In Conversation with the Mayor

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell will visit Seattle University on April 11 to discuss his administration’s priorities as part of the Institute of Public Service (IPS) speaking series, “Conversations.” Tickets to the event at Pigott Auditorium are free, but attendees must register to guarantee a seat.

Mayor Harrell, a native of Seattle’s Central District who was raised only blocks from Seattle University, was elected last year and installed as the 57^th mayor of Seattle in January. His tenure begins just as Seattle and the world emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and the thorny issues—and associated problems—of homelessness, crime and criminal justice and community and economic development dominate the headlines.

His appearance on campus also serves as a post-pandemic renewal of sorts for the “Conversations” speakers series. Larry Hubbell, an IPS professor and the former director of SU’s Master of Public Administration program, is looking forward to discussing the key issues with Mayor Harrell.

“IPS is committed to social justice and contributing to the dialogue on issues of importance to the Seattle University community, the city of Seattle and the region,” Hubbell sats. “We have held ‘Conversations’ with major decision-makers for the past eight years and are excited to host Mayor Harrell.”

Along with Hubbell, IPS Professional in Residence and longtime newspaper writer and columnist Joni Balter and two IPS students will join Mayor Harrell onstage for the discussion.

“We (IPS and Seattle University) regularly provide our undergraduate and graduate students with the opportunity to ask questions of our guest policymakers,” explains Hubbell. “These opportunities allow them to better hone the policy-related skills they learn in our courses.”

Learn more about the work of the IPS at the College of Arts and Sciences at https://www.seattleu.edu/artsci/departments/ips/.