The Miller Center has been a central gathering place for nonpartisan public discussion since its founding more than 30 years ago. It has held almost 2,000 forums in total, as well as regular public conferences, and is planning a National Discussion and Debate Series.

Forums

The Miller Center Forum presents more than 60 speakers each year, drawn from high-ranking public officials and others involved in shaping public policy, from the academy, and from journalists covering national and international events. Forums attract a large audience of faculty, students, and interested citizens. They offer a unique opportunity for speakers to engage in stimulating public policy discussions in a beautiful setting that encourages direct interaction between speaker and audience. The Miller Center's John and Rosemary Galbraith Forum Room is modeled on the Virginia House of Burgesses and allows participants to fully engage in the dialogue. This approach, evocative of a time when speakers spoke directly to their audience, actively fosters personal engagement in our country's public affairs. Forum Schedule | Full Archive of Forum Webcasts

National Discussion and Debate Series

The Miller Center launched its a National Discussion and Debate Series in 2007, enlisting prominent national figures from government, the academic and business worlds, and civic leaders to discuss issues of national importance to the governance of the country. Produced by MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, an award-winning leader in public affairs broadcasting, the first two seasons of the series have aired on public television stations, including the PBS World digital channel, and public radio. They are webcast live and, and video, transcripts, research, white papers, and high school and college lesson plans on the topics. The conversation continues on YouTube, Facebook, and MySpace.

Public Conferences

The Miller Center holds regular conferences for discussion of important matters facing the nation. Recent conferences have examined topics ranging from education, to terrorism, to the role of White House Counsel.