The Meador Center for Politics and Citizenship will welcome the first speaker of the semester, Dr. David Priess, on Thursday, Sept. 20 in Lay Hall Auditorium at 5:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Former intelligence officer comes to campus

Dr. Daniel Ponder, political science professor at Drury University and L.E. Meador Center Chair, provided information about the speaker.

“Our leadoff speaker is Dr. David Priess, a former intelligence officer and daily intelligence briefer, who sheds unprecedented light on the process and pitfalls of providing classified intelligence analysis to US leaders,” explained Ponder.

Priess’ lecture, titled “The President’s Book of Secrets: The Inside Story of Top Secret Intelligence and the Presidents Who Received It,” will provide information on giving classified intelligence analysis to U.S. leaders.

More than qualified to speak on the topic, Priess holds a doctorate in political science from Duke University. He served as an intelligence officer under Bill Clinton and George W. Bush’s presidencies, and was selected as one of the officers to deliver the president’s daily brief.

Some of his work has appeared in journals such as Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy and Security Studies and newspapers like The Washington Post, Politico and The Houston Chronicle.

Today, Priess is an international relations professor, speaker and author. He has appeared on Cable News Network (CNN), Microsoft/National Broadcasting Company (MSNBC), Fox News, National Public Radio (NPR) and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Meador Center lecture series

Priess’ lecture is the first of many to be sponsored by the Meador Center. Ponder is proud of how far the series has come since its inauguration only three years ago.

“In the past we have had speakers such as Jeffrey Toobin, Carl Bernstein, PJ O’Rourke, Alexandra Cousteau, Sarah Kendzior, Tom Nichols and academics such as Lilly Goren, Julia Azari, Rodney Hero, Frances Lee, Karen Hul and Chuck Walcott,” said Ponder.

Mission of the Meador Center

The Meador Center is a fairly new installment at Drury University. Founded in 2015 in honor of Professor Lewis E. Meador, its purpose goes beyond this lecture series.

According to the Meador Center info page (www.drury.edu/meador-center ), it is “engaged in a variety of educational and civic programs, such as hosting scholars in residence, supporting student grants for study away, study abroad and community engagement.”

The Meador Center is also currently developing community outreach programs. Specifically, they hope to offer naturalization test preparation classes to immigrants seeking United States citizenship.

Also in the works is a Constitution Day essay contest for middle and high school students in Springfield.

The Meador Center lecture series benefits more than just those majoring in political science. Political awareness is an important characteristic of every American citizen.

“The Center’s theme this year is ‘The United States in the World.’ We will delve into this critical moment in American political history, where we as a nation are contemplating what America’s role in the world is, will be and should be in the future,” said Ponder.

On Thursday, Sept. 20, come to Lay Hall to gain classified information from one of the few people qualified enough to tell you.

Written by Delilah Gadd.