Laura Schwartz to Host Sine Institute’s 2026 Democracy Innovation Lab Solutions Summit at American University
WASHINGTON, D.C. — October 5, 2026 — International professional emcee, television commentator and former White House Director of Events Laura Schwartz will return to Washington, D.C. on October 8 to emcee the 2026 Democracy Innovation Lab Solutions Summit, presented by the Sine Institute of Policy & Politics at American University.
Held at American University’s Washington College of Law, this year’s Summit will convene leaders, experts, students and voices from across sectors for a day of conversations examining the challenges and opportunities facing American democracy.
The 2026 theme, “Rewriting the Rules: Power, Trust, and the Future of American Democracy,” will frame discussions around public trust, democratic leadership, civic participation and the evolving relationship between people and institutions.
The program will also explore national and youth perspectives on democracy, storytelling and belonging, Latino leadership, and the future of the presidency and public service.
For Schwartz, the engagement is also a homecoming of sorts: she is an alumna of American University’s Washington Semester Program, making her return to American University to emcee the Summit especially meaningful.
“Washington is where my own journey in public service began, and American University’s Washington Semester Program was an important part of that beginning,” said Schwartz. “To return now and help guide a day centered on leadership, trust, participation and the future is incredibly meaningful. The most valuable conversations aren’t always those where everyone agrees. They’re the ones where people are willing to listen, ask better questions and engage with perspectives beyond their own.”
Convening Conversations Across Perspectives
The Summit is part of the work of the Democracy Innovation Lab at the Sine Institute of Policy & Politics, a university-wide hub for conversation, collaboration and research focused on advancing civic education and engagement in the United States. The Lab is dedicated to promoting open and respectful dialogue around political issues and the exchange of diverse perspectives. American University
That mission makes the role of emcee about more than simply moving the program from one session to another.
Schwartz will help connect the conversations throughout the day, introduce speakers and panels, provide context for the audience and create continuity across discussions involving different experiences, generations and points of view.
“An emcee has a unique responsibility at a program like this,” Schwartz said. “My role isn’t to tell an audience what to think. It’s to help create the conditions for thoughtful conversation — to listen carefully, connect ideas and make sure the audience understands why each conversation matters and how it connects to the larger day.”
A Return to Washington — and American University
For Schwartz, the Solutions Summit represents a return to her roots — both in Washington and at American University.
Schwartz is an alumna of American University’s Washington Semester Program, one of the nation’s longest-running experiential programs in Washington. Established in 1947, the program combines immersive seminars, internships and direct interaction with leaders and decision-makers in the nation’s capital. Today, its alumni community numbers more than 50,000. American University
The experience was part of Schwartz’s early journey in Washington. She would go on to begin her White House career as a 19-year-old volunteer, become the youngest female Presidential Appointee in U.S. history and ultimately serve as White House Director of Events, producing more than 1,000 events for the President, First Lady, world leaders and international dignitaries.
“There is something especially meaningful about coming back to American University,” Schwartz said. “The Washington Semester Program was part of my own beginning in this city — a place where curiosity about public service became experience, and experience ultimately became a career I never could have imagined. To return now and help guide conversations with today’s students and leaders about trust, participation, public service and the future of our democracy makes this engagement particularly special.”
Today, Schwartz draws on those experiences as an international professional emcee, keynote speaker, interviewer and television commentator. Her work frequently brings her into conversations involving leadership, communications, current affairs and global issues — both onstage and on television.
The Solutions Summit reflects an element central to Schwartz’s work as an interviewer and moderator: bringing together different experiences and perspectives while keeping the audience connected to the larger purpose of the conversation.
About the Sine Institute of Policy & Politics
The Sine Institute of Policy & Politics at American University brings prominent leaders and experts together with students, faculty, staff, alumni and the broader AU community for conversations around policy, culture, civic life and democracy. Its programming includes Fellows and Distinguished Lecturers, student initiatives and the Democracy Innovation Lab. American University
The Democracy Innovation Lab at the Sine Institute serves as a university-wide hub for conversation, collaboration and research focused on civic education and engagement, with an emphasis on respectful dialogue and the exchange of diverse perspectives. American University
The October 8 Solutions Summit will also showcase work from the Sine Institute’s 2026 Fellows and Distinguished Lecturers, whose programming throughout the year has examined America’s past, present and future as part of American University’s recognition of the nation’s 250th anniversary. American University
Learn more about the Sine Institute of Policy & Politics
About Laura Schwartz
Laura Schwartz is an internationally recognized professional emcee, keynote speaker, interviewer, author and television commentator who has built a career creating conversations that engage audiences and bring people together.
An alumna of American University’s Washington Semester Program, Schwartz began her White House career as a 19-year-old volunteer and ultimately became the youngest female Presidential Appointee in U.S. history. She later served as White House Director of Events, where she produced more than 1,000 events for the President, First Lady, world leaders and international dignitaries.
Today, Schwartz brings that experience to stages and screens around the world as a professional emcee, moderator and interviewer and through keynote programs including Eat, Drink & Succeed, Activate Your Superpowers, The Third Place, Lead First and Moonshot Mentality.
She is also an American Contributor to Australia’s Nine Network, appearing across TODAY, TODAY Extra and Nine News and providing perspective and analysis on U.S. politics, foreign affairs and international developments.
Whether hosting a global conference, moderating a high-level conversation, conducting a one-on-one interview or delivering a keynote, Schwartz brings preparation, curiosity and connection to every audience.
For more information about Laura Schwartz’s professional emcee, moderator, interviewer and keynote services, visit LauraSchwartzLive.com or contact Ashley Brooks at Ashley@LauraSchwartzLive.com or 312-767-7415.