Public TV commentator Mark Shields will speak on Labor Day and Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx will join a panel of experts discussing Charlotte’s rise as an “energy hub” during events next month at Davidson College coinciding with the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.

Mark Shields

Mr. Shields, a political analyst from the “PBS NewsHour,” will speak on Monday, Sept. 3, on the topic “2012: The American Presidency.” His talk is at 10:30 a.m. at in the Alvarez College Union 900 Room.

Mr. Shields has covered 11 presidential elections and attended 17 national party conventions. Before his work with PBS he served as moderator and commentator for 17 years on CNN’s weekly political talk show “Capital Gang.” He has taught political science at University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, Georgetown University’s Graduate School of Public Policy, and he was a fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy Institute of Politics. He graduated from Notre Dame University and served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

His talk is free and will offer a synopsis of the presidential electoral race. More information on the college website, davidson.edu.

Anthony Foxx

Davidson College will host a high-level panel discussion on energy and sustainability on Wednesday morning, Sept. 5. The event is being held in conjunction with the Democratic National Convention, and will consider Charlotte as a rising energy hub, and how sustainability initiatives are becoming major economic drivers.

Davidson President Carol Quillen will introduce the four panelists: Eric Spiegel, CEO of Siemens Corp.; Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, who is a 1993 Davidson graduate; Vincent Davis of Duke Energy and Envision Charlotte; and Graham Bullock, assistant professor of environmental studies and political science at Davidson.

Bloomberg.com sustainability editor Eric Roston will moderate the discussion, which will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Duke Family Performance Hall at Knobloch Campus Center. There is no charge to attend, but tickets are required. They can be reserved for a small processing fee at www.davidson.edu/tickets, or obtained at the door on the morning of the event if any remain. A reception for the public and panelists will immediately follow the presentation.

For information call 704-894-2135.