Dr. Kiron Skinner, director and professor at the Institute for Politics and Strategy at Carnegie Mellon University, was a guest speaker at Shady Side Academy Senior School assembly on Monday, April 9.

Dr. Kiron, who has served as a foreign policy advisor to the presidential campaigns of George H.W. Bush, Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Rand Paul and Donald Trump, spoke to students about various aspects of presidential campaigns and U.S. politics. Topics included the importance of the candidate, the civil-war-like nature of a campaign, and how candidates seek to build coalitions of voters around key issues. She also answered questions from students about the local congressional race between Conor Lamb and Rick Saccone, how independent and third-party candidates impact an election, and the role of foreign policy in a presidential campaign.

Dr. Skinner's visit was arranged by the student club The Patriot Society, led by junior Drew Sveda.

Learn more about Dr. Skinner.