Retired U.S. Senator Bob Graham Visits Campus to Discuss New Graham Center for Public Service
Former U.S. Senator
Bob Graham
Former U.S. Senator Bob Graham held an open forum with more than 100 faculty, staff members and students on July 21 to discuss the new Bob Graham Center for Public Service at UF.
Senator Graham is working with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to establish the Bob Graham Center for Public Service on campus. A public policy center also will be created at the University of Miami, and the two centers will encompass public policy research and teaching and hemispheric cooperation. Modeled along the lines of programs at Harvard University and others, the Graham Center will distinguish itself by providing future leaders with the skills and knowledge to effectively address the challenges of hemispheric interdependence, national security, immigration, the environment, education, and healthcare. The center will serve as a magnet to attract and host distinguished scholars, parliamentarians, and policy makers from around the world to create a dynamic pool of expertise for reviewing and defining issues on global policy making.
One of the goals will be to train college students in languages, culture and other skills vital to a career in public service. A bachelor and master's program in public policy will be developed, and the center plans to sponsor a Statesman-in-Residence Program by inviting prominent U.S. and international political leaders to UF to conduct research and give seminars.
Graham is a native of Miami Lakes and earned a bachelor's degree in political science from UF in 1959. He retired from the U.S. Senate in January after serving for 18 years and also served as Florida's governor for two terms from 1979 to 1987.
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