Celebrity real estate developer and potential politician Donald Trump has booked an appearance at Pote Theater at the Blake Performing Arts Center, Simpson College announced today. Trump, who announced his launch of a presidential exploratory committee March 18, intends to speak on current education issues, said Jill Johnson in a campus email. 

Trump’s April 8 speech will be held at 10 a.m. and is free and open to the public. 

His appearance at Simpson will be the first of several planned for the season, said Iowa consultant Chuck Laudner. While not all stops have been announced yet, Laudner said campus visits have already been booked through the end of May. Simpson’s history of hosting political discussions helped influence the decision to visit, said Laudner.

“They’ve been active down there, they’ve hosted debates. College republicans have drawn big crowds,” he said. “Personally, Simpson’s high on my list of places to go.”

College campuses were a ‘natural setting’ for Trump to explore education topics from elementary schools to higher education and student debt, Laudner added.

“I think a big part is going to be his own personal education history, pull on his experiences and what he sees is the path to success,” he said.

While Trump has been traveling to gauge the level of support a campaign might have, Laudner doesn’t expect to hear a definite decision on a presidential campaign until midsummer.

“I think there’d be a lot of interest in what Mr. Trump has to say,” Laudner said.