The Presidents Dinner
The 9th Annual Presidents Dinner
The 9th annual Presidents Dinner, hosted by Bucknell University and President John Bravman, took place on Sept. 10, 2026, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Attendees included nearly 30 members of the national and higher education media and 12 college and university presidents. Attendance at the Presidents Dinner is by invitation only.
Media attendees
- ABC News
- Associated Press
- Bloomberg News
- Boston Globe
- The Christian Science Monitor
- The Chronicle of Higher Education
- Inside Higher Ed
- The New York Times
- NPR
- Open Campus
- POLITICO
- Trusteeship Magazine
- University Business
- U.S. News & World Report
- USA TODAY
- The Wall Street Journal
Presidential attendees
- Garry W. Jenkins, Bates College
- John C. Bravman, Bucknell University
- Vincent D. Rougeau, College of the Holy Cross
- Manya Whitaker, Colorado College
- Adam S. Weinberg, Denison University
- Lori S. White, DePauw University
- Andrew Rich, Franklin & Marshall College
- Anne F. Harris, Grinnell College
- Julie Kornfeld, Kenyon College
- Sarah Willie-LeBreton, Smith College
- Elizabeth H. Bradley, Vassar College
- Maud S. Mandel, Williams College
Topics of conversation, among others
- Affordability initiatives
- AI
- Career preparation for students
- Civic engagement
- College/university closures and mergers
- Demographic forecasts
- Department of Education diminished
- Discount rates/net tuition revenue
- Enrollment trends
- Federal funding mechanisms
- Federal agency overreach
- Financial aid trends
- Fiscal responsibility
- Freedom of speech
- Higher ed legislation
- Institutional financial stability
- International student support
- Public perceptions of higher education
- Research funding
- Rethinking college admissions
- Role of college presidents
- Socio-emotional support for students
- State of diversity, equity and inclusion
- Student outcomes
Bucknell Makes Headlines Around the World
MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS 2024-25
Through Bucknell's strategic media relations efforts, the University appeared in more than 13,000 news stories, resulting in its editorial reach growing by over 16% to nearly 30 billion potential views, spanning all 50 states and 57 countries. The value of this coverage also rose sharply, with annual ad-value equivalency climbing from $240 million to $280 million — a testament to the growing visibility and influence of Bucknell's brand.