ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – The U.S. Congress certified President-Elect Joe Biden’s win on Jan. 7, and his inauguration as the 46th president of the United States is set for Jan. 20.
But what happens between now and then?
The John C. West Forum on Policy and Politics will help answer that question with the Jan. 19 event, “What Comes Next in the Presidential Transition?”
The event will begin at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Cultural event credit is pending, and people are encouraged to register in advance: https://winthrop-edu.zoom.us.
“This historic transition period in American politics allows us to share real-time insights and information with students about how our government functions during leadership changes,” said Katarina Moyon, director of the West Forum. “In a large democracy like ours, hundreds of people work to make the transition as seamless and informative as possible for the incoming administration. We want to help our students understand how this process works, and also how party politics can historically be set aside, to ensure our country’s continued advancement.”
The event will feature insights from Margaret Gillikin, assistant professor of social studies education; and Lauren Maddox, senior policy advisor for Holland & Knight’s Washington, D.C., office.
Gillikin earned her Ph.D. in history from the University of South Carolina and has taught in public schools in the Carolinas and several universities including Tiffin University and Heidelberg University. Her research focuses on race and immigration in the Atlantic World during the Age of Revolution. She’s actively involved in public history initiatives. Most recently, she is a part of a Winthrop faculty group that just received a S.C. Department of Education grant to develop instructional materials for fifth-grade teachers to teach African-American history. She will discuss historical aspects of past transitions.
Maddox has nearly 30 years of experience working in D.C. In her current role, she provides legislative, regulatory and public relations counsel for a broad range of clients, including foundations, nonprofits and Fortune 500 companies. She’s worked with Republicans and Democrats on legislation related to K-12 education and worked at the U.S. Department of Education under Margaret Spellings, an appointment of former President George W. Bush. She will discuss her role in past transitions of power.
For more information on the West Forum, visit the website at www.winthrop.edu/westforum.
