FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Republican political advisor Ralph Reed, who served as executive director of the Christian Coalition from its founding in 1989 until 1997, will present a lecture titled "Reconfiguring American Politics" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 29, in the Alltel Ballroom of the Arkansas Union at the University of Arkansas. Following the lecture will be a reception in Room 512 of the Union.

Both events are open to UA students, faculty, staff and the general public, but will require tickets, which can be picked up at 428 Old Main on campus or by calling (479) 575-3356.

Under Reed’s leadership, the Christian Coalition’s budget grew from $200,000 in 1989 to $27 million in 1996, while its support base grew from 2,000 to 2,000,000 members in 2,000 local chapters.

"Dr. Reed played a substantial role in shaping American politics when he took over developing the grassroots strategy of the growing evangelical political movement," said Todd Shields, chair of the political science department at the U of A. "As people across the country take an even more intense interest in the upcoming presidential election, I believe Dr. Reed will draw a diverse crowd interested in learning how such strategies have shaped the current political scene."

Reed’s recent appearances include addresses at Yale, Johns Hopkins, Harvard and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he has spoken on the impact of the Christian Coalition in revitalizing and reorganizing American politics.

Reed received his B.A. from the University of Georgia and a Ph.D. in American history from Emory University. He is the best-selling author and editor of three books, a sought-after speaker and a columnist whose writings have appeared in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and Policy Review. A frequent television commentator, he has appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press, ABC’s Nightline, This Week, Face the Nation and CNN’s Larry King Live.

Reed has been named one of the top 10 political newsmakers in America by Newsweek and one of the 50 future leaders in the country by Time magazine. He has worked on seven presidential campaigns and currently serves as Chairman of the Southeast Region for the Bush-Cheney ’04 campaign and as campaign manager in Georgia. He has advised 88 campaigns for U.S. Senate, Governor and Congress in 24 states.

Reed currently operates a consulting firm, Century Strategies, in Atlanta. More information can be found online at http://www.censtrat.com/.

His visit is being sponsored by UA alumni Grace Young Taylor and David H. Taylor, M.D., and presented by the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Political Science.