With election season in high gear, each day seems to usher in some new poll or yet another presidential debate. While it can be fun to watch the goings-on from the comfort of your couch, the West Virginia University community is about to get a behind-the-scenes look at what really goes on inside a presidential campaign.
Jeremy Bird, one of the brightest young strategists in American politics, will be visiting the university to give two special talks on Tuesday, Nov. 10. At 2:30 pm at the Gluck Theater in the Mountainlair, he will be speaking about how social media and technology can save U.S. democracy. During President Obama’s 2008 election, Bird was part of the team that became famous around the world for discovering how to unlock the power of digital tools and social media to encourage unprecedented voter turnout. He was promoted to National Field Director for President Obama’s re-election campaign, merging technical wizardry with on-the-ground organizing to secure wins in eight of nine battleground states. More recently, he consulted the “Ready for Hillary” Super PAC campaign to promote Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential bid.
Later on Nov. 10, Bird will give a second talk at 7:30 pm at Ming Hsieh Hall on WVU’s downtown campus. The topic for the evening lecture will be “Why Elections in Jerusalem Matter in Morgantown – and Vice Versa.” During the 2015 Israeli elections, Bird advised the group V15, which nearly defeated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Bird will discuss his experience on the ground during this historic election, and how it relates to local politics here in West Virginia.
Bird’s political prowess has landed him on Fortune Magazine’s “40 Under 40” list as well as on the interview couch of “The Colbert Report.”
“I thought this would be the perfect time to bring an experienced political operative to campus to offer some insight into the inner workings of presidential campaigns,” says Dr. Elizabeth L. Cohen, an assistant professor in WVU’s Communication Studies Department, who’s helping organize both events.
The two talks are sponsored by the Mu Chapter Alumni Association of Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity at West Virginia University. Since 1993, the group has been hosting an annual lecture series, the purpose of which is to advance knowledge and understanding of Jewish culture and the Jewish contributions to numerous fields including science, law, medicine, the arts and music.
Both talks on Nov. 10th are free and open to the public. There will be a reception with food after both events.
More information about the afternoon event can be found here: http://on.fb.me/1GXfHve and for the evening event here: http://on.fb.me/1PAfzKa.
-WVU-
ec/10/26/15
CONTACT: Devon Copeland, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
304.293.6867; Devon.Copeland@mail.wvu.edu
Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.