Second Lady Usha Vance Joins Governors, National Education Leaders at Reagan Institute's Education Summit

Second Lady Usha Vance Joins Governors, National Education Leaders at Reagan Institute's Education Summit 

Ninth annual Reagan Institute Summit on Education will include conversations with Utah Governor Spencer Cox, Colorado Governor Jared Polis, former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, U.S. Senator Todd Young of Indiana, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education Kirsten Baesler, and The Atlantic's David Brooks alongside state chiefs, university presidents, and policy experts. 

Washington, D.C. — September 1, 2026 — The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute today announced its agenda for the ninth annual Reagan Institute Summit on Education (RISE), which will take place on September 16 and 17, 2026, at the Ronald Reagan Institute in Washington, D.C. 

The program will kick off the afternoon of September 16 with Governor Spencer Cox of Utah discussing his new book, Off Ramp: How to Be a Peacemaker in an Age of Contempt with chairman of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute Board of Trustees Mr. Fred Ryan. 

During the daylong program on September 17, attendees will hear from Second Lady Usha Vance about her literacy initiative, as well as Colorado Governor Jared Polis, former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, U.S. Senator Todd Young of Indiana, U.S. Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education Kirsten Baesler, and The Atlantic’s David Brooks.

“Even in the 1980s, Americans were thinking seriously about how technology would reshape the world. President Reagan recognized that change was inevitable, but he also believed in the permanent truths that built America,” said Ellen Dollarhide McCoy, Associate Director of the Ronald Reagan Institute's Center for Civics, Education, and Opportunity. “Questions about the future have taken on new urgency in 2026. This year’s RISE will explore what it means to ensure that education and hard work continue to pay off by asking "what is the purpose of education?”

Over the course of the summit, RISE 2026 will convene conversations organized around the themes at the heart of American education's purpose — spanning preparing an engaged citizenry, equipping students with knowledge and skills, and readying young people for a world being reshaped by AI. Additional speakers include:

• Sian Beilock, President, Dartmouth College

• Jim Blew, Director, Defense of Freedom Institute

• Daniel Diermeier, Chancellor, Vanderbilt University

• Erika Donalds, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Education Freedom Foundation

• Jorge Elorza, CEO, Democrats for Education Reform

• Robert Enlow, President and CEO, EdChoice

• Maria Flynn, President and CEO, Jobs for the Future

• Molly Hart, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, State of Utah 

• Angélica Infante-Green, Commissioner of Education, State of Rhode Island 

• Katie Jenner, Secretary of Education, State of Indiana

• Robin Lake, Director, Center on Reinventing Public Education

• Eric Mackey, Superintendent of Education, State of Alabama 

• Stephen Moret, President and CEO, Strada Education Foundation 

• MacKenzie Price, CEO & Co-Founder, Alpha School

• Jenna Silber Storey, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

• David Steiner, Executive Director, Johns Hopkins University Institute for Education Policy

• Adam Weinberg, President, Denison University

• Rebecca Winthrop, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution

"Since its inception, RISE has served as a unique forum for bringing together leaders who may differ on the details but are united in the conviction that we must pursue bold policy change to ensure our education system is a pathway to a strong future," said Roger Zakheim, Director of the Ronald Reagan Institute. "We’re thrilled to be joined by Second Lady Usha Vance and many other education leaders. Inspired by President Reagan, RISE champions an education that pursues excellence, expands opportunity, and prepares young Americans with the knowledge, skills, and civic understanding to carry forward America’s principles of freedom."

Registration and Media Inquiries:
In-person attendance at RISE is by invitation only. To request an invitation, visit ReaganFoundation.org/RISE for details and additional agenda updates. To register to watch virtually, please visit HERE.

For media inquiries, please contact Alyssa Khamma at akhamma@reaganfoundation.org. 

About the Reagan Foundation and Institute

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute (RRPFI) is the sole nonprofit organization created by President Reagan charged with advancing his legacy and principles – individual liberty, economic opportunity, freedom and democracy, peace through strength, and national pride.

A globally recognized nonpartisan organization based in Simi Valley, CA, with a leading policy institute in Washington, DC, RRPFI delivers impactful public affairs programming, policy convenings and projects of national and international significance, scholarly initiatives, and distinctive educational programs shaping the perspectives of middle, high school, and college students.

In addition, RRPFI sustains the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, the largest and most visited presidential library. A leading cultural institution, RRPFI houses a remarkable 125,000 square foot museum with unique historical pieces that tells the story of Ronald Reagan’s life, presidency, and enduring impact, and hosts world-class special exhibitions.