Kansas University’s Dole Institute of Politics has announced its early spring programming schedule.

A highlight is a visit by ABC News’ Lynn Sherr, who will discuss Sally Ride, the first American woman in space.

The lineup also features four Presidential Lecture Series events headlined “They Also Ran: America’s Would-Be Presidents,” all presented by former Dole Institute director Richard Norton Smith and examining the politicians who ran unsuccessfully for the nation’s highest office.

All events are free and take place at the Dole Institute, 2350 Petefish Drive. For more information visit doleinstitute.org.

“An Evening with Lynn Sherr: Sally Ride and the U.S. Space Program”

• 7 p.m. Feb. 24. ABC News’ Lynn Sherr will speak about Sally Ride as part of the Lawrence Public Library’s annual Read Across Lawrence program. Sherr wrote “Sally Ride: America’s First Woman in Space.”

Presidential Lecture Series: “They Also Ran: America’s Would-Be Presidents”

• “The 19th Century,” 4 p.m. Jan. 31. In the 1800s three men ran for president a combined nine times but never won: Henry Clay, James Blaine and William Jennings Bryan.

• “Governors of New York,” 7 p.m. Feb. 1. The early 20th century saw the rise of New York’s influence on U.S. politics including three governors: Charles Evans Hughes, Thomas E. Dewey and Al Smith.

• “Influence in Defeat,” 7 p.m. March 1. Adlai Stevenson and Barry Goldwater were polar opposites in many ways, but both had profound influence on their parties’ development.

• “The Contemporary Midwesterners,” 7 p.m. March 2. The influence of native Midwesterners Hubert Humphrey, George McGovern and Robert Dole exceeded their electoral vote.

Spring 2016 Discussion Groups: “A View From the Bench: Politics and Public Policy”

• 4 p.m. March 22, March 29, April 5, April 12, April 19 and April 26. Judge Joyce London Ford, the nation’s first African-American chief U.S. magistrate judge, will lead a series examining the interactions of governance and the law. Guests will join her for each session.

Fort Leavenworth Military Innovations Series

• “A Raid Too Far: Operation Lam Son 719,” 3 p.m. Feb. 4. Presented by James Willbanks. This series features historians lecturing on topics on which they have published books.