Ed Duckers and Pedro Irigonegaray Named Dole Institute Visiting Fellows

November 22, 2024 - Features

by Audrey Coleman | Director, Dole Institute of Politics

Earlier in this month, attorneys Ed Duckers and Pedro Irigonegaray were named Dole Institute Visiting Fellows for their commitment to developing the next generation of leaders. The pair have participated in Dole Institute programs since 2008 and are now lead advocates in our seasonal debate series, The Counselors.

Visiting Fellows at the Dole Institute join seasonal Dole Fellows in engaging with the community through public programming, but also invest significant time in collaboration with the Institute for the benefit of students. Both Ed and Pedro have worked to incorporate members of the Dole Institute Student Advisory Board and law students at Washburn University, with the thanks of Professor Joseph Mastrosimone, into the seasonal program.

The Counselors, a cross between a debate and mock trial, is an engaging program featuring discussions on contemporary topics. With the assistance of expert witnesses, the pair have debated whether the draft should be reinstated, if felons should be disenfranchised, and the limits of big tech. Last spring, the program was redesigned to include students from the Student Advisory Board and Washburn University School of Law students, each of whom were mentored by Ed and Pedro and had an opportunity to cross examine expert witnesses.

Ed Duckers, an alum of Senator Bob Dole’s office, is the head of Stoel Rives’ litigation practice in California. He previously served as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and is a past chair of its Food and Agribusiness Industry Team. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas before earning his Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University, where he participated in the Georgetown Law Journal and was a winner of the Beaudry Cup Moot Court Competition.

Pedro Irigonegaray is a partner at Irigonegaray & Revenaugh in Topeka, Kansas. There, he helps underserved communities and families throughout Topeka, Shawnee County, and beyond in criminal defense and civil litigation. Before forming this firm, he owned and operated his own firm for 45 years, earning accolades as one of Kansas’s most respected attorneys. He earned his Juris Doctorate from Washburn University School of Law in Topeka.

Ed and Pedro will return to the Dole Institute on Thursday, April 24, 2025, for the next edition of The Counselors, which will feature KU students Cas Casmus, Ava Levin, Jaspreet Kaur, and Harini Sreekanth; and Washburn University Law School students Ryan Petersen and Janira Silva.

Audrey Coleman is the Director of the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, where she has held leadership roles since 2012. Formerly the Archivist to Senator Bob Dole, Audrey led months-long commemorative efforts to honor Senator Dole’s 100th Birthday and the 20th Anniversary of the Dole Institute. In her role, Audrey cultivates transformative program partnerships that impact audiences and engage institutions across the region and the nation. Audrey holds graduate and undergraduate degrees from the University of Kansas, where she was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society.

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 Senator Bob Dole and his wife Senator Elizabeth Dole, visitor galleries feature changing exhibits, the Kansas Veterans Virtual Memory Wall, architectural-scale stained glass American flag, and September 11 memorial.