Past Events

2024–2025

The Portman Center's 2025 Policy Symposium focused on building achievable housing policies from common ground. 

Program:

Student Policy Presentations

 

Opening Remarks

Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus

 

Federal Strategies for Affordable Housing & Thriving Communities

Rick Lazio, Chair, Enterprise Community Partners) and Reggie Harris, Chief of Staff, Ohio First Congressional District and former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Moderated by Rob Portman, Former U.S. Senator and Founding Board Member, Portman Center for Policy Solutions

 

Shared Goals for Ohio’s Housing Future

Ohio Senator Michele Reynolds, Ohio Representative Dani Isaacsohn, and Ohio Representative Adam Mathews. Moderated by Andrew Lewis, Executive Director, Portman Center for Policy Solutions

 

What’s Worked & What’s Next for Cincinnati

Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval and former Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley. Moderated by Liz Keating, Vice President of Government Affairs and Advocacy, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber

A group of nine well-dressed individuals smiling and posing in front of a branded backdrop. The setting appears professional and upbeat.
Three men in suits sit on stage at a University of Cincinnati event, discussing policy. Audience members listen attentively. Tone is professional.
Four panelists, three men and a woman, sit on a stage with a University of Cincinnati backdrop. They are engaged in a discussion with an audience.
A speaker at a podium addresses a seated audience in a modern conference room. The setting is formal, with attentive attendees and a large backdrop.
A modern conference room with people networking around presentation boards. Attendees are engaged in discussions, creating a professional and dynamic atmosphere.
Three panelists in business attire engage in a discussion on stage at a University of Cincinnati event, with attentive audience members seated in front.
A group of people standing around student presenters listening to a presentation displayed on a screen.
A modern conference room with people networking around presentation boards. Attendees are engaged in discussions, creating a professional and dynamic atmosphere.

Ohio Representatives Greg Landsman and Mike Carey have been working across the aisle in the U.S. Congress. Hosted with Senator Rob Portman and moderated by Andrew Lewis, this conversation explored ways that House Democrats and House Republicans can come together to find common ground and pass legislation, even in the midst of intense polarization and gridlock.

Eight people stand in a semi circle and engage in conversation
Approximately sixty people sit at desks in long rows. Some engage in conversation
A woman sits in an audience and speaks into a handheld microphone
An audience sits facing the front of the row. Four men are in the front of the room; one stands and speaks into a microphone.

While politically divided, rural and urban areas both struggle with health care, child care and food access, an ongoing opioid crisis, and often, economic disinvestment. For this challenge, teams of 2 to 5 undergraduate students created policy proposals that benefit both urban and rural communities.

On January 13, 2025, finalist teams presented their proposals to guest judges Greg Hartmann (Partner, KMK Law), Liz Keating (Vice President of Government Affairs and Advocacy, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber), and Karen Ryan (Executive Director of Government Relations, University of Cincinnati).

The winning team received an award of $300 per team member and continued on to compete with teams from other universities at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics in February 2025.

Student finalists pose with judges

Author and former Chief of Staff to President George H.W. Bush, Jean Becker, sits down with Senator Rob Portman for a conversation about character and leadership highlighted in Becker’s recent book, Character Matters: And Other Life Lessons from George H.W. Bush.

Portman Center Executive Director Andrew Lewis moderates a conversation with Senator Joe Manchin III (I-WV) and Senator Rob Portman.

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Director Sherry Poland and Deputy Director Alex Linser, Hamilton County Board of Elections, talk with UC students and community members about Understanding our Bipartisan Election Process.

2023–2024

Inaugural Portman Center Symposium focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) convened local and national leaders in the policy space, including Dr. Daniel Ragsdale (Deputy Assistant National Cyber Director, White House), Sheryl Long (Cincinnati City Manager), Chip Pickering (CEO, Incompas), Rob Portman (former U.S. Senator representing Ohio), and Dr. Richard J. Harknett (Director, School of Public and International Affairs and Director, Center for Cyber Strategy and Policy, University of Cincinnati).

Council Members Reggie Harris and Liz Keating discuss Working Across the Aisle in Cincinnati politics.

Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and Rob Portman discuss Civility in Polarized Times.

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