and captivating insights into the history of military conflict from the ancient to the modern ages at the Dole Institute of Politics.

The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency.

2026 | Dr. Colleen Shogan
2026-01-29 19:00 - 20:30
Dr. Colleen Shogan, former Archivist of the United States and CEO of In Pursuit, will be recognized at the eighth Elizabeth Dole Women in Leadership Lecture. She’ll join Dole Institute Director Audrey Coleman for a discussion on her leadership experience in the nation’s leading recordkeeping and historical stewardship organizations, the role of history in civic engagement and national identity, and her leadership in creating an opportunity for commemoration and reflection during America250.

This program is presented in partnership with the University of Kansas Libraries and the Watkins Museum of History

About the Elizabeth Dole Women in Leadership Lecture
Named in honor of former U.S. Senator Elizabeth Hanford Dole, the series recognizes her long-lasting career in public service by featuring women who break barriers, make significant contributions to their field, and reach positions of leadership. Dole held various positions throughout her career, including serving as commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission, Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of Labor, President of the American Red Cross, and U.S. Senator representing North Carolina. After leaving office, she founded the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, which supports our nation’s military caregivers and their families.

About Colleen Shogan
Dr. Colleen J. Shogan served as the 11th Archivist of the United States, the first woman in American history appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate to lead the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). A noted author and political scientist, Colleen is deeply committed to civics education and prioritized sharing the records of the National Archives to a wider audience. Under her leadership, NARA launched numerous strategic initiatives to enhance services and make its holdings more accessible, both in-person and online, with the goal of cultivating public participation and strengthening our nation’s democracy.
Prior to becoming Archivist, Colleen served in several cultural heritage leadership roles. She was Senior Vice President and Director of the David M. Rubenstein Center at the White House Historical Association, worked in the United States Senate, and served as a senior executive at the Library of Congress and its Congressional Research Service. She was the Vice Chair of the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission and currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Board of Directors at the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation.
A native of the Pittsburgh area, she holds a B.A. in Political Science from Boston College and a Ph.D. in American Politics from Yale University, where she was a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow. Colleen is the 2024 recipient of the American Political Science Association’s Hubert Humphrey Award for outstanding public service.
In addition to her role at More Perfect, she is also a Senior Fellow in Civics Education at Stand Together and an Adjunct Professor of Government at Georgetown University.

"UnBroken" Film Screening & Conversation with the Director
2026-01-22 18:00 - 20:30
In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in 1945, the Dole Institute and the Lawrence Arts Center invite you to experience Beth Lane’s award-winning documentary, UnBroken. Following the screening, Lane will join Free State Film Festival founding director Marlo Angell for a brief question-and-answer session.
This screening is made possible by The Weber Family Arts Foundation

About the film
The daughter of a Holocaust survivor embarks on an international quest to uncover answers about the plight of her mother and her six siblings who, as mere children, escaped Nazi Germany relying solely on their own youthful bravado and the kindness of German strangers.
Runtime: 96 minutes, followed by 30 minutes of moderated and audience question-and-answer sessions
Content warning: This film contains mature themes – including sexual assault and abuse – that may not be suitable for all viewers.

About Beth Lane
Beth Lane is the award-winning director, executive producer and writer of the feature documentary film, UnBroken. An actress, singer and dancer, she is a second-generation Holocaust survivor. Beth’s driving force has always been to create spaces to exercise our collective capacity for empathy through storytelling, design and meditation. Building bridges for a better future is paramount to her work.
A keynote speaker, she has curated and served on panels nationwide & hosted over 40 episodes of a weekly Instagram Live on-camera podcast, Banter with Beth.
The World Premiere of UnBroken was awarded Best Documentary Feature Film for Beth’s directorial debut in Indianapolis at The 23rd Heartland International Film Festival in 2023, which took place on October 8th, 2023, one day after the terrorist organization Hamas attacked Israel in the worst genocide against the Jewish people since the Holocaust.
UnBroken has continued to win Audience Choice Awards at the River Run Int’l Film Festival, Julien Dubuque Int’l Film Festival and The Berkshire Int’l Film Festival. Beth also received the Best First Time Filmmaker Award at Hot Springs Int’l Women’s Film Festival and the Madelyn’s Choice Award at the Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival in 2024 as well as the Runner-Up Audience Choice Best Doc at Orcas Island Film Festival.
UnBroken began its development at The Barrow Group in New York City as a one-woman play which morphed into a simple piece of live storytelling at TBG’s F.A.B before continuing its journey at UCLA’s School of Theatre, Film & Television in 2017 while she was studying to receive her MFA. The film is both a professional milestone and a personal quest to immortalize the incredible story of the Weber siblings’ survival as the only family of seven Jewish siblings living in Nazi Germany known to have survived and emigrated together. The unwavering courage shown by the brave righteous gentiles, as well as the original music, graphics and animations employed in Beth’s storytelling, are critical components to her style as a director.
Beth is the founder of The Weber Family Arts Foundation which is the culmination of many thoughtful years of experience as an artist and activist serving on philanthropic boards and volunteering. The mission of WFAF is to combat antisemitism, bigotry and hate by driving awareness, engagement and activism through the arts, across a wide variety of mediums, by sharing stories of hope. UnBroken is The Weber Family Arts Foundation’s inaugural project.

