UDSS Past Speakers
Past Speakers
UD Speaker Series Events
2017-18- The Minimalists (Part of Sustainability Week programming. Co-sponsored by the University of Dayton Hanley Sustainability Institute): The Minimalists Live
- William Dobson (In conjunction with the Social Practice of Human Rights Conference): Learning Curves of Dictators
- Nikole Hannah-Jones (Annual MLK address)
- Imbolo Mbue (In conjunction with the Global Voices Symposium; Co-sponsored by the Alumni Chair in the Humanities): Enghancing the Global Village on US College Campuses
- *Arthur C. Brooks: Living Your Life Like a Startup Canceled due to weather.
- Megan Smith (Annual Stander Symposium address; Co-sponsored by the Graul Chair in Arts and Languages)
- 2016-17
Frank Warren (Part of Suicide Prevention Week programming. Co-sponsored by the University of Dayton Counseling Center, Community Wellness Services, and Active Minds): The Power of Secrets: Inspiring Conversation
Lawrence Lessig: The Importance of the First Presidential Debate
James Balog (Part of Sustainability Week programming and co-sponsored by the Hanley Sustainability Institute): When Mountains Move
Paul Loeb (Co-sponsored by the Fitz Center for Leadership in Community and Hanley Sustainability Institute): Soul of A Citizen: Making a Difference in Challenging Times
Jelani Cobb (Annual MLK address): The Half-Life of Freedom: Race and Justice in America Today
Lisa Randall (Annual Stander Symposium address): An Evening With Lisa Randall
2015-16
Ellen Gustafson (Co-sponsored by UD Sustainability Week): A New Understanding of Hunger, Obesity and the Food System
Eric Liu: Reimagining Citizenship
Elijah Anderson, Ph.D. (Annual MLK address): The 'White Space,' the 'Black Space,' and the 'Cosmopolitan Canopy'
Michael Pollan (Annual Stander Symposium address): An Evening With Michael Pollan
2014-15: Perspectives on Peace
Nicholas Basbanes (Co-sponsored by the University Libraries): Common Bond: Thoughts on a World Awash in Paper, and the Fellowship of Books
Sherman Alexie (Part of the annual Native Peoples of the Americas Colloquium)
Sister Jamie T. Phelps, O.P., Ph.D. (Annual MLK address): The MLK Legacy and Its Contemporary Implications for the Social Justice Mission of the Local and Global Church
Sister Helen Prejean, C.S.J. (Part of the campuswide "Rites. Rights. Writes." initiative.): Dead Man Walking - The Journey Continues
Anna Deavere Smith (Annual Stander Symposium address): On Grace
2013-14: Human Rights: A Global Challenge
Jonathan Haidt (Co-sponsored by the Roesch Chair in the Social Sciences)
Alex de Waal (Co-sponsored by the University of Dayton Human Rights Program Conference: "The Social Practice of Human Rights: Charting the Frontiers of Research and Advocacy"
S. James Anaya, J.D. -- United Nations special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples
*Leymah Gbowee -- Noble Peace Laureate (Annual MLK address) *Canceled due to weather.*
Kryzstof Wodiczko -- The Unwar Memorial
Jody Williams -- Nobel Peace Laureate and chair of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines
President Mary Robinson -- First female president of Ireland and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (Annual Stander Symposium address)
2012-13: Education for Transformation
Dan Gediman -- Executive Director of This I Believe (Annual First Year Read address)
Nuremberg: Its Lesson For Today -- Film Screening and Panel Discussion (Co-sponsored by the Gutmann Lectureship in Judaic Studies with additional support by Marshall Ruchman)
Isabel Wilkerson -- The Warmth of Other Suns
Ana Castillo, Ph.D. -- "The Dream Act and Other Hopes"
Eboo Patel -- Founder and Executive Director of the Interfaith Youth Core (Annual MLK address)
Michelle Alexander, J.D. -- The New Jim Crow
Nicholas Kristof -- Co-Author of Half the Sky (Co-sponsored by UD's Social Justice Convention)
Sir Ken Robinson, Ph.D. -- "Out of Our Minds: Learning to Be Creative" (Annual Stander Symposium address); Sir Ken's video intro to his UD visit http://vimeo.com/user11042050/review/63280344/59d2f0e7c4
2011-12: Building Movements for Social Justice
Vandana Shiva -- The Future of Food
Ottmar Edenhofer -- To Whom Does the Atmosphere Belong? Linking Climate and Development Policy (*event canceled*)
Ebony Utley -- Social Movement Strategies and the Hip Hop Generation (Annual MLK address)
David Suzuki -- The Challenge of the 21st Century: Setting the Real Bottom Line (Annual Stander Symposium address)
