A Defining American Voice Comes to the Stage: Jon Meacham to Headline Whitworth’s President’s Leadership Forum Oct. 14
Whitworth President Scott McQuilkin and Spokesman-Review Executive Editor Rob Curley will kick off the forum and introduce Meacham on stage. Meacham’s presentation will focus on his new bestseller, American Struggle: Democracy, Dissent, and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union: An Anthology. The author’s presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session with President McQuilkin.
Meacham is one of America’s most prominent public scholars who explores American leadership, democracy and the nation’s constitutional ideals in his writings and discussions. He is a regular contributor to MSNBC, CNN and many other news outlets.
He served at Newsweek as managing editor from 1998-2006 and as editor from 2006-10. He is the author of multiple New York Times bestsellers, including And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle. The book won numerous awards, including the Lincoln Prize, and spent 16 weeks on the Times bestseller list.
A skilled orator with a depth of knowledge about politics, religion and current affairs, Meacham has the unique ability to bring history to life and offer historical context to current events and issues impacting Americans’ daily lives.
"It is a tremendous privilege to engage with and learn from someone like Jon Meacham during this moment in our nation’s history,” McQuilkin says. “At Whitworth, we are dedicated to fostering intellectual growth, character formation and leadership, and we are honored to host a prominent figure whose work shapes and deepens our understanding of American history, civic life, and what it means to serve others with compassion, wisdom and integrity.”
In February, Meacham was appointed by the National Constitution Center as its Semiquincentennial Scholar. The incredible honor gives him the ability to anchor the center’s programming as the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary.
Named a “Global Leader for Tomorrow” by the World Economic Forum, Meacham is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a fellow of the Society of American Historians.
He is a distinguished visiting professor at Vanderbilt University, where he holds the Rogers Chair in the American Presidency. In 2024, he was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Joe Biden.
For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
About the President’s Leadership Forum:
The Whitworth President’s Leadership Forum draws key national leaders to the Inland Northwest to provide wisdom and insight on a variety of contemporary issues. Speakers have included Dr. Francis Collins, Liz Cheney, Condoleezza Rice, Gen. Colin Powell, journalist Bob Woodward and author Michael Lewis.
About Whitworth University:
Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private, Christian liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian church. The university, which has an enrollment of about 2,500 students, offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Contacts:
Trisha Coder, associate director of media relations, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4703 or tcoder@whitworth.edu