Discover with Dole: Celebrating Kansas Day
2026-01-20 - 2026-02-01
Celebrate Kansas Day all week long at the Dole Institute! Join us Tuesday, January 20, through Sunday, February 1, for a Kansas Day-themed Discover with Dole.
Discover with Dole is the Dole Institute’s interactive, kid-friendly themed program in our Museum & Galleries. All programs and events at the Dole Institute are free and open to the public.

Desert Storm: High-Tech Wonders, or Ingenuity and Elbow Grease?
2025-12-03 15:00 - 16:15
Desert Storm in January-February 1991 is known for its dazzling display of technological brilliance, forecasting a so-called revolution in military affairs that promised the United States a cheap alternative to wars of the past. The lop-sided victory over Iraqi forces in Kuwait in 1991 seemed to forecast a new American way of war that was cheap, decisive, and limited bloodshed—at least for American forces. Showcasing high-tech weapon systems in a five-week air campaign which culminated with a 100-hour ground war, the technology seemed overwhelming. This talk examines the technology that went into the victory but asks whether this technology was as widespread as it appeared on television, and what was the role of the post-Vietnam training revolution in leading to the overwhelming success.
Dr. Mark T. Gerges serves as the Deputy Director, Department of Military History, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. He served twenty years in armor units, taught history at the United States Military Academy at West Point and commanded a tank company during Operation Desert Storm. He received his PhD from Florida State University and retired from the Army in 2004. He has taught at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College since 2002, both in uniform and as a civilian faculty member.
The Ft. Leavenworth Series is an annual roster of lectures focusing on significant historical events, usually with an emphasis on military history. Each lecture is presented by faculty from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Established by General William Tecumseh Sherman in 1881, the CGSC is the graduate college for U.S. Army and sister service officers. The esteemed faculty and guests of the CGSC provide unique and captivating insights into the history of military conflict from the ancient to the modern ages at the Dole Institute of Politics.

The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency.

The Counselors: Should the Electoral College Be Abolished?
2025-11-20 18:30 - 20:30
In this edition of The Counselors, attorneys and Dole Institute Visiting Fellows Ed Duckers and Pedro Irigonegaray will debate whether the Electoral College—the means in which the United States elects a president—should be abolished. They’ll be joined a panel of expert witnesses to debate both sides of the issue.
This program will be moderated by Ava Levin, SAB member and Discussion Group Coordinator, who studies Political Science, English, and Spanish.

For the negative:
Ed Duckers is partner at Stoel Rives LLP and the head of the firm’s Litigation Practice in California and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He is a past chair of Stoel Rives’ Food and Agribusiness Industry Team. Ed will be leading the argument for the negative.
Tara Ross is nationally recognized for her expertise on the Electoral College. She is the author of Why We Need the Electoral College (2019), along with multiple other books about the Electoral College. Her children’s books include We Elect A President: The Story of our Electoral College (2016), She Fought Too: Stories of Revolutionary War Heroines (2019), and We Fought for Freedom: The Story of Our American Revolution. Her Prager University video, Do You Understand the Electoral College?, is Prager’s most-viewed video ever, with more than 66 million views.
Trent England is the executive director and founder of Save Our States and has also served as the executive vice president at think tanks in Washington state and Oklahoma and as a legal policy analyst at The Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. He is the author of Why We Must Defend the Electoral College and a producer of the feature-length documentary, Safeguard: An Electoral College Story. Trent earned a J.D. from George Mason University School of Law and a B.A. in government from Claremont McKenna College.

