The Power of Compassion and How it Can Change Lives

Jenna Bush Hager is the daughter of former U.S. President George W. Bush and Laura Bush, and granddaughter of former President George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush.  

As a contributing correspondent for NBC News’ Today show, Hager covers a variety of human interest and feature stories.

Hager is a graduate of the University of Texas, where she received a degree in English. In 2006, she traveled to Latin America as an intern with UNICEF.  During her journey, she was inspired to write Ana’s Story: A Journey of Hope, a New York Times bestseller based on the life of a 17-year-old single mother living with HIV and determined to shield her child from the abuse and neglect that riddled her own childhood.  Hager is still very involved with UNICEF and is currently the chair of UNICEF’s Next Generation, an initiative dedicated to reducing the number of preventable childhood deaths around the world.

In addition to Ana’s Story, Hager is the co-author with her mother, Mrs. Laura Bush, of Read All About It!  The educational children’s book was inspired by Hager and her mother’s mutual love of reading and teaching.

The 2012 Bush Distinguished Lecture coincides with Family First for a First Family – The Ties That Bind: A Family Album, an exhibit honoring the life and times of the 41st President, at the George and Barbara Bush Center Gallery on UNE’s Biddeford Campus.  Family First for a First Family is a photo essay conceived as an inspirational tribute to a marriage and family life that have known not only extraordinary acclaim, success, and joy, but also disheartening trial, tribulation, and tragedy.

This is the third speaker in the George and Barbara Bush Distinguished Lecture Series, an annual event honoring the legacy of President and Mrs. Bush as political and community leaders.  Last year’s lecture, which was attended by George and Barbara Bush, featured Andrew H. Card Jr., who served as White House chief of staff under President George W. Bush from 2001 until 2006.

The lecture and gallery are free and open to the public. The Bush Center Gallery hours are 10 a.m to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.