REDLANDS, California (March 7, 2017)—The Ken and Lynn Hall Network for Innovation in Public Policy kicks off its speaker series with a talk from alumnus Peter C. Groff, a noted education policy innovator and national policy and political analyst, at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 9, in University Hall. The lecture is free and open to the public.

In his more than 25 years of public service, Groff has held senior level positions in local, state and federal government. Before his current work as a policy and political consultant to entities across the country, Groff served as the first-ever visiting fellow at Johns Hopkins University School of Education. He was also director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Education during President Barack H. Obama’s first term. During his second term, President Obama appointed Groff to the White House Commission on U.S. Presidential Scholars.

The Policy Speaker Series is one of three initiatives planned through the Ken and Lynn Hall Network for Innovation in Public Policy, hosting visiting public policy experts who will engage the community in a conversation around key public policy issues facing the region and the state. The Network will also fund scholarly seed grants and student internships.