Former White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough visits the Ford School

February 28, 2020

On February 26, the Ford School welcomed Denis McDonough, former White House Chief of Staff for President Obama for an armchair conversation on “New Frontiers: Labor, Immigration and Foreign Policy,” with John Ciorciari, associate professor at the Ford School.

The conversation covered topics from international economic policy to advice for rising policymakers. Michigan Daily covered the event in an article published on February 26.

McDonough emphasized the importance of affordable education and continued training. “I’d like just to figure out a way for us to have a more nimble training and education opportunity over the course of an individual's lifetime, recognizing that you don't stop upskilling what you’re trying to do," McDonough said.

McDonough encouraged students to be “outspoken and ambitious.” McDonough said, “My advice is to speak your mind. Be as smart as you can be. Be as passionate as you can be. Don’t put your light under the bushel. Put your light on top of the bushel.”

Read the full article here.
Watch the event recording here.

More news from the Ford School