Nancy Pelosi to Speak at Tufts Friday
Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives and the first female Speaker of the House, will be delivering the inaugural Alan D. Solomont Lecture at Tufts University on April 8.
“Nancy Pelosi embodies the spirit and values of leadership and active citizenship that are hallmarks of Tufts and Tisch College,” said Deborah Jospin, chair of the Tisch College board of advocates, which endowed the lectureship. “Ms. Pelosi comes from a strong family tradition of public service and can offer perspective on the impact that individuals can have when they get involved in the world around them.”
Rep. Pelosi will reflect on her career and the importance of public service. The lecture is part of the 10th anniversary celebration of the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service at Tufts. Ms. Pelosi will offer insights from her experiences as the highest ranking female elected official in the nation’s history and her thoughts about the importance of public service. Her brief remarks will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the man for whom the lectureship is named: Alan D. Solomont, U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Andorra; entrepreneur, philanthropist and political activist; and Tisch College founding board chairperson. A member of Tufts’ class of 1970, Solomont is also a trustee emeritus. The Alan D. Solomont Lecture series was endowed by the Tisch College Board of Advocates, as well as friends and colleagues of Solomont in recognition of his exemplary leadership as an active citizen.
Rep. Pelosi served as Speaker of the House from 2007 to 2011, and was also the first woman to lead a major political party in Congress when she assumed the role of House Democratic Leader in 2003. She has represented the 8th Congressional District, which includes most of San Francisco, for more than 23 years. Pelosi’s legislative accomplishments include spearheading the largest college aid expansion since the GI bill more than 60 years ago. She has been a powerful voice for civil rights and human rights around the world.
The Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service is a catalyst for active citizenship at Tufts and is the only university-wide program of its kind. Serving students and faculty at Tufts’ undergraduate, graduate and professional schools, Tisch College prepares young people to be lifelong active citizens and creates an enduring culture of engagement. A leader in the effort to measure program impact and outcomes, the college is currently undertaking a multi-year study designed to examine the link between students’ experiences at Tufts University and the development of their civic and political attitudes and activities over time, including two years after graduation.
– Information from Tufts University