Two White House advisers with insider status will share their stories at MSU’s Michigan Political Leadership Program’s annual breakfast and dinner this month.
Best-selling authors and political campaign analysts Nicolle Wallace and Doug Sosnik will speak at MPLP’s 20th annual dinner at 6 p.m. Feb. 26 in Livonia at the Laurel Manor and Banquet Center and 13th annual breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Feb. 27 in Grand Rapids at the JW Marriott.
Wallace and Sosnik are known nationally for speaking out on presidential politics, crisis communications and political campaigns in books, magazines and television.
Wallace is a best-selling author, political analyst for MSNBC, a top strategist for the GOP and the former special assistant to the president and director of communications at the White House under President George W. Bush. Most recently, she’s joined ABC’s television talk show “The View” as co-host.
Sosnik served for six years as senior adviser to President Bill Clinton, and played a key role in policy, strategy and communications decisions. He now advises Fortune 100 corporations and the National Basketball Association. He's co-author of "Applebee's America: What Political, Business and Religious Leaders Can Learn from Each Other."
“These are entertaining speakers fresh from their roles as White House advisers and campaign strategists,” said Douglas Roberts, director of MSU’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research.
“The New York Times has called Nicolle Wallace a tough, savvy and hard-charging conservative political operator,” Roberts noted. “Doug Sosnik is described as the consummate Washington insider.”
Each year, MPLP trains 24 Fellows, selected through competitive application and interviews. They undergo 10 months of training, meeting a weekend each month at sites around Michigan.
During rigorous training sessions, MPLP Fellows learn from some of the state’s top leaders, tour businesses and communities and take part in hands-on exercises to expand budgeting, communications and policy analysis skills.
The dinner and breakfast raise the majority funds to provide fellowships valued at $12,000 each. Both events are open to the public. Tickets can be purchased by calling MPLP Administrator Linda Cleary at 517-353-0891 or online.