Presiding: RICHARD J. NOVAK, Rutgers University, UCEA President
Conference Welcome: SHARON l. FROSS, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Speaker: DONNA BRAZILE, Political Commentator and Chair of the Voting Rights Institute

      Donna Brazile is one of the most admired and wellknown political strategists today. she has worked on every presidential campaign since 1984, and made history in 2000 as the first African American to lead a major campaign. since running the Gorelieberman campaign, she has chaired the Democratic national Committee’s Voting rights Institute (VrI), an organization established in 2001 to help protect and promote the rights of all Americans to participate in the political process. she is also the Founder and managing Director of Brazile and Associates, llC, a public affairs and grassroots advocacy firm based in the District of Columbia.
      Brazile currently serves as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. she has served as a senior lecturer at the University of maryland, resident fellow at harvard University’s Institute of Politics, and as the senator Wynona lipman Chair at rutgers University Center for American Women in Politics. recently, Brazile was appointed to serve on the louisiana recovery Authority (lrA)—which has been instrumental in helping guide the state’s rebuilding efforts following the devastation caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
      Brazile is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including Washingtonian magazine’s 100 most Powerful Women in Washington, D.C., Essence magazine’s 50 most Powerful Women in America, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Award for Political Achievement, and Ebony’s 150 most influential African Americans in the country.