Patrons Circle Past Speaker
Dr. Lawrence H. Summers
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Guest Moderator
Dr. Chris Howard, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Arizona State University
Dr. Lawrence H. Summers, 71st U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and President Emeritus of Harvard University, recently joined the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute for a timely and wide-ranging conversation moderated by Dr. Chris Howard, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Arizona State University. With characteristic clarity and insight, Dr. Summers addressed key issues shaping both the domestic and global economy.
While offering a candid assessment of current challenges, Dr. Summers concluded on an inspiring note. He reminded the audience that throughout American history, whether during the founding era, the Civil War, or the Great Depression, periods of uncertainty and polarization have given rise to American renewal. In each case, he noted, the nation has emerged stronger and more resilient.
The Sandra Day O’Connor Institute was honored to welcome Dr. Summers as the featured guest for its Patrons Circle Distinguished Speaker Series Luncheon in Phoenix. The event drew a full house of Patrons Circle members and distinguished guests, who expressed deep appreciation for the thoughtful discussion. Dr. Howard’s moderation brought both rigor and warmth to the conversation, underscoring the Institute’s commitment to fostering civil discourse on complex policy issues.
Featured Guests
Dr. Lawrence H. Summers
Former Treasury Secretary Lawrence H. Summers is one of America’s leading economists. In addition to serving as 71st Secretary of the Treasury, Dr. Summers has served as Director of the White House National Economic Council, as President of Harvard University and as Chief Economist of the World Bank. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. from Harvard.
Dr. Summers’ tenure at the U.S. Treasury coincided with the longest period of sustained economic growth in U.S. history, and he left office with the national budget in surplus. He has been recognized as one of the world’s most influential thinkers by Time, Foreign Policy, Prospect and The Economist magazines among many others. Dr. Summers was awarded the Alexander Hamilton Medal, the Treasury Department’s highest honor. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences and holds membership in the Council on Foreign Relations and the Trilateral Commission.
Dr. Chris Howard
Dr. Chris Howard is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of ASU. He is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and earned a doctorate in politics as a Rhodes Scholar from the University of Oxford and an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School.
Dr. Howard’s service to his country began as a helicopter pilot, then as an intelligence officer, where he was assigned to the elite Joint Special Operations Command. He served in the Air Force Reserve in Afghanistan and was awarded the Bronze Star. Previously, he served as the eighth president of Robert Morris University, a nationally ranked doctoral-granting university in suburban Pittsburgh. A Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute, Dr. Howard is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Young Presidents Organization, the Trilateral Commission, and Sigma