Governor Phil Bryant to Speak at 2021 Reagan Institute Summit on Education

RISE 2021 to address positive trajectory of post-pandemic education in America

July 12, 2021

RIDGELAND, MS — The Ronald Reagan Institute will virtually hold the fourth annual Reagan Institute Summit on Education (RISE) on July 22, 2021. Mississippi’s former Governor Phil Bryant will speak at this year’s conference — Disrupted: From Crisis to Innovation — that reflects America’s recovery from the convergence of a national and global crisis that has challenged every student, teacher, and parent in America.

RISE is a bipartisan convening that will examine the health of the American education system after a school year that has rocked the foundation of our educational institutions and challenged formerly accepted notions about how schools need to run.

Bryant, currently a partner at Bryant Songy Snell Global Partners, said, “As our nation struggles through both COVID-19 and critical conversations about justice and social equity, state and education leaders need to look inward and think about what problems they have the power to solve. I look forward to thoughtful conversations on these issues during RISE 2021.”

While the RISE initiative acknowledges stark political differences in today’s landscape, the Reagan Institute believes an American coalition exists with a common goal of building and maintaining a world-class education system that prepares children to become engaged citizens and ensures American competitiveness in the 21st century.

“With history as our guide, the Reagan Institute believes that out of great disruption can arise great innovation,” said Roger Zakheim, director of the Reagan Institute. “Featuring world class thought leaders, RISE will lift voices and exemplary models that can guide us towards the most innovative policy solutions.”

In addition to Bryant, other speakers and distinguished guests confirmed for RISE 2021 include:

• Dr. Matthew Blomstedt — Commissioner of Education, Nebraska
• Jean-Claude Brizard — President and CEO, Digital Promise
• Malcolm Coles — Acting CEO, Americorps
• The Honorable Susan Collins — Senator, Maine
• The Honorable Arne Duncan — Former Secretary of Education
• Dr. Shannon Gilkey — Commissioner of Higher Education, Rhode Island
• The Honorable Larry Hogan — Governor, Maryland
• The Honorable Asa Hutchinson — Governor, Arkansas
• Josh Kallmer — Head of Global Public Policy and Government Relations, Zoom
• Mike Katz — Executive Vice President, T-Mobile
• Dr. Pedro Noguera — Dean, Rossier School of Education
• Megan Phelps-Roper — Author
• Dr. Kim Hunter Reed — Commissioner of Higher Education, Louisiana
• Dr. Carlos Santiago — Commissioner of Higher Education, Massachusetts
• Jon Schnur — Chairman and CEO, America Achieves
• Dr. Penny Schwinn — Commissioner of Education, Tennessee
• The Honorable Mikie Sherrill — Congresswoman, New Jersey
• Molly Spearman — Superintendent of Education, South Carolina
• Dr. Ryan Stewart — Secretary of Education, New Mexico

For more information about RISE 2021, visit www.reaganfoundation.org/RISE and follow @ReaganInstitute.

RISE 2021 Agenda
July 22, 2021 • 11am – 5pm ET

11:00 am – 12:00 pm Main Stage Session 1
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Interactive Breakout Session 1
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Luncheon Main Stage Session 2
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Interactive Breakout Session 1
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Main Stage Session 3
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Networking