Liz Johnson, who served as the last chief of staff to U.S. Senator Mitt Romney, is presenting a seminar series titled My Four Most Difficult Days: Defining Moments on the Frontlines. The series will focus on her experiences navigating the high-stakes and unpredictable environment of Washington.
The seminar series will draw upon Johnson's nearly two decades of experience across the United States Senate, the Executive Branch, and various political campaigns. Through reflections on four specific challenging days, the program will explore how critical moments tested her leadership capacity, decision-making, and values.
Key topics to be explored in the seminar include leading under pressure, crisis communications, strategic thinking in dynamic contexts, and managing ethical dilemmas while balancing competitive interests. The series also aims to address the challenges of building trust within adversarial conditions.
The seminar schedule includes four specific sessions: Seminar One regarding Graceful Exits on November 9, 2016; Seminar Two covering a Messaging War That’s Unwinnable on May 15, 2017; Seminar Three focusing on Impeachment on February 5, 2020; and Seminar Four titled Divided We Stand: Working Together After January 6.
The Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago is a nonpartisan extracurricular program intended to encourage a passion for public service and politics in young people. Johnson participated as a Winter 2025 Pritzker Fellow.
