The American Conversation Series
This ongoing series of public forums, each with multiple high-profile speakers representing all sides of the partisan and/or ideological aisle. The events—open to students and the public—include elected leaders, well-recognized political media personalities, and influential experts in the field of media.
Previous Events:
Inaugural Stubblefield Institute Civility Awards
September 13, 2022, Top of the Hill, Reserve Officers Association, 1 Constitution Avenue
The purpose of the Stubblefield Civility Awards is to recognize high-profile leaders who have demonstrated a willingness to be fair, work with all sides of an issue or topic, treat both friends and adversaries with respect, and put policy and problem-solving ahead of partisan or personal gain.
Awardees were selected by a vote of the Stubblefield Institute Board of Advisors as follows: U.S. Representatives Derek Kilmer and William Timmons, the chair and vice-chair of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; Maryland Governor Larry Hogan; nationally acclaimed political journalists David Brooks and Mark Shields; and U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Suzanne Clark, who represents America’s private sector.
The Civility Awards ceremony was held on September 13, 2022 at the Top of the Hill reception venue, housed at the Reserve Officers Association on Capitol Hill.
May 23rd, 2022, Shepherd University Student Center Storer Ballroom
America’s Climate Change Policies: Who Will Pay, Us or Our Children
This forum was a discussion of how our nation should approach climate change policies, especially as it relates to timing, economics, and how these policies impact the average American worker and taxpayer. A reception followed.
April 25, 2022, in the Byrd Center Auditorium
A Town Hall Meeting with Congressman David McKinley
A great opportunity for audience members to go one-on-one with Congressman David McKinley in advance of the May primary elections. Marsha ‘Kavalek’ Chwalik, News Director and Host of Panhandle Live on WEPM-1340 serves as moderator. A reception followed. Watch the town hall here.
From generation to generation, America has struggled with how to teach its own history to elementary and high school students. This has been especially true when the debate is connected to historical issues related to race and slavery. Some have called it “The War Over America’s History.” In today’s politically divided nation, the questions surrounding the debate over how and what to teach about American history has reached the frontlines as a campaign issue, serving only to intensify the question and create public confusion. Stubblefield Institute presents “Teaching American History,” with an all star panel consisting of nationally recognized historians and teachers. To watch the event, click here.
December 9th, 2021- Virtual Event
I-81: The Road to Safer Highways
The Community Engagement Committee presented, “I-81: The Road to Safer Highways.” This event will discuss the safety concerns, trucker perspectives, and potential solutions to the highway nicknamed “Crash Alley”. This panel discussion consisted of Sheriff Nate Harmon, Delegate Don Forscht, Jim Ward, President of D.M. Bowman, and two individuals from the West Virginia Department of Highways. This conversation was moderated by Amanda Carpenter. To watch this event, follow this link.
November 17, 2021, 6 p.m. –Frank Center Theater at Shepherd University
Premiere of “First Steps” followed by a discussion with the producers and guests from the film
The Stubblefield Institute happily unveiled their first in-person event since the pandemic began. In a divided America, Van Jones controversially works across party lines on landmark criminal justice reform and a more humane response to the addiction crisis. Attempting to be a bridge-builder in a time of extreme polarization takes him deep into the inner workings of a divisive administration, internal debates within both parties, and the lives of front-line activists fighting for their communities. This film was followed by a short break and a discussion with several guests shown within the film including Doug Copenhaver, Pete White, Louis Reed, and producers Brandon and Lance Kramer. To view a trailer, click here.
September 20, 2021 6 p.m.
Freedom of Speech, Censorship, and the Cancel Culture: Social Media and Politics in Today’s America
The forum was moderated by author and CNN contributor, Amanda Carpenter. The panel featured Professor Patricia Aufderheide, University Professor, School of Communications and Founder, Center for Media & Social Impact at American University, David Karpf, associate professor in the School of Media and Public Affairs at the George Washington University, and Dr. Matthew Kushin, a communications professor at Shepherd University. The conversation covered topics such as censorship, cancel culture, and social media regulation. If you missed the discussion you can watch it on YouTube or Facebook.
June 10, 2021, 7 p.m.
Redistricting at the State and Federal Level and What It Means to West Virginia and the Eastern Panhandle
April 6, 2021
The ISMs: Facts and Myths of Socialism, Capitalism, and Populism
The Stubblefield Institute welcomed a panel of scholars together with a neutral moderator to explore the definition and philosophy of socialism, capitalism, and populism. We believe our audience is also interested in how the “isms” work together and should not always be isolated into pure economic or political theory. This event featured an all-star panel consisting of Gary Wolfram, professor and an expert in free-market capitalism, Yascha Mounk, writer and educator who has written brilliantly on the rise of populism, and Dr. Aart Holtslag, esteemed Shepherd professor and researcher. This event was moderated by Paul Solman, a longtime NewsHour correspondent. To watch this event, click here.
February 16, 2021
Meet the Author with Paul Kendrick
The American Conversation Series presented Meet the Author with Paul Kendrick, the co-author of Nine Days: The Race Save Martin Luther King Jr.’s Life and Win the 1960 Election. The program was hosted by Peter Loge, professor at the George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs and Director of the Project on Ethics in Political Communication. You can view the event here.
