Facebook executive to talk about policy implications of social media on April 14

Joel Kaplan  Download Photo

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Joel Kaplan, vice president of global public policy at Facebook, will speak April 14 at Purdue University about the role social media plays as a communication and connection point in the face of international events with both individual and policy implications.

"Trending … A Conversation with Facebook Vice President for Global Public Policy," which is free and open to the public, is 5:30 p.m. in Stewart Center's Fowler Hall. The event is part of the College of Liberal Arts series At the Intersection of Liberal Arts and STEM, and also is sponsored by the Andrew B. Maner Lecture Series.

"The reach and impact of social media are undeniable," said David Reingold, the Justin S. Morrill Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. "Whether political upheaval, natural disaster, or the simple events of our daily lives, social media platforms have transformed how we interact. The policy implications of that are fast-changing. We look forward to hearing about the latest discussion points from Joel Kaplan, who plays an integral role in shaping that policy conversation."

Kaplan manages Facebook's global public policy strategy, working with governments and non-governmental organizations to foster understanding and support for Facebook's innovative technology. He joined Facebook in 2011 as vice president of U.S. public policy, overseeing the company's relationships with policymakers at the federal and state levels.

Prior to joining Facebook, Kaplan was the executive vice president for public policy and external affairs for Energy Future Holdings Corp. (EFH). In that position, Kaplan oversaw enterprise-wide public affairs and led EFH's efforts to publicly demonstrate and communicate its role in the energy industry.

Kaplan joined EFH from the White House, where he served as deputy chief of staff for policy under President George W. Bush from 2006-2009. There, he was responsible for the development and implementation of the administration's policy agenda. He framed strategic decisions on a full range of policy matters and integrated the execution of legislative, communications, and external outreach and policy strategies on behalf of the president and chief of staff.

From 2003-2006, he served as the deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget. From 2001-2003 he was special assistant to the president for policy within the White House chief of staff's office.

The Intersection of Liberal Arts & STEM is a series of events to highlight how liberal arts and science, technology, engineering, and math fields are enriched and have greater capacity for meaningful change when the disciplines intersect. 

Writer: Amy Patterson Neubert, 765-494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu

Source: Lori Sparger, lsparger@purdue.edu