Purdue Northwest hosts virtual presentation on presidential leadership

Join PNW and leading presidential scholar George Edwards for a virtual presentation on presidential leadership at noon on Oct. 21. For information visit pnw.edu/distinguished.

The Purdue University Northwest (PNW) College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences welcomes George C. Edwards III, a leading scholar of the American presidency, to a virtual presentation titled, “Is Donald Trump an Effective Leader?”

Edwards, distinguished professor of Political Science and Jordan Chair in Presidential Studies Emeritus at Texas A&M University, will examine how successful the current president has been at honing his negotiation and deal-making skills to lead the country, unite the public and overcome gridlock in Congress. Edwards will evaluate the president’s performance and place it in a broader perspective on presidential leadership.

The event will take place beginning at noon on Wednesday, Oct. 21, via Zoom and is free and open to the public. Visit pnw.edu/distinguished for the Zoom link or more information.

Edwards has written or edited 26 books and more than 80 articles on American politics. His forthcoming book, “Changing Their Minds? Donald Trump and Presidential Leadership,” analyzes past presidential success and the ability to successfully create change and win public support. It uses that framework to further analyze the Trump presidency accounting for his decades of experience as a self-promoter with skills in sales and deal making.

“This is a rare opportunity to hear from and to talk with one of the foremost scholars in the study of the American presidency,” said PNW Assistant Professor of Political Science Yu Ouyang, who helped organize the event. “As we look forward to the outcomes of the 2020 election, Dr. Edwards’ presentation gives us a glimpse into how we might expect presidents to behave as they confront the challenges this nation faces.”