The Bob Graham Center for Public Service provides a wide variety of programs for students and the larger public on topics related to public service, public leadership and civic engagement.
Scott Ellsworth: The Secret Game
The University of Florida’s Samuel Proctor Oral History Program hosted a book talk with University of Michigan history professor, Dr. Scott Ellsworth entitled, “THE SECRET GAME: Race, Sports, and Change in the Jim Crow South” in Pugh Hall, located on the campus of the University of Florida. Dr. Ellsworth’s talk coincided with the Samuel Proctor Oral History …
Craig Pittman: Oh, Florida!
Tampa Bay Times reporter Craig Pittman is a native Floridian. He graduated from Troy State University in Alabama, where his muckraking work for the student paper prompted an agitated dean to label him "the most destructive force on campus." Since then he has covered a variety of newspaper beats and quite a few natural disasters, …
Race, science, and society in the 21st century
Recent studies on human variation seem to confirm what we have known for several decades; the biological concept of race is a crude and inaccurate tool to represent human diversity. Yet, technological advances in DNA research have reinvigorated scientific interest in questions on human differences. Such research has received much public attention and has led …
Explore More: The Democracy Machine
Explore More – a forum for scientists and scholars featured in UF’s Explore research magazine – presented two UF elections experts, computer science Professor Juan Gilbert and political science Associate Professor Michael McDonald on Tuesday, October 18, at 6 p.m. in the Pugh Hall Ocora. Gilbert is the Andrew Banks Family Preeminence Endowed Professor and chair …
Islamophobia: Politics, Priorities and Prejudice in 2016
Muslims have been at the center of political rhetoric and discourse from both parties, especially during this election. Research shows that it is political rhetoric, not terrorist events, that stoke the fires of anti-Muslim sentiment. On Thursday, Oct. 20, at 6 p.m. in the Pugh Hall Ocora, the Executive Director of the Institute of Social …
Gainesville Sun: Gainesville For All
The Gainesville Sun hosted a panel discussion at the Bob Graham Center on Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. which will focus on health disparities and how they relate to issues of education, crime and economic opportunities in our community. The panel featured Dr. Nancy Hardt, professor emeritus in the University of Florida College of Medicine; David Denslow, …
Election Recap
Two of Florida's most prominent political commentators, Susan MacManus and Dan Smith, discussed the results and implications of the 2016 elections at the Bob Graham Center on Monday, Nov. 14, at 6 p.m. in Pugh Hall. Dr. Susan MacManus, Florida’s most-quoted political scientist, is a Distinguished University Professor at the University of South Florida in the …
Farm-to-table: Doomed to be Duped?
Food is, by and large, trust-based commerce. What ends up on your plate doesn't have a bar code and is nearly impossible to track. Yelp will tell you if people think something is tasty, but there's no Consumer Reports, no Angie's List or litmus test for the veracity of menu claims. And the government isn't equipped …
Bob Graham and Chris Hand: America, the Owner’s Manual
Former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham and Chris Hand discussed the newest edition of their book, America, the Owner’s Manual. With Americans voicing overwhelming frustration with the political process, Graham and Hand showcase how the hope for a better democracy begins with individual citizens, not political candidates. America, the Owner’s Manual challenges ordinary citizens to be victorious participants rather than tranquil …
Failure Factories
In 2015 the Tampa Bay Times began publishing an investigative series which explored the effects of a school district’s decision to re-segregate its schools. The series, Failure Factories, exposed how failed promises of money and resources resulted in five “average” schools becoming some of the worst over an eight year period. The series was awarded a Pulitzer Prize …