Public Programs

Research . Reflect . Report

The Miller Center has been a central gathering place for nonpartisan public discussion since its founding more than 30 years ago. It has held almost 2,000 forums in total, as well as regular public conferences, and is planning a National Discussion and Debate Series.

Forums

The Miller Center Forum presents more than sixty speakers each year, drawn from high-ranking public officials and others involved in shaping public policy, from the academy, and from journalists covering national and international events. Forums attract a large audience of faculty, students, and interested citizens. They offer a unique opportunity for speakers to engage in stimulating public policy discussions in a beautiful setting that encourages direct interaction between speaker and audience. The Miller Center's Forum room is modeled on the Virginia House of Burgesses and allows participants to fully engage in the dialogue. This approach, evocative of a time when speakers spoke directly to their audience, actively fosters personal engagement in our country's public affairs.

National Discussion and Debate Series

The Miller Center will initiate a National Discussion and Debate Series in 2007. The Series will feature prominent national figures from government, the academic and business worlds, and civic leaders who will formally debate matters of national importance.

Public Conferences

The Miller Center holds regular conferences for discussion of important matters facing the nation. Recent conferences have examined topics ranging from education, to terrorism, to the role of White House Counsel.