Former president of Kosovo, popular co-host of NPR’s ‘All Things Considered’ among planned speakers at Dole Institute

photo by: APN Photography/Shutterstock Photo

The Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, at the University of Kansas is pictured March 12, 2020.

The Dole Institute of Politics has announced a spring schedule of events that includes the former president of Kosovo, a popular NPR radio host and a special series that examines the roles of first ladies in presidential administrations.

Former Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga will give an address on democracy on Feb. 22. The formerly war-torn Balkan country of Kosovo will receive special attention by the Dole Institute as Qëndrim Gashi, Kosovo’s former ambassador to France, joins the center as Dole Fellow this spring semester. Gashi has arranged three programs about Kosovo and its efforts to establish a democracy.

The Dole Institute also is bringing a speaker to help celebrate the center’s 20th anniversary. Juana Summers, co-host of the NPR program “All Things Considered,” will give a presentation on Feb. 21 about politics and journalism, as part of a joint event between the Dole Institute and Kansas Public Radio, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary.

Additionally, the Dole Institute will host multiple discussions on the role of first ladies, including an event this evening, Feb. 1, that will feature the press secretary for Jill Biden and the chief of staff for Laura Bush.

Here’s a look at multiple series and events hosted by the center, located on the West Campus of the University of Kansas at 2350 Petefish Drive.

• Feb. 1: “Evolution of the Modern First Lady — How We Got from Lady Washington to Dr. Biden” with Michael LaRosa, press secretary to Jill Biden, and Anita McBride, chief of staff to Laura Bush. 7 p.m.

• Feb. 2: “Brittany to the Elbe: 9th Army’s Invasion of Europe in World War II” with Bill Nance, military professor. 3 p.m.

• Feb. 9: “First Ladies and Power — Influential First Ladies You Might Not Know Much About” with Rebecca Roberts, author; Katherine Sibley, first ladies scholar; and Teri Finneman, KU associate professor and author. 7 p.m.

• Feb. 15: “Building Democracy in the 21st Century: Kosovo’s Path to Independence and Democracy” with Pëllumb Kelmendi, political scientist and board member for the Society for Albanian Studies. 4 p.m.

• Feb. 21 “An Evening with Juana Summers,” co-host of NPR’s “All Things Considered.” 7 p.m.

• Feb. 22: “Building Democracy in the 21st Century: Inclusiveness in Forming a Democracy” with Atifete Jahjaga, former president of the Republic of Kosovo (2011-2016). 4 p.m.

• March 1: “Building Democracy in the 21st Century: The Road Ahead to Maintaining a Democracy” with Enver Hasani, former president of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Kosovo (2011-2016). 4 p.m.

• March 2: “The Union Invasion of Mississippi in 1863” with Angela Riotto, military professor. 3 p.m.

• March 9: “First Ladies, Women’s Rights and Suffrage” with Nancy Kegan Smith, first ladies scholar, and Stacy Cordery, historian and biographer. 7 p.m.

• March 23: “First Ladies, the ERA and Beyond” with Myra Gutin, president of FLARE, and Bob Bostock, consultant to the Nixon Presidential Library Foundation. 7 p.m.

• April 6: “Inchon 1950: The U.S. Amphibious Invasion in the Korean War” with Lou DiMarco, military professor. 3 p.m.

• May 4: “The Invasions That Weren’t: French Efforts to Invade England 1740-1805,” with Jonathan Abel, military professor. 3 p.m.

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