Join us for this Public Policy in Practice event as we welcome award-winning journalist Ali Velshi, MSNBC columnist and the host of “Velshi” on MSNBC, airing Saturday and Sunday mornings 8 -10 a.m. ET. He is also a Business Correspondent for NBC News, a columnist for MSNBC, and a weekly economics contributor to NPR’s “Here And Now.”
Velshi has reported extensively from Ukraine and across Central and Eastern Europe during the Russian invasion and from across America during the COVID-19 pandemic. Velshi was on the ground in Minneapolis during the days-long protests against the killing of George Floyd, during which he was shot on live TV with a rubber bullet fired by authorities. He has covered multiple US presidential elections and major news stories around the globe, including the Syrian refugee crisis from Turkey and Jordan, the Iran Nuclear Deal in Tehran, the Greek debt crisis in Athens, and the funeral of Nelson Mandela in South Africa. Velshi is recognized for his immersive on-the-ground reporting and his interactive discussions with small groups, which form part of his ongoing series, “Velshi Across America.”
Prior to joining MSNBC/NBC News in 2016, he hosted “Ali Velshi On Target,” a nightly prime-time show on Al Jazeera America. Previously, Velshi was CNN’s Chief Business Correspondent, anchor of CNN International’s “World Business Today” and the host of CNN’s weekly business show “Your Money.” Velshi also co-hosted CNN’s morning show, “American Morning.”
Nominated for two 2016 Emmy Awards for his reporting on disabled workers and Chicago’s red-light camera scandal, in 2010 Velshi was honored with a National Headliner Award for Business & Consumer Reporting for his special with Christine Romans, “How the Wheels Came Off,” about the near collapse of the American auto industry. Additionally, Velshi and CNN were nominated for a 2010 Emmy for Velshi’s breaking news coverage of the attempted bombing of Northwest Flight 253. Velshi reported broadly on the global financial crisis of 2008.
Known for his trademark exposition and explanation, Velshi appeared as a guest economics analyst on shows like “Oprah,” “The View,” and “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” at the height of the crisis, explaining the causes of and solutions to the crisis in plain terms.
Born in Nairobi and raised in Toronto, Velshi graduated from Canada’s Queen’s University with a degree in religion and was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws from his alma mater in 2016. Velshi splits his time between New York City and Philadelphia.
Active in the community, Velshi serves on the boards of the National Constitution Center, the Chicago History Museum, the X-Prize Foundation, the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism, the Philadelphia Citizen, and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He volunteered with New York’s Center for Urban Community Services homeless outreach program one morning per week.
Velshi is the author of Gimme My Money Back (Sterling and Ross, 2008) and co-author (with CNN’s Christine Romans) of How to Speak Money (Wiley, 2010), and the upcoming A Field Guide To Democracy (2023), and Open Space, with David Ariosto (Knopf 2024).
About the series:
The Public Policy in Practice Series, led by Fels Distinguished Fellow Elizabeth Vale, is designed to provide students with a variety of perspectives and compelling personal narratives that will help them not only form their opinions on important issues but will also help shape their careers. This series is offered in conjunction with the Fels graduate Public Management course required of all Fels MPA and Executive MPA students. Fels is proud to offer these important conversations to the entire Penn community and members of the public.
Remarks begin promptly at 6 p.m.
