BOWLING GREEN — Samantha Perry, a senior media production major at Bowling Green State University, never thought she’d find herself producing a political podcast, but on Tuesday she will record a conversation with two of Ohio’s former governors.

Ms. Perry has spent the past academic year producing podcasts for BGSU’s Democracy and Public Policy Research Network, or DePo, where she has learned not only the technical skills of producing but also the importance of civic dialogue.

“I definitely did not think I would be doing a [nonpartisan podcast],” Ms. Perry said. “When I was taking my podcast class, I was like, ‘This is really fun, but I don’t think I would see myself going anywhere with it,’ and then I got into doing stuff for DePo.”

Ms. Perry went to an organizational meeting for the network in the beginning of the school year at the advice of her roommate. Ms. Perry said she enjoyed producing podcasts, but had no “real world” experience.

Now, Ms. Perry said she can’t believe what they have been able to do at the DePo in just a few months.

The DePo has come to life under the direction of Robert Alexander, a professor of political science at BGSU. Mr. Alexander stepped onto campus in the fall with a vision and a plan for the DePo, but he didn’t know a single student. Mr. Alexander came to BGSU from Ohio Northern University, where he was the founding director of the ONU Institute for Civics and Public Policy, but he credits much of the network’s first-year success to students like Ms. Perry.

Through the podcast, students have the opportunity to discuss a variety of topics with high-profile guests, like the election process with former Higher Education Chancellor Randy Gardner and the history of America’s political landscape with journalist Colin Woodard.

The DePo has also conducted three public opinion polls and produced expert analysis on each poll to better understand Ohioans views on a variety of issues and political preferences.

On Tuesday, the DePo will host its marquee event – a luncheon with former Ohio governors Richard Celeste and Bob Taft.

“We thought, who better to be the inaugural luncheon leadership featured speakers than people who have led the state as governor for eight years each,” Mr. Gardner, who serves on the DePo’s advisory board, said. “They both bring different perspectives from different eras.”

Mr. Alexander said it was important to have a bipartisan pair as the featured panelists as well. Mr. Celeste, a Democrat, served as governor from 1983 to 1991. Mr. Taft, a Republican, served from 1999 to 2007.

“Really, for me, this is such a special thing,” Mr. Alexander said of the luncheon. “I mean, as a kid, Dick Celeste, and frankly Randy Gardner too, these were people that were all in the upper echelons of politics as I was growing up, and so to have them at this event is truly special.”

The two governors will discuss their careers, leadership, biggest challenges, civic engagement, and the differences in today’s politics in a Q-and-A style panel.

“[The luncheon] is kind of like our moment to say, ‘OK, what did we do? And where do we want to go?’” Mr. Alexander said.

The DePo’s work comes at a time of uncertainty for higher education in Ohio. On Friday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 1 into law, which will prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion programs on campus, ban faculty strikes, and bar institutions and professors from taking policy positions on subjects like climate change, immigration, and electoral politics.

Mr. Alexander said he doesn’t think the bill will impact the DePo because it facilitates an environment for free speech. The DePo launched an initiative called Point and CounterPoint where students come together and debate issues from different sides of the political spectrum.

“We are promoting civic literacy, and we feel really good about the way that we are going about that,” Mr. Alexander said. “We want open discourse, we want people to gather information. We want to do what we can to inform the populace and encourage conversation, particularly with people that you don’t agree with.”

“Frankly, I’m not concerned [about S.B. 1] because I think that what we are doing is consistent with that American mindset of freedom of thought and expression,” he added. “And we want our students to be able to do that.”

Although the current academic year isn’t done yet, Mr. Alexander and Mr. Gardner are already looking ahead to DePo’s second year. Mr. Alexander said he wants to do more with the community at-large. He is also working on establishing a policy brief series where students and faculty can work on research to inform public policy makers such as superintendents, school board members, and lawmakers.

Mr. Gardner said he looks forward to connecting more students to internships in Columbus and offering programming in Washington.

“That’s what we want to continue to do with this organization,” Mr. Gardner said, “is to enhance the involvement with students and the faculty and the community in ways that they can build civic engagement and civic dialogue.”

Ms. Perry is expected to graduate this semester, but she’s taking her production experience with her as she looks for full-time jobs.

“We’ve had so many great successes,” Mr. Alexander said of the year. “But really watching these students just be a little fearless and take the reins has just been incredible.”

First Published March 31, 2025, 5:34 p.m.