Bill Brockett will be the guest speaker at the University of Virginia’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy on Febreuary 9, 2026. Past guest speakers have included U.S. Senator Tim Kaine of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Joshua Bolten, Former White House Chief of Staff for George W. Bush, Ann Compton, Former ABC News White House correspondent, and Dr. Adriana Kugler, a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and former U.S. Executive Director at the World Bank Group.

This event will be interview style with lecturer Dr. Kevin Parker, PhD, acting as moderator. Dr. Parker is a graduate in Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University and has a strong background in leadership development. At UVA he teaches “Entrepreneurial Leadership”. He is a former Washington State Representative, Columbine survivor, CEO of Spokane Dutch Bros, and Rodel Institute moderator.

The UVA’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy is committed to solving the world’s toughest policy challenges. We know the complex issues of our time demand innovative, collaborative, cross-sector relationships within our walls and beyond. Our multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving and emphasis on ethics reinforce our focus on how leadership works, why context matters in decision-making and which actions lead to tangible results.

“Never has there been a greater need for the University’s most important product: enlightened and ethical leaders who leave Grounds prepared for public life—in their communities, in their professions, in the world at large.”

— Frank Batten, Sr., Founder of the Batten School