The 2026 Elizabeth Dole Women in Leadership Lecture

Dr. Colleen Shogan, former Archivist of the United States and CEO of In Pursuit, will be recognized at the eighth Elizabeth Dole Women in Leadership Lecture. She’ll join Dole Institute Director Audrey Coleman for a discussion on her leadership experience in the nation’s leading recordkeeping and historical stewardship organizations, the role of history in civic engagement and national identity, and her leadership in creating an opportunity for commemoration and reflection during America250.

This program is presented in partnership with the University of Kansas Libraries and the Watkins Museum of History

About the Elizabeth Dole Women in Leadership Lecture

Named in honor of former U.S. Senator Elizabeth Hanford Dole, the series recognizes her long-lasting career in public service by featuring women who break barriers, make significant contributions to their field, and reach positions of leadership. Dole held various positions throughout her career, including serving as commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission, Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of Labor, President of the American Red Cross, and U.S. Senator representing North Carolina. After leaving office, she founded the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, which supports our nation’s military caregivers and their families.

About Colleen Shogan

Dr. Colleen J. Shogan served as the 11th Archivist of the United States, the first woman in American history appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate to lead the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). A noted author and political scientist, Colleen is deeply committed to civics education and prioritized sharing the records of the National Archives to a wider audience. Under her leadership, NARA launched numerous strategic initiatives to enhance services and make its holdings more accessible, both in-person and online, with the goal of cultivating public participation and strengthening our nation’s democracy.

Prior to becoming Archivist, Colleen served in several cultural heritage leadership roles. She was Senior Vice President and Director of the David M. Rubenstein Center at the White House Historical Association, worked in the United States Senate, and served as a senior executive at the Library of Congress and its Congressional Research Service. She was the Vice Chair of the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission and currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Board of Directors at the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation.

A native of the Pittsburgh area, she holds a B.A. in Political Science from Boston College and a Ph.D. in American Politics from Yale University, where she was a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow. Colleen is the 2024 recipient of the American Political Science Association’s Hubert Humphrey Award for outstanding public service.

In addition to her role at More Perfect, she is also a Senior Fellow in Civics Education at Stand Together and an Adjunct Professor of Government at Georgetown University.