Governor Gretchen Whitmer to speak at the University of Michigan, in conversation with CNN Anchor Chris Wallace 

February 26, 2023

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer will visit the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, March 8, for a special event alongside CNN Anchor Chris Wallace.

Beginning at 6:00pm at Rackham Auditorium, the hour-long fireside chat between Governor Whitmer and Wallace will focus on politics, public service, and the media, with opening remarks by University of Michigan President Santa Ono.

This public event is part of the series Democracy in crisis: Views from the press, an ongoing partnership between the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, Wallace House Center for Journalists, and U-M Democracy & Debate. The series features newsmakers and award-winning journalists to share their insights into the forces threatening and protecting American democratic structures and systems. 

The event will offer limited in-person attendance through a ticketing system, and will also be available via livestream here

Governor Whitmer spent time as a Towsley Foundation Policymaker in Residence at the Ford School in 2015. Reflecting on that time, she told U-M’s 2019 Commencement, “I experienced my own version of the Michigan Difference.”

During her visit, Governor Whitmer will meet with a small group of students to talk about policy challenges and opportunities facing the state of Michigan and beyond.

“It will be a truly meaningful opportunity for our students to hear from the Governor about her path to leadership and her thoughts about the power of public service as they go on to build their own careers of impact,” said Celeste Watkins-Hayes, Interim Dean of the Ford School and U-M Democracy & Debate co-lead. 

While on campus, Governor Whitmer will sit down with Chris Wallace to film an interview that will air in March on Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?, his CNN and HBO. The weekly program features Wallace in conversation with newsmakers across politics, business, world affairs, and culture.

More information on this special event and how to attend will be available on the Ford School website.