For the affirmative:
Pedro Irigonegaray is an attorney and partner at Irigonegaray, Turney, & Revenaugh. A trial lawyer since 1973, Pedro is a former President of The Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, a Fellow in The American College of Trial Lawyers and a Fellow in The International Academy of Trial Lawyers. Pedro will be leading the argument for the affirmative.
Jeffrey D. Jackson is the James M. Concannon Dean and Professor of Law at Washburn University School of Law. Jackson received his B.B.A. in economics from Washburn University in 1989, his J.D. from Washburn Law in 1992, and his L.L.M. in Constitutional Law at Georgetown University Law Center in 2003. He teaches Constitutional Law I & II as well as Constitutional History.
Linsey Moddelmog is a Professor of Political Science at Washburn University, where she has taught since 2009. She has done research in the area of electoral systems and representation in the U.S. and around the world. She is excited to return to the Dole Institute where she worked for several years while in graduate school at the University of Kansas.

In Conversation with Ambassador Pjer Šimunović
2025-11-13 19:00 - 20:15
This Dole Forum will focus on Croatia’s experience in public diplomacy in the United States and examine key aspects of U.S.–Croatia bilateral cooperation. The discussion will also offer perspectives on current U.S. foreign policy and Croatia’s priorities.

H.E. Pjer Šimunović is Croatia’s Ambassador to the United States since September 2017. Together with a career in journalism and academic research he served in various high-level positions in the Croatian Government, in the fields of national security, defense and diplomacy, as Director of the Office of the National Security Council, Ambassador to Israel, Defense State Secretary in charge of defense policy, National Coordinator for NATO and Assistant Foreign Minister in charge of international organizations and security, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy in Paris and Deputy Head of Department for Analysis at the Foreign Ministry. He worked as a journalist with the BBC World Service Radio in London, with the magazine Europ in Paris, and with the Croatian daily ‘Večernji list’ in Zagreb, covering international affairs. A regular speaker on political and security issues at many conferences and seminars, he is the author of a range of security studies and articles published in the leading international journals. Ambassador Šimunović holds an M.A. degree from the Department of War Studies, King’s College London. He is decorated with the title of Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur de la République française.
Dr. Qëndrim R. Gashi is a mathematician and diplomat, currently serving as a visiting professor at the University of Maryland, College Park. From 2016 to 2021, he was Kosovo’s Ambassador to France, also covering Portugal, Andorra, and Monaco. Dr. Gashi has served in supervisory boards of various private and state institutions, and think tanks, and has received numerous scholarships, awards and honors – including the insignia of Commander of the French Legion of Honor in 2022. He holds a Ph.D. (2008) from the University of Chicago, and M.A. St (2003) from the University of Cambridge, and a Diploma (2002) from the University of Prishtina. He was the Spring 2023 Dole Fellow, leading the series Building Democracy in the 21st Century.

High Stakes Leadership: A Leadership Case Study in Innovation, Resiliency, and Impact
2025-11-12 16:00 - 17:30
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu joins us to discuss the opportunities and challenges that come with running a city that aims to grow in sustainable and strategic ways. A former anchor and reporter, Mayor Wu has a unique perspective on public narrative and crisis leadership.

Mayor Lily Wu was elected Mayor of Wichita, Kansas in November 2023, and was sworn in as the City of Wichita’s 103rd mayor on January 8, 2024. Mayor Lily is the first woman elected to a full term in the largest city in Kansas. She is the first Asian American mayor in the state of Kansas. She has been a Wichitan since 1993, when her family immigrated to Wichita from Guatemala. Mayor Lily was an award-winning local television journalist and is a proud alumna of Wichita Public Schools, including Wichita High School East, Wichita State University, and the University of Hong Kong. As mayor, she champions an inclusive vision for the entire city, focusing on ensuring public safety, strengthening the economy, restoring trust in City Hall, and building a united community.

