NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Roy Neel, a Vanderbilt adjunct professor of
political science who served as Howard Dean’s campaign manager during
the final weeks of his presidential campaign, returns to campus March 3
to discuss the significance of Dean’s candidacy for future
elections.
Neel’s talk is titled "The 2004 Presidential Campaign: The Lessons
and Legacy of Howard Dean." His lecture will be from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at
Sarratt Cinema, located at 2301 Vanderbilt Place.
Neel first served as senior adviser to the Dean campaign and then was tapped as campaign manager during a January shake-up.
"Howard Dean roared onto the national scene last year, raised $50
million in 10 months and shook up Democratic presidential politics like
no other figure in decades," Neel said. "What will be his impact on the
2004 election and beyond? Was it a fluke or a foretelling of politics
to come?"
Neel, a Vanderbilt alumnus, co-taught a popular course called "The
American Presidency" with Professor of Political Science John Geer last
fall. The two also team-taught the course "Presidential Transitions" in
2002.
"Vanderbilt is truly fortunate to have Roy on campus speaking about
the 2004 campaign and Howard Dean," Geer said. "The former governor of
Vermont has cast a very long shadow this election season, and Roy can
offer us invaluable insights into the Dean ‘phenomenon.’"
Neel, who has spent more than 20 years in the political arena, was
director of Vice President Al Gore’s presidential transition team. He
also served as deputy chief of staff for President Clinton and chief of
staff for Gore when he was vice president and senator.
Neel’s talk, which is free and open to the public, is co-sponsored
by Vanderbilt’s Office of the Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs,
Department of Political Science and Institute for Public Policy Studies.
Media contact: Ann Marie Deer Owens, (615) 322-NEWS
Annmarie.owens@vanderbilt.edu