The Office of Alumni Relations and School of Public Affairs invite alumni, parents, and friends to a reception during the Democratic National Convention.  Hosted by new SPA dean Barbara S. Romzek, the reception will feature remarks by Jennifer Lawless, professor and director of AU's Women and Politics Institute, and Michael Cohen, SIS-SOC/BA '94, author of Live from the Campaign Trail.  There is no charge to attend.

Jennifer L. Lawless graduated from Union College in Schenectady, New York, with a B.A. in political science. She went on to receive an M.A. and Ph.D. in political science from Stanford University. A nationally recognized expert on women's involvement in politics, she is the author of Becoming a Candidate: Political Ambition and the Decision to Run for Office and the co-author (with Richard L. Fox) of the book, It Still Takes a Candidate: Why Women Don't Run for Office. She has also published numerous articles in political science journals and has issued several policy reports on the barriers that impede women’s candidate emergence. From 2003 – 2009, she was an Assistant Professor at Brown University.  Jennifer received her B.A. in political science from Union College and her M.A. and Ph.D. in political science from Stanford University.

Michael A. Cohen is the author of Live From the Campaign Trail: The Greatest Presidential Campaign Speeches of the 20th Century and How They Shaped Modern America (Walker Books: 2008). He is a Senior Fellow at the American Security Project.  He is currently writing his second book for Oxford University Press on the 1968 presidential election and its impact on American politics.  He has also been a Senior Fellow at the New America Foundation and the World Policy Institute.  Previously, Michael served in the U.S. Department of State as chief speechwriter for U.S. Representative to the United Nations Bill Richardson and Undersecretary of State Stuart Eizenstat.  For a complete bio on Michael, please visit livefromthetrail.com.