The 2025 Tribute to Veterans Gala
2025-11-09 17:00 - 21:00
Reservations for this event can now be made online. If you prefer, you can make your reservation by calling the Dole Institute at (785) 864-4900 or by emailing us at doleinstitute@ku.edu.
Reserve your spot →

The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics invites you to join us in celebrating veterans of our armed forces at the annual Tribute to Veterans Gala on Sunday, November 9, 2025.
Featuring a “Salute to Veterans” from members of the University of Kansas Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and live music from the Moonlight Serenade Orchestra, the evening brings together community members to celebrate veterans and their families for the service they provided to our country.
Admission is free, however a reservation is required to be made by Wednesday, Oct. 22. You can submit a registration online by clicking the link below. You can also call the Institute at (785) 864-4900, or email us at doleinstitute@ku.edu.
Reserve your spot

Integrating the U.S. Army in the Early 20th Century
2025-11-05 15:00 - 16:15
The integration of the U.S. Armed Forces signifies one of the many adaptations the U.S. military conducted during the Second World War when it came to combat power and reconstitution. As of early 1945, the U.S. Army fielded integrated units as a result of the attrition on the Western Front, but shortly thereafter returned to a segregated force. Attritional losses in the Korean War forced the Army to join its fellow services in following Executive Order 9981, issued in 1948 by President Harry S. Truman, that effectively integrated the Armed Forces. This talk will examine the ways the U.S. military adapted to the combat power demands, which ultimately increased lethality in two different wars.

Dr. Amanda M. Nagel earned her PhD from the University of Mississippi, specializing in U.S.History and Global Conflict. She has taught at the University of Mississippi, Winona State University (MN), the United States Military Academy at West Point, and the School of Advanced Military Studies before coming to the Command and General Staff College’sDepartment of Military History. Her research centers on race, war, empire, masculinity, and citizenship in the United States at the turn of the twentieth century. She is currently revising a manuscript examining African American soldiers in the Spanish-American, Philippine-American, and First World Wars for the University of Virginia Press, forthcoming in 2026. She also is a contributor to a collection of essays titled, Race, Reconstruction, and Politics at Old West Point, published with UVA Press in 2024. She has presented at multiple conferences, given public talks at the National WWI Museum in Kansas City, and frequently works with Army University Press’s Editorial Board.
The Ft. Leavenworth Series is an annual roster of lectures focusing on significant historical events, usually with an emphasis on military history. Each lecture is presented by faculty from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Established by General William Tecumseh Sherman in 1881, the CGSC is the graduate college for U.S. Army and sister service officers. The esteemed faculty and guests of the CGSC provide unique and captivating insights into the history of military conflict from the ancient to the modern ages at the Dole Institute of Politics.

The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency.

The Midterm Election, One Year Out
2025-10-30 19:00 - 20:30
The groundwork already is being laid for highly consequential 2026 midterm elections, as the two parties jockey over congressional redistricting, controversies over the Trump agenda, political violence and Democrats’ search for a unifying message. We examine all the elements one year out.

Jerry Seib has been a journalist with The Wall Street Journal for almost 45 years. He served as the Journal’s Executive Washington Editor and wrote the weekly “Capital Journal” column for 29 years. He also reported from the Middle East for the Journal in the mid-1980s, covered the White House, has moderated three presidential debates, and interviewed every president since Ronald Reagan.
For more than 25 years, Amy Walter has built a reputation as an accurate, objective, and insightful political analyst with unparalleled access to campaign insiders and decision-makers. One of Washington’s Most Powerful Women in 2023 & 2021, she is the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, where she provides analysis of the issues, trends and events that shape the political environment. A contributor to the PBS NewsHour, she provides weekly political analysis for the popular “Politics Monday” segment and is a featured contributor for their Election and Convention special coverage events. She is also a regular Sunday panelist on NBC’s Meet the Press and CNN’s Inside Politics and appears frequently on Special Report with Bret Baier on Fox News Channel. From 2017 until early 2021, Walter was the host of the weekly nationally syndicated program Politics with Amy Walter on The Takeaway from WNYC and PRX. She’s also the former political director of ABC News. Amy was an inaugural fellow at the Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago, where she now serves on the Board of Advisors. She graduated summa cum laude from Colby College, earned an honorary degree as a Doctor of Letters, and serves as a Trustee to the Board.

KUCCO Annual Trunk or Treat
2025-10-29 17:00 - 19:00
Join KU Center for Community Outreach and the Dole Institute of Politics for our annual Trunk or Treat! Located in the parking lot of the Dole Institute of Politics, all are welcome to join us for games, activities, and candy! Come in your best costume for a scary good time!

