On Wednesday, Nov. 1, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore will speak at the 22nd Annual Blavatt Lecture hosted by the Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College. Through his presentation, titled “More than Waving a Flag: Redefining American Identity in a Gen-Z World,” Moore will aim to inspire today’s students to be leaders and responsible global citizens poised to make an impact in the world around them. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held in the College Union Building Ballroom at 7 p.m.
Pulling from his experience as a combat veteran, small business owner, nonprofit leader, and public servant, Moore will make the case for why we should still feel optimistic about America’s future and explore how this generation, including Gettysburg College students, can help restore the belief that our country can do big things.
“Empowering the next generation to lead, and giving them tools to do so, is why we exist,” said Eisenhower Institute Executive Director Tracie Potts. “Young people need hope and direction. Gov. Moore’s service in the military, business, nonprofits, and government, along with his impressive achievements as an author and a scholar, offer multiple pathways for our students to consider as they aim to lead with integrity, be responsible global citizens, and inspire the world to meaningful action.”
Moore is Maryland’s first Black governor and just the third African American elected governor in the history of the United States. A graduate of the Valley Forge Academy and College, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army before earning his bachelor’s degree in international relations and economics at Johns Hopkins University. While at Johns Hopkins, Moore became the first Black Rhodes Scholar in the institution’s history and went on to earn a master’s in international relations from Wolfson College in Oxford, England. In 2005, he was deployed to Afghanistan as a captain with the 82nd Airborne Division.
Moore is a New York Times bestselling author and has written five books, including “The Other Wes Moore” and “Five Days.” A former investment banker at Deutsche Bank in Manhattan and Citibank, he founded a television production company, Omari Productions, and BridgeEdU, a company that provided services to students in their transition to college. Moore also served as CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation from 2017 to 2021. During his tenure, the Foundation distributed over $600 million toward lifting families out of poverty.
The Blavatt Lecture series showcases individuals whose professional experiences provide a first-hand perspective of the American political system, while emphasizing the importance of public service based upon truth, justice, and civil discourse. Past speakers have included influential members of Congress, well-known writers, accomplished authors, talented educators, noted researchers and leading political scientists.
Learn more about the Eisenhower Institute and its mission to prepare students to become leaders of change in the world of tomorrow.
By Corey Jewart
Posted: 10/25/23