David Gergen, adviser to four U.S. presidents and director of the Center for Public Leadership at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, will chair the Elon University School of Law Advisory Board. The board includes prominent judges, attorneys and business leaders who are advising the university on establishment and development of the school.
Gergen has played a key role in the formation of the advisory board. He met with charter members at the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro last March to discuss innovative ideas that would meet the needs of law students and the legal profession and immediately distinguish the school.
Gergen said Elon’s law school has “enormous potential.” He said “the stars are well-aligned” to launch an outstanding law school that incorporates leadership education as a key component of its program. “Leadership will set Elon apart from other law schools,” according to Gergen.
“We are extremely pleased that David Gergen has accepted our invitation to lead the law school advisory board,” said Leo M. Lambert, Elon president. “His national perspective and extensive experience in law and government will be a tremendous asset to the school. His example and leadership will help establish the level of quality we expect for the law school.”
As commentator, editor, teacher, public servant, best-selling author and presidential adviser, David Gergen has for 30 years been an active participant in American national life. He served as director of communications for President Reagan and held positions in the administrations of Presidents Nixon and Ford. In 1993, he put his country before politics when he agreed first to serve as counselor to President Clinton on both foreign policy and domestic affairs, then as special international adviser to the President and to Secretary of State Warren Christopher.
Currently, Gergen is professor of public service at the Kennedy School and Director of the Center for Public Leadership. He also serves as editor-at-large at U.S. News & World Report, as an analyst on various broadcast news programs, and is a frequent lecturer at venues around the world. He served as a moderator of “World @ Large,” a 13-part PBS discussion series.
His book, “Eyewitness to Power: The Essence of Leadership, Nixon to Clinton” was published by Simon & Schuster in 2000. From 1985 to 1986 he was editor of U.S. News & World Report, helping to guide the magazine to record gains in circulation and advertising.
A native of Durham, North Carolina, Gergen is an honors graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School. He holds thirteen honorary degrees and is a member of the Washington, D.C. bar. He served three-and-a-half years in the U.S. Navy.
Gergen has previously shared his knowledge with the Elon University community. In January 2001, he served as a panelist for a symposium titled “The First 100 Days of the 21st Century Presidency.” In April 2003, Gergen interviewed legendary broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite before an audience of 2,900 in Koury Center. In January 2004, he was Elon’s inaugural Isabella Cannon Distinguished Visiting Professor of Leadership, speaking to classes and delivering three public lectures.