Democracy for Daisies with the Dole Institute of Politics
2025-10-23 17:30 - 19:00
Join GSKSMO at the Dole Institute of Politics for a fun, interactive learning experience about the branches of American government and how they work together to form our democracy.
Register on the Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri website →

Journalism and Civic Engagement: Is There a Connection and Should There Be?
2025-10-22 16:00 - 17:30
In a world where “fake news” seems to be a permanent part of our lexicon and where individuals don’t always agree on facts, what role should the media play in civic engagement? Does the fourth estate have a duty in our system of checks and balances? In this conversation with two accomplished journalists, we’ll consider how storytelling, fact-checking, and mass media are changing, and whether reporting the news and reporters on newsmakers should be connected to civic engagement.

John Holt anchors Fox 4 News at 5, 6, and 9 p.m. at Fox 4 Kansas City. He also hosts the weekly public affairs show “4 The People,” co-hosts “KC Endzone” during the Chiefs’ season, and is a special projects reporter. John graduated from the University of Kansas Schools of Journalism and Law.
Mary Sanchez is a national syndicated columnist with Tribune Content Agency and a familiar face and voice in Kansas City media. Sanchez’s contributions include time as the senior reporter for Kansas City PBS and a metro columnist for The Kansas City Star, member of the Star’s editorial board, in addition to her years spent reporting on race, class, criminal justice and educational issues. She’s a frequent moderator for important civic conversations hosted by American Public Square, also serving on the organization’s board. APS seeks to build community through civil, fact-based discourse. Sanchez is a mentor with Report for America, pairing with early career journalists as they enter the profession and has written columns for the Poynter Institute, helping others to report deeper and with nuance on issues of race, ethnicity, immigration, and culture wars, especially within politics. Sanchez is a native of Kansas City and has also lived in Mexico, the country of her father’s birth.

Affordable Housing in America
2025-10-21 10:00 - 11:15
Fueled by high home prices and rents, a limited supply of affordable homes, and persistent regulatory and financing hurdles, families across the nation are finding it harder than ever to secure safe, decent, and affordable housing. Millions of American families spend more than half their income on housing, while entry-level homeownership remains out of reach for many—a reality that threatens economic stability and upward mobility.
As local, state, and federal policymakers scramble to respond, the question of what works has become urgent. The challenge is amplified by the need for solutions that not only increase housing production but also preserve existing affordable homes and help families with insufficient incomes cover high housing costs.
Join us at the Dole Institute as our two visiting fellows break down what’s at stake and why housing policy will remain a defining issue for years to come at every level of government.

This program is presented in partnership with the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Michael Kelley is a senior director at BPC Action. Before joining in 2021, he held several senior roles at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, advising top officials on congressional and intergovernmental affairs. He previously served as deputy chief of staff and legislative director to Rep. Marlin Stutzman and as a legislative assistant to Rep. Steve Buyer. Kelley also brings experience from the Natural Products Association, Mayer Brown, and the Moffett Group. A Virginia native, he holds a B.A. in History from the University of Virginia.
Andy Winkler is managing director of housing and infrastructure at BPC, where he leads the Housing Council and Task Force on Disaster Response Reform. Since joining BPC in 2015, he has worked on infrastructure, senior housing, and housing finance reform. Previously, he was director of housing finance policy at the American Action Forum. Winkler holds a B.A. from the University of Missouri.

Why the Armenian Genocide Still Matters
2025-10-21
Over a century later, the 1915 Armenian Genocide continues to offer us many insights about human rights, competing national interests, and the role of history in identity and narrative-building.
Join Dole Institute senior archivist and head of collections Sarah Gard, historian Alice Kelikian, and journalist Michael Bobelian for a conversation inspired by the Dole Institute’s original exhibit, “Dole & Dr. K,” that builds on the stories of loss and recovery turned advocacy for Armenia.

This program is presented in partnership with the KU Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies.

