Former U.S. Rep. and Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr. has been appointed visiting professor of public policy at Vanderbilt University and will teach a class on American political leadership.
Ford, who spent a decade in Congress before running for a Senate seat last year, will lead a seminar titled “Foundations of American Political Leadership” for Vanderbilt undergraduates during the spring semester, which begins this week.
“I am delighted to welcome Harold Ford Jr. to Vanderbilt,” said Chancellor Gordon Gee. “As one of the most visible and respected politicians of his generation, Harold will provide our students with a unique insight into politics and government.”
Ford, who earned a bachelor‘s degree in American history from the University of Pennsylvania and a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School, served five terms in the House of Representatives. He was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate and fiscally conservative Democrats that has built a reputation for promoting positions that bridge the gap between ideological extremes.
“Vanderbilt is a world-class university, and I am excited and honored to have the opportunity to teach at this wonderful place,” Ford said. “Now, more than ever, students need to be engaged in deciding the direction of the country. I hope the students who take my class will come away from the experience understanding the vital role they play in deciding the kind of leadership that leads the nation.”
Media contact: Ann Marie Deer Owens, 615-322-NEWS
annmarie.owens@vanderbilt.edu