Speaker Series: Join us Wednesday to hear about higher ed's role in city building

The Model D Speaker Series continues May 12 at the Westin Book Cadillac in downtown Detroit with a discussion of higher education's role in city building.

Speakers include:

* Dr. Kevin Stolarick, professor and research director of The Martin Prosperity Institute at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management. Stolarick works closely with "Creative Class" guru and urban studies theorist Richard Florida, and the researcher's data has been integral to Florida's work. Model D interviewed Stolarick two years ago when he was in town for the Creative Cities Summit. Read that story here.

* Dr. Robin Boyle, professor and chair of Wayne State University's urban studies and planning program. Boyle serves on a Midtown Task Force and the review of the Urban Research and Outreach mission for WSU. He also sits on the WSU Standing Committee on the Environment, and serves on the board of the Michigan Suburbs Alliance.

* Moderator Keith Molin, executive director of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, is determined to improve the quality of life for Michigan residents by focusing on the creation of vibrant communities throughout the state. In addition to his enriching public policy and political career, his experiences include higher education leadership as Senior Associate Director of Athletics at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and a similar position at the University of Pittsburgh.

We will start at 5:30 p.m. with registration. Presentations begin at 6 p.m. There will be a cash bar and networking time to follow. The event is free, but you must register in advance via the form below. Send questions and feedback here.

Rotman will be hosting a reception for MBA candidates at 7pm at the Book Cadillac following the speaker series. If you wish to be included, please sign up here.

The Speaker Series is sponsored this month by The Rotman School of Management, WDET FM 101.9, the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, Henry Ford Health Systems, Wayne State University and the Detroit Medical Center.