Sarah Gard, C.A., serves as the Dole Institute’s senior archivist and head of collections. In her role, she preserves and provides access to the Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archives and Special Collections—one of the largest congressional archives in the United States. She holds a B.A. in art history from the University of Mary Washington and an M.S.I.S. with a specialization in archives and records enterprise from the University of Texas at Austin. Sarah is also an active member of the Association of Centers for the Study of Congress and the Congressional Papers Section of the Society of American Archivists.
Alice Kelikian is an associate professor of history at Brandeis University working on Italian culture and cinema. She took her first degree at Princeton University and got her doctorate at the University of Oxford. Kelikian is also the daughter of Dr. Hampar Kelikian, the Armenian surgeon Senator Bob Dole credited with his mental and physical recovery after World War II.
Michael Bobelian is an award-winning author, lawyer, and journalist who has written about and discussed human rights, the Supreme Court, and legal affairs for outlets like the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Forbes.com, C-SPAN, and NPR. A graduate of the University of Michigan Business and Law schools and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, he is the author of two books, including Children of Armenia: A Forgotten Genocide and the Century-Long Struggle for Justice. Bobelian also served as the Dole Archives Fellow for Armenian Advocacy in 2018, and his research was the foundation for the “Dole & Dr. K” exhibit.

Democracy for Juniors with the Dole Institute of Politics
2025-10-20 17:30 - 19:00

The 2025 Constitution Day Program: Healthcare in the U.S. Constitution
2025-10-15 19:00 - 20:30
In observation of Constitution Day, Dole Institute associate director Dr. Barbara Ballard, and attorney and Student Advisory Board alum Jesse Burbank will be in conversation with I. Glenn Cohen, the James A. Attwood and Leslie Williams Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, about the intersection of healthcare policy and the U.S. Constitution, including discussions on Medicare and Medicaid, Obamacare, abortion, gender-related medical treatment, and the future of healthcare.
The Dole Institute’s Constitution Day Program is made possible by the support of longtime Friend of the Dole Institute, Mark P. Johnson.

Dr. Barbara Ballard is senior associate director at the Dole Institute, where she leads civic engagement and leadership programs. She has served at the University of Kansas since 1980 and teaches in education and gender studies. A Kansas House Representative since 1992, she is the Democratic Caucus Chair and serves on key committees. She is also a former president of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators.

Jesse Burbank earned his bachelor’s degree in history and political science from the University of Kansas in 2017. He was a member of the Dole Institute Student Advisory Board, and he served as Dole Institute Director Bill Lacy’s research assistant during his senior year. Jesse earned his law degree with honors from Harvard Law School in 2020, and worked in private practice after law school at the law firm Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago before joining the U.S. Army JAG Corps in late 2022. He is now a Captain in the U.S. Army, serving as a criminal trial attorney in the Military District of Washington, DC. He was previously a federal prosecutor in the District of Kansas and a Special Victims’ Counsel at Fort Riley, representing survivors of sexual assault and related offenses throughout the military justice process.

Prof. I. Glenn Cohen is the Deputy Dean and James A. Attwood and Leslie Williams Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and serves as the Faculty Director, Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology & Bioethics. He is one of the world’s leading experts on the intersection of bioethics and the law, as well as health law. He also teaches civil procedure. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine. He has spoken to NATO on biotechnology and human enhancement, addressed the OECD and members of the US and the Korean Congress on medical AI policy, and advised then- U.S. Vice President Harris on reproductive rights. He has provided bioethical advising and consulting to some of the largest healthcare companies in the world including Bayer, Otsuka, and Illumina. He has given grand rounds and lectured to medical and industry conferences across the world. His work has been frequently covered by or appeared in media venues such as PBS, NPR, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, the New York Times, The Washington Post, the Boston Globe. He is the author of more than 300 articles and leading law, medicine, and science journals and the author, co-author, editor, or co-editor of more than 20 books. Prof. Cohen’s current projects relate to medical AI, mobile health and other health information technologies, abortion, reproduction/reproductive technology, the therapeutic use of psychedelic drugs, research ethics, organ transplantation, rationing in law and medicine, health policy, FDA law, translational medicine, medical tourism and many other topics

Bipartisan Consensus Building: Making Public Policy Work for Everyone
2025-10-08 16:00 - 17:30
Kansas State Representatives Laura Williams (R) and Brandon Woodard (D) are a unique team. They previously ran against each other for public office, but are now both elected officials in the Kansas House of Representatives who work together on a broad spectrum of policy issues. In this session, we’ll hear about their bipartisan public policy work, how they approach problem-solving, and why they work so well together.

