The 2025 Elizabeth Dole Women in Leadership Lecture
February 6 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Sharon McMahon, New York Times Bestselling author and educator, will be honored at the seventh Elizabeth Dole Women in Leadership Lecture on February 6 at 7 p.m. CST. McMahon will be honored for her leadership in redefining how we communicate—by turning confusion into clarity, inspiring change, and teaching others about how to take action. She’ll join Dole Institute Director Audrey Coleman for an interview on her approach to civic education and her journey to becoming “America’s Government Teacher” in the era of social media.
A free ticket is required to attend this event. The online ticket portal will open on Tuesday, January 28 at 10 a.m. CST. Learn more about claiming your ticket below.
Limited copies of Sharon’s book, The Small and the Mighty, will be available for purchase at this event. She’ll also be available to sign copies following the program.
This program is presented in partnership with the Lawrence Public Library
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 Sharon McMahon
#1 New York Times bestselling author, educator, and host of the chart-topping podcast Here’s Where It Gets Interesting, Sharon McMahon is redefining how we communicate, by turning confusion into clarity, inspiring change, and teaching others how to take action by doing the next needed thing.
A former high school government and law teacher, Sharon became known as “America’s Government Teacher” during the 2020 election for her viral efforts to combat political misinformation. Her knack for breaking down complex topics with clarity, humor, and a steadfast commitment to facts has attracted a community of over one and a half million followers—affectionately called the “Governerds.”
Sharon’s newsletter, The Preamble, is one of the largest publications on Substack, providing historical context and non-partisan insights to help readers navigate today’s political landscape. Her debut book, The Small and the Mighty, has been celebrated as one of the year’s top reads by Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Goodreads, highlighting the unsung heroes who shaped America.
Beyond education, Sharon leads philanthropic initiatives that have raised over $11 million to address critical needs, from medical debt relief to disaster recovery. She inspires audiences with a message of hope: history shows us that even small actions can create powerful change.
Attending this event
The Dole Institute has a limited capacity for this event. Free tickets are available on a first-come first-served basis. Claim your free ticket online by clicking the link below. General Admission tickets are limited to two (2) per individual and will be available until they are all claimed.
The online ticket portal will open on Tuesday, January 28 at 10 a.m. CST.
A waitlist will be available once all tickets are claimed. Should you be unable to claim tickets, you can stream this program free on the Dole Institute’s YouTube channel.
Get ready to attend
Once your registration is complete, you will be issued a ticket complete with a QR Code unique to you, your confirmation number, and instructions regarding your ticket. Make sure to save or print this ticket for easy access on February 6.
Join us at the Institute
Upon arrival at the Dole Institute, you will be required to present your confirmed ticket. Seating is first come, first seated—plan your arrival to the Institute with this in mind. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Plan to arrive by 6:45 p.m. to be seated by 7 p.m. Remember you will need to present your confirmed ticket to enter.
The Dole Institute is committed to universal accessibility in all programs and resources. We are in the process of making all of our web projects fully accessible. An accessible version of the material represented on this site will be made available upon request. Please contact us at doleinstitute@ku.edu to request the material be made available in an accessible format, or for general assistance.