Former Obama speechwriter Cody Keenan to deliver 2024 James C. Bowling Executive-in-Residence Lecture

Cody Keenan, former director of speech writing for the Obama administration, will deliver the 2024 James C. Bowling Executive-in-Residence Lecture at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 22 in the Grand Courtroom of the Rosenberg College of Law. The lecture, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Department of Integrated Strategic Communication and the College of Communication and Information at the University of Kentucky. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Bowling Lecture.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in political science from Northwestern University and a master’s in public policy from Harvard University, Keenan began working in the office of Senator Edward M. Kennedy in 2003. By 2007, he was working as a campaign intern for Obama for America.

In just a little over a year’s time, Keenan became the chief speech writer for the Presidential Inaugural Committee, which paved the way for a string of promotions that led him to become chief speechwriter for the White House under former President Barack Obama and then his post-presidential collaborator.

Today, Keenan is a partner at leading speechwriting firm Fenway and teaches a popular course on speechwriting at his alma mater, Northwestern University. His first book, “Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America,” became an instant New York Times bestseller.

Excellence in Public Relations Award

In addition to honoring the Bowling Executive-in-Residence, the series recognizes an outstanding public relations practitioner with ties to Kentucky through the Excellence in Public Relations award. The 2024 recipient is John Drees. Drees recently retired as vice president of communication and marketing at the University of Louisville.

A 38-year veteran of UofL, Drees previously served in positions ranging from internal communications editor to web manager to director of media relations and university spokesperson. He has received more than four dozen regional and national awards, including highest honors from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education for marketing campaigns and crisis communications.

The Bowling Executive-in-Residence Lecture Series began in 2000. It annually brings nationally known public relations professionals to UK to deliver an address and meet with students interested in public relations careers. The daylong activities include the Executive-in-Residence visit, the Excellence in PR award and a scholarship for senior integrated strategic communication majors with an emphasis in public relations. The 2024 scholarship recipients will be announced at the lecture.

The series honors the late James C. Bowling, retired assistant chairman of Philip Morris Companies Inc. Bowling attended UK and later served the university as a member of the UK Development Council. In addition to serving on several national boards, Bowling also worked with the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, UK Gatton College of Business and Economics and the UK Sanders-Brown Center on Aging.