Diversity Lecture Series Events
2010-2011
Roxana Saberi -- Courage Under Fire: Matters of Conscience and Faith in Iran
Geoffrey Canada -- Waiting for Superman: The Crisis Facing Youth - What Adults and Communities Can Do to Save Our Children****
Kareen Abdul-Jabbar -- An Evening with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: On the Shoulders of Giants
2009-2010
Juana Bordas
Hill Harper
Roland Martin****
Elie Wiesel
2008-09
Soledad O'Brien
Gideon Yago and Reza Aslan
Bishop Vashti McKenzie****
Sweet Honey In The Rock
2007-08
Maria Hinojosa
Juan Williams
Kirk Franklin****
Spike Lee
2006-07
Azar Nafisi
Joseph Shapiro
Johnnetta B. Cole****
Paul Rusesabagina
2005-06
Dr. Troy Duster
Bebe Moore Campbell
Clarence Page****
Nikki Giovanni
Winona LaDuke
Dr. Michael Eric Dyson
2004-05
Brian McNaught
Ambassador Andrew Young
Coretta Scott King
Dr. Roger Daniels
Distinguished Speaker Series Events
2009-2010
Jonathan Kozol -- The Shame of the Nation
2008-09
Barbara Ehrenreich -- Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America
2007-08
David Bornstein -- Author And Agent of Positive Change
Gail Dines -- Sex(ism), Love, and Identity in a Pornographic Culture
Fotis Kafatos -- From Crete to Africa: A Life In Science
Rajiv Chandrasekaran -- Iraq's Elusive Peace: A Reporter's View from Inside the Green Zone
2006-07
Bill McKibben ... Enough: Staying Human in an Engineered Age
Frosty WooldridgeMarci Hamilton -- God, Politics, and Power
Leonard Pitts Jr. -- The Home of the Brave
Asra Nomani -- Standing Alone: An American Woman’s Struggle for the Soul of Islam
2005-06
Hilfiker -- Urban Injustice
Arizmendi Arau -- A Day Without a Mexican
Tabin -- Why Your Heart is on the Left and not on the Right
Garrett -- Pandemic Security
LaDuke -- Recovering the Sacred: Religion, Faith, and the Land from a Native Woman's Perspective
2004-05
Eric Schlosser -- Fast Food Nation
Reverend Dr. Joseph C. Hough, Jr. -- Economic Disparity: A Challenge to the Abrahamic Faiths
E.O. Wilson, Ph.D. -- The Future of Life
Anne Garrels -- The War in Iraq as Witnessed and Reported by NPR Senior Correspondent Anne Garrels.
2003-04
Dr. David Courtwright -- The Worm Gets the Early Bird: The Wright Brothers, Glenn Curtiss, and the Risky Status Sphere of Exhibition Flying
Nadine Strossen -- Current Challenges to Civil Liberties
Manning Marable -- Durban to Dayton: Community Summit on Eliminating Racism
Dr. Art Levine -- Educational Reform and the University: How Should the University Community be Involved in K-12 Reform?
Marge Piercy -- Female, Left, Rooted in Nature and Proud: The Poetry of Marge Piercy
Michael Himes and Patrick Byrne -- Finding God in All Things: Teaching and Researching in a Catholic University
2002-03
Andre Dubus, III -- Writing Into the Unknown**
James Fallows -- War with Iraq: Why, How, and What it Means to You***
Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB -- Heart of Flesh
Dr. William Schulz -- I Never Want to Speak English Again: Human Rights in a Post-9/11 World
Dr. Molefi Asante -- Africana Studies: Past, Present, and Future Prospects
Dr. Gene Corley -- World Trade Center Attack: Why the Towers FellErnest Gaines -- Readings from A Lesson Before Dying
2001-02
Kathleen Norris -- Dakota and Beyond: What’s the Use of Memoir?**
Thomas Friedman -- Lexus and the Olive Tree Co-sponsored with Dayton Council on World Affairs
Edwin Moses -- An Evening with Edwin Moses***
Phil Donahue -- An Evening with Phil Donahue*
Kerry Kennedy Cuomo -- Women’s Rights: A Global Perspective
Elliott Aronson -- Could Columbine Have Been Avoided … You Bet Your Life
2000-01
Reverend Peter Gomes -- Transformed and Transforming Texts: The Bible and its Interpretation
Robert Mark -- Light, Wind, and Structure: The Technology of High Gothic Cathedrals
Parker Palmer -- The Recovery of Community in Higher Education: On Knowing, Teaching, and Learning
Adam Hochschild -- The Real Heart of Darkness: King Leopold’s Congo
Michael Berube -- Disability and the ‘Difference’ it Makes***
Stephanie Coontz -- Families in a New Millennium: Where Have We Come From? Where Are We Going?
Bruce Harris -- Innocence Lost: The Plight of Central America’s Street Children
+ Contribution to program ($5,000) from President Gerald Ford
* Writers’ Workshop Keynote
** Scholars Author
*** University Scholars Address
**** Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Address