Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 07/22/2025
(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Drew University has announced that Mitt Romney, former Senator and Republican nominee for President, will be the first speaker in the three-part 2025-2026 Drew Forum series at Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC). The event will be held on Monday, September 29, 2025 at 7:30pm.
From past and future presidents and vice presidents, to comedians, journalists, and Pulitzer Prize-winning historians, each year the Drew Forum cedes the stage to unique perspectives, thought leaders, and changemakers.
“We are excited to bring an important, respected national voice like Mitt Romney to the Drew University and local communities to kick off the Drew Forum season,” said Hilary L. Link, PhD, President of Drew University.
Tickets for Mitt Romney are $47-$99 (All fees included) and available for purchase online starting Friday, July 25 at 10:00am or by calling the MPAC Box Office at 973-539-8008.
Two additional speakers, slated for the spring 2026 semester, will be announced at a future date.
“MPAC looks forward to another year of outstanding speakers presented by the Drew Forum,” said Allison Larena, President and CEO, MPAC. “We are thrilled to be hosting a lineup of prestigious thinkers and leaders.”
The Drew Forum lecture series is generously sponsored by the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation.
Mitt Romney is a statesman, businessman, and former Republican presidential nominee known for his bold leadership and independent voice. A singular figure in American politics, Romney brings deep insights into leadership, policy, and our nation’s most pressing challenges.
As Governor of Massachusetts from 2003-2007, Romney pioneered a landmark healthcare law responsible for insuring millions of residents. Romney also led the 2002 Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the Winter Olympics, turning the struggling Games into a success story. Before entering public service, Romney was a successful management consultant at Bain & Company and co-founded the highly successful private equity firm Bain Capital.
As U.S. Senator for Utah, Romney was a leading voice for fiscal discipline, climate action, America’s role in the world, and the need for a comprehensive U.S. strategy to counter China’s ascendance. He played a key role in historic bipartisan legislation on improving the nation’s physical infrastructure, emergency COVID relief, marriage equality with religious liberty protections, and gun safety.
He has been married to his wife Ann for 55 years, and together they have five sons, 25 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Drew University, a Phi Beta Kappa liberal arts university, includes the College of Liberal Arts, Drew Theological School, and the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies. Drew is located on a beautiful, wooded campus in Madison, New Jersey, a thriving small town close to New York City. It has a total enrollment of more than 2,200 students and has 143 full-time faculty members, 98 percent of whom hold the terminal degree in their field. The Theological and Caspersen schools offer master’s and doctoral degrees, and the College confers BA and BS degrees in 42 disciplines, and offers 61 minors, 19 Dual-Degree programs, and seven New York Semesters.
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, presents a wide range of programs that entertain, enrich, and educate the diverse population of the region and enhance the economic vitality of Northern New Jersey. MPAC was named 2016 Outstanding Historic Theatre by the League of Historic American Theatres, and is ranked in the top 50 mid-sized performing arts centers by Pollstar Magazine.
The 2025-2026 season is made possible, in part, by a grant the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as support received from the F.M. Kirby Foundation, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation and numerous corporations, foundations and individuals.
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