In his role as Visiting Professional in Residence, Phil Ponce lectures on interviewing. Ponce has developed an expertise in interviewing in his role on Chicago Tonight, the nightly television magazine of news and culture on WTTW-11, the most-watched PBS station in the country. Ponce conducts nightly interviews with news-makers, authors and artists and moderates panels on topics ranging from business and medicine to the arts and education.

Ponce’s career includes serving as one of Jim Lehrer’s anchors on The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and moderating political debates ranging from the presidency to Chicago aldermen. He also has been a columnist for the Chicago Tribune. 

He has an undergraduate degree in English from Indiana University, a law degree from the University of Michigan and practiced law for six years before becoming a journalist.

Ponce’s awards include Illinois Journalist of the Year, the Studs Terkel Award for Journalism and the City Club of Chicago’s Award for Excellence in Journalism.