BGSU to welcome Ohio Governor Mike DeWine as first sitting governor to participate in annual leadership luncheon on April 14

Free and open to the public, this year's event features special guest Gov. Mike DeWine

Bowling Green State University will welcome Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to campus at 11 a.m. on April 14 to share insight on leadership and democracy as the first sitting governor to participate in the Democracy and Public Policy Network’s annual leadership luncheon.

The premier event in the Lenhart Grand Ballroom at the Bowen-Thompson Student Union will offer the learning and greater community the opportunity to hear directly from Gov. DeWine about leadership, civility and lessons learned as Ohio’s 70th governor.

“We are grateful to host this conversation at BGSU,” said Robert Alexander, Ph.D., professor of political science and founding director of the Democracy and Public Policy Network. "It is a rare and valuable opportunity for our community to engage with a sitting governor in an environment dedicated to public service and education.”

Founded in 2024, the Democracy and Public Policy Network and its annual leadership luncheons bring key political figures to campus to highlight the ways in which bipartisan dialogue can shape leadership and civility.

Last year’s event brought together students, faculty, staff and the public to hear from former Ohio Governors Richard Celeste and Bob Taft.

“A public university for the public good is more than just a tagline,” Alexander said. “When people have the opportunity to break bread with one another, it is funny how much they can find in common with one another. These small conversations can have big effects – bringing down walls and allowing understanding and insights to emerge.”

Space is limited for the free, public event, with registration required. To ensure you don’t miss this chance to see Gov. DeWine on campus, register today.