SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, July 11, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska are visiting Utah for the National Governors Association Summer Meeting, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox announced.
“We’re honored to welcome President Zelenskyy and First Lady Zelenska to Utah and the National Governors Association. Utah stands behind Ukraine and we look forward to hearing his message to the nation’s governors,” said Cox, who also serves as NGA chairman.
Governors will join federal officials and leaders from business, academia and philanthropy Thursday and Friday for bipartisan conversations around top issues in states, commonwealths and territories.
Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey also is scheduled to attend the two-day event being held at The Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City.
Public sessions at the NGA Summer Meeting include:
- A conversation with Cox and former U.S. Senator and current University of Florida President Ben Sasse.
- A presentation on study results of commercials for Cox’s Disagree Better initiative by Rob Willer, a professor of sociology, psychology and business at Stanford University.
- The release of online Disagree Better credentials from institutions in the Presidents Forum, a nonprofit membership organization of innovation-minded college and university presidents.
- A task force session that will explore strategies for advancing educational excellence, bolstering national security and cyber defense, and navigating economic and infrastructure challenges in a global marketplace.
- A discussion on the role of culture in polarization between Cox, McConaughey and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, who also serves as NGA vice chairman.
- The transition of NGA leadership and introduction of Gov. Polis’ 2024–25 Chair’s Initiative.