Rep. Laura Williams (R) serves in the Kansas House of Representatives, representing her childhood city, Lenexa, Kansas. She serves on Commerce, Financial Institution & Pensions Committees and the Joint Committee on Fiduciary Financial Institutions Oversight. She also serves as the Vice Chair of the Judiciary Committee. With a degree from the University of Kansas, Laura dove headfirst into the world of business as an independent contractor developing marketing strategies for small to medium-sized businesses. But that was just the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey. In 2017, she co-founded a Creative Agency with her husband that continues to thrive today. Now serving her second term in office, Laura is using her experience and passion for entrepreneurship to drive legislative priorities that remove barriers for business owners, create affordable access to childcare, and lower the cost of living for Kansas families. She currently serves as Chair of the Kansas Republican House Campaign Committee. She has served on the Community Council for She Should Run, a non-partisan organization helping break barriers for women to consider running for elected office. She is an alumnae of the BILLD 2024 for Council of State Governments, American Council of Young Political Leaders Canada 2024, and Emerging Leader 2023 Class of GOPAC. Laura is married to her husband, Kyle Williams and celebrated their tenth year of marriage this past May. She has 2 children, Eloise and Sullivan.
Rep. Brandon Woodard (D) is a passionate community organizer, dedicated advocate, and proud lifelong Kansan who represents the 108th District in the Kansas House of Representatives, covering parts of Lenexa, Olathe, and Overland Park. With deep roots in his community and a fierce commitment to public service, Brandon has become a leading voice for human rights, economic justice, and a more equitable Kansas for all. As House Democratic Leader, elected by his colleagues in 2024, Brandon is critical in shaping the legislative agenda, advancing progressive policies, and strategizing on key issues impacting Kansans.

Tanks and Trenches: Armored Warfare in WWI
2025-10-01 15:00 - 16:15
The tank was one of the most iconic weapons of the 20th century. While it was a dominate weapon on the battlefields of Europe and the Middle East from World War II and beyond, its origins were deeply tied to the realities of the Western Front of the Great War This lecture will examine how the need to overcome the defensive power of trench warfare led to the creation of the tank and why, despite many technological advances in tank design throughout the war, the battlefield performance of armored warfare during the conflict was quite mixed.
Dr. Richard S. Faulkner is a Professor of Military History and has taught at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) for over 21 years. He served 23 years in the U.S. Army and commanded a tank company in the 1st Armored Division during Operation Desert Storm. He is the author of The School of Hard Knocks: Combat Leadership in the American Expeditionary Forces (Texas A&M Press, 2012), which was the recipient of the Society for Military History’s 2013 Distinguished Book Award. His second book, Pershing’s Crusaders: The American Soldier in World War I (University Press of Kansas, 2017) received the World War I Association’s 2017 Norman B. Tomlinson, Jr. Prize for the best work of history in English on World War One, the Organization of American Historians’ 2017 Richard W. Leopold Prize, and the Army Historical Foundation’s 2017 Excellence in U.S. Army History Book Award.
The Ft. Leavenworth Series is an annual roster of lectures focusing on significant historical events, usually with an emphasis on military history. Each lecture is presented by faculty from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Established by General William Tecumseh Sherman in 1881, the CGSC is the graduate college for U.S. Army and sister service officers. The esteemed faculty and guests of the CGSC provide unique and captivating insights into the history of military conflict from the ancient to the modern ages at the Dole Institute of Politics.

The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency.

Turning Research, Policy Solutions and Civic Engagement into Results for Kansas Women
2025-09-24 16:00 - 17:30
United WE has been breaking down barriers to women’s economic growth and leadership since 1991. The “think and do” tank’s nonpartisan, research-backed approach has driven meaningful change across the nation, proving that when women succeed, communities and economies flourish. Kansas in particular has been fertile ground for United WE’s policy agenda, including increasing access to childcare, occupational licensing reform, fostering women’s entrepreneurship and growing the civic leadership bench with women interested in serving their communities.

Joni Wickham is a former Chief of Staff to Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Sly James, and previously worked with the American Federation of Teachers, the Missouri Department of Transportation, and in the office of Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan. A recipient of the 2019 University of Missouri Truman School of Public Affairs Mel Carnahan Public Service Award, she was also named to the Kansas City Business Journal’s prestigious Class of 2023 Women Who Mean Business.
Wendy Doyle is a leading advocate for women’s economic and civic advancement, serving as president and CEO of United WE. Over the past decade, she has driven impactful policy change through research, advocacy, and initiatives like the Appointments Project. Wendy regularly advises policymakers, testifies before legislatures, and champions reforms in equal pay, childcare, paid leave, and more. Her leadership has earned numerous honors, including the Missouri Lieutenant Governor’s Women of Achievement award and induction into the Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame. She holds a B.A. from Rockhurst University.

