Presidential adviser, author David Gergen to speak at CU Oct. 2

David Gergen, political commentator, author and adviser to four U.S. presidents from both parties, will speak in Macky Auditorium on Monday, Oct. 2, at 7:30 p.m.

The talk is part of the CU Center for Leadership’s Leo Hill Leadership Speaker Series. Tickets are required and will be $3 for students, $8 for faculty and staff and $25 for the general public. Tickets are available here.

During his talk, Gergen will share lessons he’s learned from leaders past and present, as well as offer advice on becoming a leader, overcoming setbacks and building coalitions to make meaningful change.

“David Gergen has developed a deep understanding of leadership that extends across political lines and across generations,” said Chancellor Phil DiStefano, who serves as the Newton Endowed Chair in Leadership. “CU Boulder is proud to host engaging and accomplished individuals like Gergen who can share their journeys and engage with students and our community to help us grow.”

Gergen is the eighth speaker in the Leo Hill Leadership Speaker Series, brought to campus by the Quigg and Virginia S. Newton Endowed Chair in Leadership.

About the speaker

Gergen served as a White House adviser to presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Clinton. His unique ability to transcend partisan lines and offer counsel earned him the respect and trust of leaders on both sides of the aisle. 

In addition to his distinguished government service, Gergen has been a sought-after political commentator and analyst, providing expertise on various television networks, including CNN and PBS. He also is a best-selling author. His newest book, “Hearts Touched with Fire: How Great Leaders are Made,” calls on younger generations to pursue lives of service and public leadership, and offers a practical playbook on how they can succeed. 

A native of North Carolina, Gergen is a member of the D.C. Bar, veteran of the U.S. Navy, member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a member of the U.S. executive committee for the Trilateral Commission. He is an honors graduate of Yale and the Harvard Law School, and is a professor of public service and founding director of the Center for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School.