December 2024 Polar Bearings

Join us on campus for a newly launched speaker series by outstanding alumni of Bowdoin College and other leaders in a wide range of profession. 

From Promises to Programs: Building a Presidential Administration

Program Details:

Monday, December 16, 2024

11:30 a.m. Doors Open

12:00 p.m. Program Begins

1:30 p.m. Program Ends

Location:

Thorne Hall, Daggett Lounge

13 South St, Brunswick, ME 04011

We will hear from Cal Mackenzie '67, who will conduct a timely discussion aptly named "From Promises to Programs: Building a Presidential Administration", where Cal will delve into the challenges of how the Trump administration will begin to transform campaign promises into government programs in 2025 and beyond. Drawing on historical examples, he will share insights into how previous administrations have navigated these transitions and offer perspectives on how the second Trump administration may be built out in the year to come.

Cal Mackenzie is a 1967 graduate of Bowdoin College, where he served as a Trustee from 1986-1998, and has a Ph.D. in Government from Harvard University. Cal began teaching at Colby College in 1978 and retired in 2016 as the endowed chair as The Goldfarb Family Distinguished Professor of Government. He is also a veteran who served with the Army’s First Cavalry Division in Vietnam in 1970 and 1971. His professional work has focused on governance and public policy, with specific expertise in presidential transitions and the politics of presidential appointments. He has been a consultant to presidential personnel staffs and congressional committees giving him incredible perspective on the complexities involved in the presidential transition process.