Water for Our Future
2025-09-23 19:00 - 20:15
Join Dole Fellow Karen Willey for a bipartisan conversation with legislative members of the Water Program Task Force. Kansas State Sen. Kenny Titus (R) and State Rep. Lindsay Vaughn (D) are two members of the 16-member panel, which will produce its first report by the end of January 2026.
The Water Program Task Force was by Kansas House Bill 2172 (2025) to examine policy solutions in response to Kansas’ current and future water supply, assess potential impacts on the state’s economy, and consider funding efforts for related special projects. Governor Laura Kelly signed HB 2172 in March 2025 having received overwhelming bipartisan support during consideration in the state legislature.

This program is presented in partnership with the KU Honors Program.

Karen Willey serves as the Douglas County, Kansas Commissioner for District 3. Dr. Willey holds a BA in Environmental Studies and a PhD in Geography, both from KU. She works as a nonprofit consultant through Futureful, a local company providing organizational health and fundraising support to health, housing, and human services organizations in urban Kansas City. She leverages this social impact work along with her science and entrepreneurship experience in crafting grounded local policy.
Sen. Kenny Titus was born and raised in Great Bend, Kansas, and attended Kansas State University where he received BS degrees in Journalism and History and a MA in History, along with a JD from the University of Kansas School of Law. Kenny has worked as a public service attorney for the Kansas Department of Transportation, Kansas Attorney General, and Kansas Department of Agriculture, where he dealt extensively with the state’s water law issues, and he taught water law as an adjunct professor for the University of Kansas School of Law. He currently resides near Manhattan and represents the 51st District in the Kansas House, which includes Pottawatomie, Wabaunsee, and Riley Counties and serves on the House Water Committee.
Rep. Lindsay Vaughn is a Kansas State Representative serving District 22 in Overland Park, where she was born and raised. Lindsay is the Ranking member of the House Water Committee and is focused on developing policy and working with stakeholders across Kansas to build nonpartisan coalitions aimed at sustainable water use. As the youngest woman in the Kansas Legislature, Rep. Vaughn is also dedicated to elevating the voices of young Kansans and advocating for future generations. To her legislative work, she brings diverse experiences in nonprofit and volunteer management as well as grassroots community organizing. Lindsay is active in her local community and serves on the board of Heartland Conservation Alliance, a land trust dedicated to stewarding the Blue River watershed.

Kansas Court of Appeals Constitution Day Hearings
2025-09-16 10:00 - 12:00
In honor of Constitution Day, the Kansas Court of Appeals will be hearing oral arguments in two cases at the Dole Institute on Tuesday, September 16 at 10 a.m. Learn more about docket and case information by visiting the Kansas Court of Appeals website →
Commemorated annually throughout the nation, Constitution Day celebrates the anniversary of the adoption of the United States Constitution in September 1787. Learn more about the Dole Institute’s Constitution Day celebrations →

Democracy for Cadettes with the Dole Institute of Politics
2025-09-10 18:00 - 19:30

Transformational Leadership: Exhausting and Exhilarating
2025-09-10 16:00 - 17:30
Former Kansas City Mayor Sly James took office after an economic downturn and at a moment when civic pride was nonexistent. Through a systems-thinking approach to governance, strategic community engagement, and data-informed decision-making, Mayor James’ administration led the city through a renaissance that transformed everything from the city’s skyline to its sense of self. Mayor James will talk about his time in office, his leadership style and explain why transforming his hometown was both exhausting and exhilarating.

Joni Wickham is a former Chief of Staff to Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Sly James, and previously worked with the American Federation of Teachers, the Missouri Department of Transportation, and in the office of Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan. A recipient of the 2019 University of Missouri Truman School of Public Affairs Mel Carnahan Public Service Award, she was also named to the Kansas City Business Journal’s prestigious Class of 2023 Women Who Mean Business.
Sly James is a former mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, known for leading the city’s transformation through major initiatives like a new airport terminal, a modern streetcar line, and North America’s first “Smart City” project. A Marine Corps veteran and successful trial attorney, he also championed universal pre-K and diversity in the legal profession, founding the award-winning KCMBA Diversity Initiative. His leadership earned numerous honors, including the American Graduate Champion of Education and Government Technology’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers, and Drivers. Sly is also an author of two books focused on civic leadership and opportunity.
