Suzanne Leland, professor of Political Science and Public Administration, will discuss her co-authored book, “American Cities and the Politics of Party Conventions” at 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 24, at UNC Charlotte Center City. This public presentation is part of the Personally Speaking lecture series.
“American Cities and the Politics of Party Conventions” looks at the politics of cities that bid to host national political conventions, what goes into the planning process, and, if chosen, what the benefits to the city may or may not be, politically and economically. The work focuses heavily on Charlotte as host of the 2012 Democratic National Convention, but it also studies the history of national conventions back to the 1950s and discusses lessons from other convention cities that can help Charlotte plan for the Republican National Convention in August.
Personally Speaking, now in its 10th season, introduces the Charlotte community to research by faculty in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. Doors for the March 24 talk will open at 6 p.m. for a reception, followed by the presentation at 7 p.m. A dessert reception and book signing will follow. The event is open to the public without charge, but RSVPs are required.
From 2012-16, Leland directed the Gerald G. Fox Master of Public Administration program, and in 2019, she received the Donald Stone Distinguished Scholar Award from the American Society of Public Administration and recently was awarded UNC Charlotte’s Harshini V. de Silva Graduate Mentor Award.
“American Cities” is co-authored by Eric Heberlig, Leland's colleague in Political Science and Public Administration, and David Swindell, director of the Center for Urban Innovation and associate professor in the School of Public Affairs at Arizona State University.