January 21, 2021
2021 West Virginia Legislature; What are You Going to Do For Us?
The Stubblefield Institute’s Community Engagement Committee’s second event was, “2021 West Virginia Legislature: What are You Going to Do For Us?” on Jan 21st at 7 p.m. The forum featured two West Virginia delegates, Delegate John Doyle and Delegate Paul Espinosa, in a discussion on the future of West Virginia Legislature. This was moderated by Matthew Umstead. Watch the event here.
November 16, 2020
American Politics in a COVID-19 World: What Lies Ahead?
The forum featured a panel of three nationally recognized journalists and media analysts who shared their views on the impact of the 2020 elections on our nation’s future, with a focus on how navigating the COVID-19 pandemic is changing the political and policy landscape. Panel members include Amy Walter, National Editor of the “Cook Political Report,” host of “Politics with Amy Walter” on WNYC, and a frequent analyst on “Special Report with Bret Baier.” A second panelist was Susan Glasser, co-author with husband, Peter Baker of “The Man Who Ran Washington: The Life and Times of James Baker,” correspondent for the New Yorker, and co-founder of Politico. Our third panelist was Ray Suarez, former host of “Inside Story,” on Al Jazeera American, former senior correspondent on the PBS NewsHour, and host of “Talk of the Nation” on NPR. The event was co-moderated by Kelly Johnston, former Secretary of the U.S. Senate and Jordan Jalil, a senior at Shepherd University and captain of the Shepherd Debate Team, the 2019 collegiate national champions. Watch the discussion here.
October 21, 2020
The CARES Act and its Effect on Education- Community Engagement Committee of the Stubblefield Institute
The Community Engagement Committee presented its first event featuring local educators and school administrators in a discussion of the CARES Act. This panel consisted of Beth Marrone, Shawn Dilly, Betty Anne Powell, Jessica Salfia, and Dr. Patrick Murphy and was moderated by Hans Fogle. To view this event click here.
October 15, 2020
Double Header Debates: 16th Senatorial and Secretary of State of West Virginia
The Stubblefield Institute recognizes the importance of West Virginia issues. In doing so we have created the Double Header Debates that included the 16th Senatorial Debate with Patricia Rucker and Pete Dougherty, followed by the Secretary of State of West Virginia debate with Natalie Tennant and Mac Warner. These debates were jointly sponsored by the Stubblefield Institute for Civil Political Communications at Shepherd University and WRNR/TV10 Martinsburg. This was carried on WRNR 740 AM and 106.5 FM, Cable Channel 10 in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties, and streamlined on both YouTube and Facebook.You can view this program here.
September 21, 2020
Healthcare: An Issue of Our Time
This event focused on healthcare, our first forum devoted to a single issue. The Institute’s belief is that the debate over healthcare remains one of the most important issues amongst American votes and is especially intense during a presidential election year. Our goal is to demonstrate this issue can be discussed in a civil, authentic manner and more importantly, in a way that intelligent, solutions can be reached. Three healthcare policy experts with perhaps differing views in a moderated discussion: Grace-Marie Turner, Len Nichols, and Richard Master as the panelists with Susan Dentzer as our moderator. Watch the conversation here.
August 13, 2020
ACS: Fixing Congress: A Conversation with Derek Kilmer and Tom Graves, Chair and Cochair of the Select Committee to Modernize Congress.
This was the first American Conversation Series forum to be held “virtually.” We envisioned it as an interview question-and-answer format featuring Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Tom Graves (R-GA), the Chair and Co-Chair of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress. We wanted to explore the background about the committee, thoughts of bipartisanship today, and strategies moving towards a more bipartisan approach to politics. We have chosen a few select issues and discuss how to move toward greater compromise. Audience questions were also invited. You can view the event here.
March 2, 2020
Students participate in a talkback about the simulation.
Student Leadership Academy
This one-day seminar offers students an introduction to principles of leadership and strategic decision-making via presentations by practitioners, an introduction to academic theory and cases of principles of leadership and decision-making, and participation in a group simulation. The primary audience is high school juniors and seniors, from pre-selected high schools in West Virginia and Maryland. The past event was a simulation led by Dr. Samuel Greene and faculty from the Political Science and Global Studies department.
Sponsored by CNB Bank.
February 3, 2020
Panelist continuing the discussion after the conversation
The American Conversation Series: How to Talk Politics in an Angry America
On February 3, we will host “Talking Politics in an Angry America.” It featured the following three panelists: Scott Widmeyer, former media director for President Carter, Vice President Mondale and Senator Rockefeller; Kelly Johnston, former Secretary of the U.S. Senate; and Frank Senso, former Emmy-award winning correspondent for CNN and currently the Director of the GWU School of Political Communications. Rob Fersch, founder and director of Convergence, an organization devoted to bringing divergent policymakers together and a seasoned mediator, served as moderator. The purpose of the forum is to conduct an open discussion on how we as Americans can communicate more productively across partisan divides.
November 4, 2019
An Evening with Donna Brazile and Mercedes Schlapp: The State of Political Discourse in Today’s America. An American Conversation Series Event
An evening with Donna Brazile and Mercedes Schlapp. Two powerful women, former Democratic Party National Chairwoman and former White House Director of Strategic Communications for President Trump offering their unique perspective on how America can restore civility and positive discourse to a nation divided by its political differences.
October 1, 2019
U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Shelly Moore Capito, representing two parties but one state, come together to help dedicate the Bonnie and Bill Stubblefield Institute for Civil Political Communications.