Purdue Policy Research Institute to sponsor 2023 Kennedy Summer School

August 28, 2023

The Purdue Policy Research Institute is pleased to sponsor the upcoming Kennedy Summer School, a U.S.-Ireland diplomacy event, on the 60th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s visit to his family homestead in New Ross, Ireland. A Purdue contingent is set to take part in the Aug.31-Sept. 2 event. PPRI Director Stacey Connaughton will moderate a discussion with retired Vice Adm. Mark Mellet. Drawing on his experiences from his time as Ireland’s highest-ranking military officer, Mellet, who holds a PhD in ecosystem governance, and Connaughton will discuss the strategic drivers and implications of the war in Ukraine, Ireland’s neutrality, and the implications of climate breakdown on global security and stability, among other topics.

Kathryn Brownell, PPRI Faculty Fellow and associate professor of history, will also be featured in the much-anticipated “Showbiz Politics” panel, following the recent publication of her latest book of the same name. As part of this panel, Brownell will share her understanding of the historical context and implications of celebrity influence in the political arena.

Other notable speakers include famed political strategists James Carville and Mary Matalin, Irish Ambassador to the U.S. Geraldine Byrne Nason, and European Commissioner Mairéad McGuinness.

PPRI’s involvement with the Kennedy Summer School comes as Purdue continues to build on a number of connections with institutions of higher education in Ireland. Among these connections are various research collaborations, study abroad and other initiatives including the colleges of Education, Agriculture, Engineering, Health and Human Sciences, Pharmacy, Science and Veterinary Medicine.

Kennedy Summer School

Each September since 2012, the town of New Ross, Ireland, plays host to a festival of Irish and American history, politics and culture. This three-day event, dubbed the Kennedy Summer School, builds on the work of the John F. Kennedy Trust to build and support networks among the town and various national and international academic, tourism and heritage organizations.

Purdue Policy Research Institute

The Purdue Policy Research Institute (PPRI) is a university-level institute in Discovery Park District at Purdue serving to catalyze and leverage extant policy-relevant transdisciplinary research among members of the Purdue research community. PPRI facilitates enduring connections among local and global actors and generates impact on policy development and assessment. The institute is guided by the principle that policy development must consider the interdependencies among technological, economic, ethical and social factors. Together with collaborators in academia and the public and private sectors, PPRI works to inform the development of nonpartisan policies that solve pressing global challenges.