Drake University is excited to announce that Liz Cheney, attorney, former U.S. Representative and Middle East policy expert, will be the featured speaker for its spring Martin Bucksbaum Distinguished Lecture. The event, “An Evening with Liz Cheney,” will be a moderated discussion and take place Wednesday, March 27, at 7 p.m. in the Knapp Center on Drake’s campus, located at 2601 Forest Ave. in Des Moines. It will be free and open to the public.
Nearly 30 years ago, Martin and Melva Bucksbaum launched their vision for sparking community discussion about the most poignant issues of our time through a generous gift to Drake that helped establish the Martin Bucksbaum Lectureship Series. Over the years, the Lectureship has included world-renowned speakers including Maya Angelou, Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, Lisa Ling, and many other inspiring voices. Thanks to a recent additional gift from Melva Bucksbaum and Mary Bucksbaum, the well-established lecture series now includes two lectureship tracks—the Bucksbaum Lectureship in Business, launched in Fall 2023, and the original Bucksbaum Distinguished Lectureship.
Joining the lectureship series ranks: Get to know Liz Cheney
Cheney has a long career in foreign policy and has held several distinguished positions throughout her tenure. She served as the U.S. representative for Wyoming’s at-large congressional district from 2017 to 2023. She chaired the House Republican Conference, the third-highest position in the House Republican leadership, from 2019 to 2021, and served as the Vice Chair of the Select Committee investigating the January 6 insurrection. She was also a member of the House Armed Services Committee, China Task Force, Natural Resources Committee, and the House Committee on Rules.
Cheney served previously at the State Department as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, and in positions for USAID and the Department of State working in Poland, Hungary, Russia, and Ukraine. Prior to her public service, Cheney practiced law with White & Case LLP and at the International Finance Corporation. A specialist in national security and foreign policy, she is also the co-author, along with her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, of Exceptional: Why the World Needs a Powerful America.
Cheney received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Colorado College, and received her Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago Law School. In 2022, Cheney, along with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, received the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library’s prestigious Profile in Courage Award, with a commendation for her “consistent and courageous voice in defense of democracy.”
Learn more about the spring Bucksbaum Lectureship Series.