Description:

Join the Political Science Department as we host Phil Andrew for a conversation about Phil Andrew on preventing gun violence. Drawing on his experience as a former FBI hostage negotiator, violence-prevention leader, and survivor of one of the nation’s first school shootings, Phil Andrew explores why the U.S. continues to fail at preventing gun violence. Blending personal story with professional insight, he challenges assumptions about safety, accountability, and political will, and invites students to move beyond polarized talking points to consider what real prevention could look like—and the role they can play in getting it right. Reception to follow.

About the Speaker

Phil Andrew is Principal of PAX Group, Former FBI Agent and Hostage Negotiator, Survivor of One of Nation’s First School Shootings, U.S. Congressional Candidate in IL-9. Phil is a national leader in violence prevention and public safety, former FBI Special Agent and Hostage Negotiator, and survivor of one of America’s first school shootings. In 1988, at age 20, Phil survived the Laurie Dann attack in Winnetka, Illinois—an experience that profoundly shaped his life’s work and commitment to preventing violence before it occurs.

Phil served 21 years as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), working throughout the United States and overseas on hostage negotiations, counterterrorism, counterintelligence, undercover operations, public corruption, and crimes against children. His service has been recognized with multiple awards from the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice.

More information about Phil and his candidacy for Congress in Illinois’ 9th district can be found at philandrewforcongress.com.

Moderated by

Jaime Dominguez is Associate Professor of Instruction in Political Science at Northwestern University and the principal architect of the Chicago Democracy Project (CDP), a thirty-year (1975-2005) online political database that measures policy outcomes for the City of Chicago. Professor Dominguez's teaching and research interests center on race, ethnic, immigration and Latino politics. He is also a frequent commentator for local and major news outlets including NPR, PBS, Univision and Telemundo.