WWU’s 2025 Munro Seminars to feature wide range of topics and panelists including Citizen University’s Eric Liu on Nov. 18

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WWU's 2025 Munro Seminars to feature wide range of topics and panelists including Citizen University's Eric Liu on Nov. 18

November 5, 2025

Western Washington University will offer its annual Ralph Munro Seminar for Civic Education on Nov. 18-19 on the WWU campus; elected officials, nonprofit leaders, civil servants, and educators will be among this year's speakers during discussion panels that are free and open to the public.

The theme of the 2025 seminars is "Making the System Work: Celebrating the Legacy of Ralph Munro with Lessons for Citizenship, Problem-Solving and Policy in Challenging Times."

"This year's Munro Seminar pays tribute to Ralph Munro, a seminal state figure, by bringing together leaders at the local, state and national level who continue to live into his commitments of voluntarism, civic action and working across difference to get the job done," said Kate Destler, associate professor of Political Science at Western and director of the Munro Seminars and the Ralph Munro Institute for Civic Education. "In a political environment that feels all too broken, these sessions will not just to look backwards but also to look ahead with concrete steps to restore our democracy."

Citizen University's Eric Liu to keynote the '25 seminar

This year's Munro keynote will be Eric Liu, CEO of Citizen University, a national nonprofit that equips Americans to practice and spread effective, powerful and responsible citizenship. Liu will present "Finding our Common Purpose and Revitalizing our Faith in Democracy" at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 18; the keynote and all discussion panels will be in the Viking Union Multipurpose Room and each session will provide time for questions from the audience. Find out more here.

The seminar continues on Wednesday, Nov. 19 with two panel discussions:

Bridging Divides: Cross-party Collaboration to Meet the State's Challenges
1-2:30 p.m. in the VU MPR

A lifelong Republican, Ralph Munro was beloved by Democrats and Republicans alike for his capacity to look beyond party and work across the aisle to address areas of common concern. But can public officials continue to work across parties when polarization is high? How can those in the minority gain power to shape policy decisions? And why, how, and when is it in the majority party's interest to give the other party a voice? Experienced state leaders will discuss their experiences building power and sharing power at the state and federal levels to address critical challenges.

Panelists Include: Former Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman; former Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed; and Denny Heck, Washington's current lieutenant governor

Can't make it? Watch on Zoom

Local Action, Unlikely Partnerships, and Creative Solutions,
3-4:30 p.m. in the VU MPR

While celebrated for high-profile progress in voter access, orca protection, and refugee resettlement, less known are the many contributions Ralph Munro has made at the small scale, collaborating with volunteer groups and working with local government officials to identify critical needs and foster creative solutions to improve our lives and the community around us. This panel brings together both those who worked closely with Ralph and those who have taken up this mantle in new contexts, forging partnerships and working outside the box in small steps to get things done.

Panelists Include: Ed Wolfe, former Kitsap Commissioner; Bob Barnes, Propagation Nation; Mitch Friedman, Conservation NW; Lucia Schmit, Snohomish Emergency Management Services

Can't make it? Watch on Zoom

About the Institute

The Ralph Munro Institute for Civic Education offers students, teachers and community members an opportunity to work with professors, activists and political leaders to learn how local, state and national politics develop. The Institute was named in honor of Ralph Munro, a WWU alumnus and trustee. Munro was elected Washington's Secretary of State in 1980 and continued in that position until his retirement in 2001.

The 2025 Munro Seminars are co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Bellingham-Whatcom County.

Complimentary parking on the Western Washington University campuswill be available in Lots 9G and C on Nov. 18 and Nov.19. For those with disability parking needs, guests can park in Lot 11C or visit Western's accessible parking pagefor more information about disability parking on campus.

Please contact [email protected]with questions or for additional information.