The Dole Institute of Politics announced Thursday morning that Nancy Pelosi, the first woman Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, will speak at Kansas University on Nov. 9.

“As soon as she took the oath as speaker, (Pelosi) has had an invitation to come to the institute,” Dole Institute Interim Director Jonathan Earle said.

Earle said while Bob Dole, the institute’s namesake, ran for president, his professional political life was about his time in the Congress. It’s always been an emphasis to bring Congressional leaders to the institute.

“Senator Dole ran for president of the United States, but he never was president,” Earle said. “This is a museum of legislators and legislating.”

The appearance, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at the institute, will be part of a Midwest swing for the speaker that will also include appearances on behalf of local representatives. Pelosi, who was elected Speaker of the House in January, is scheduled to headline a fundraiser in the Kansas City area for Democratic Rep. Nancy Boyda of Lawrence that evening.

Boyda has eschewed accepting donations from the Democratic National Committee, running as a Democrat in a district that gave about 60 percent of its votes to George W. Bush in 2004. However as of the most recent campaign finance filings, Boyda has raised less money than potential Republican challenger Jim Ryun and has only $120,000 more cash on hand than potential challenger Lynn Jenkins.

Pelosi’s speech, which is co-sponsored by the College Democrats of Kansas, is free and likely will include a question and answer session. No tickets are required; the Dole Institute will open at 10 a.m. for those wishing to attend the California Democrat’s speech.