Public Programs

The School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership invites ASU students, staff and faculty, and the community to join us for conversations concerning civic life and leadership. The school hosts a robust schedule of speaker events, including an annual series aired on PBS Arizona. The school is dedicated to offer these events for its students and the community at no cost as a place to hold civil discourse around the pressing issues of our times.

Upcoming events

The Civic Discourse Project

The Civic Discourse Project is a multi-year project addressing the pressing issues of our times.  Each year, the project addresses a particular important theme by inviting the top minds — civic leaders, academics, public intellectuals — engaged in thinking through the big ideas and challenges facing American society, to discuss and explore them with our community. 

Learn more. 

"I honestly have not been to better ASU events than the events hosted by the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership. Whether it was the Robby George and Cornel West talk or the Jonathan Haidt, who I would later do my research thesis on, those have been amazing opportunities to learn and hear ideas of prominent scholars and people in the field."

- Justin H., CEL Major