NIU welcomes Illinois Senate minority leader for ‘Rebuilding Democracy’ lecture
The Northern Illinois University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will welcome Illinois Senate Minority Leader John Curran as the next guest of the “Rebuilding Democracy” lecture series at 2 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Nov. 12.
This event, conducted on Zoom, will feature a discussion between Curran, Dean Robert Brinkmann and College of Law Dean Cassandra Hill on various topics, such as the current state of democracy, states’ rights, ethical leadership in uncertain times, economic development, issues facing the state and taxpayers and a preview of the upcoming legislative session. A moderated question-and-answer session will follow.
The program is free and open to the public, but advanced registration is required. Go to go.niu.edu/Rebuilding-Democracy-RSVP to request a link to the event before Nov.12. Event links will be sent from the clas-communication@niu.edu mailbox the day before the event.
Curran is the Illinois Senate Minority Leader. A graduate of NIU’s College of Law, he started his career in public service in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in the late 1990s. He served 19 years as an Assistant State’s Attorney, initially as a prosecutor and eventually rising through the ranks to be chief of the Special Litigation Division, which encompassed the Labor & Employment, Torts & Civil Rights, and Municipal Litigation Units in the Civil Actions Bureau.
He has represented the 41st District in Illinois since 2017 and was unanimously elected by his peers to be the Illinois Senate Minority Leader in 2023. While in the General Assembly, Curran fought for a better quality of life for Illinois residents and business owners. He advocated for tighter clean air regulations in the wake of the public health crisis in Willowbrook. He was an advocate for tighter ethics reforms for state officials, serving as the Minority Spokesperson for the Senate Ethics Committee.
Prior to joining the General Assembly, Curran served on the DuPage County Board for three terms, first as a board member and later being elevated to the role of vice chairman. While on the county board, he led efforts to consolidate units of local government and initiated accountability controls within county government, resulting in more than $145 million in savings for taxpayers.
He sits on the board of directors for the Downers Grove Economic Development Corporation, whose mission is to help retain, expand and attract new businesses to the village of Downers Grove. Curran has received numerous civic and philanthropic awards, including the Defender of the Innocence award from the Illinois Innocence Project.
The Rebuilding Democracy Lecture Series showcases how the liberal arts and sciences are at the center of a healthy democracy. The Series addresses various aspects of building a stronger democracy and bringing together a fractured society — everything from restoring civility, exploring branches of government, rebuilding our diplomatic and intelligence offices, as well as topical issues such as education, health care, media, public health, budget and finance, sustainability/environmental issues, and social justice/human rights.