The Cornell Club Welcomes Basil Smikle Jr. '93

Expect the Unexpected: Girding for Political Uncertainty as We Enter the Presidential Primaries

Impeachment proceedings have undoubtedly deepened the divide in the country and within the halls of Congress as Democrats and Republicans promote dueling narratives about the President's behavior.  With one week before the Iowa Caucus, Dr. Basil Smikle will break down how weary voters think about President Trump's election chances, and how leading Democratic candidates vying to unseat him will appeal to an increasingly diverse electorate.  Demographic shifts and migration have also reshaped state politics.  Dr. Smikle will discuss the effect of this election and the Trump era broadly on state and local policy-making, with particular attention to education, health care and criminal justice reform.

Basil Smikle Jr. (ILR '93) is a nationally recognized expert with a PhD in Politics and Education from Columbia University. As a thought-leader and political strategist, he is a familiar face on MSNBC, CNN and other media outlets where he shares insights on the connection between electoral politics and public policy. Basil was most recently the Distinguished Lecturer of Politics and Public Policy at the City University of New York's School of Labor and Urban Studies, and currently lectures at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs and Teachers College.  From 2015-2017 Basil was appointed by Governor Andrew Cuomo and Former Governor David Paterson to serve as the Executive Director of the New York State Democratic Party and the "second highest ranking Democrat" in the State.

6:00pm reception; 6:30pm lecture, gratis. Advanced registrations required.

Members and one guest per member are invited to dine at The Club with the speaker following the lecture. Please click here to access the post program dinner registration page.