Past Seasons
2008–2009
John L. Esposito
A well-known promoter of strong ties between Muslims and Christians, John Esposito has urged the Vatican to make greater efforts to encourage such ties. Lecture: Sept. 24
Eugene Robinson
Eugene Robinson uses his column in The Washington Post to pick American society apart and then put it back together again in unexpected, and revelatory, new ways. Lecture: Oct. 21
David Baldacci
David Baldacci’s novels, populated with Secret Service agents, CIA sharpshooters, and less-than-ethical presidents, excite the imagination of readers everywhere. Lecture: Nov. 14
Hal Holbrook
Hal Holbrook is an Emmy and Tony Award-winning actor who is one of the great craftsmen of stage and screen. Lecture: Jan. 29
A. J. Jacobs
A. J. Jacobs sees his life as a series of experiments in which he immerses himself in a project or lifestyle, for better or worse, then writes about what he learned. Lecture: March 26
Sandra Day O’Connor
The first woman to serve on the Supreme Court, Sandra Day O’Connor served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1981 until her retirement from the bench in 2006. Lecture: April 23
2007–2008
Cheech Marin
Best known as one half of the hilarious counter-culture, no-holds-barred duo of “Cheech and Chong,” Cheech Marin is a paradox in the world of entertainment. Lecture: Sept. 25
Carl Bernstein
In the early 1970s, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward broke the Watergate story for The Washington Post and set the standard for modern investigative reporting. Lecture: Oct. 10
Samantha Power
Human rights scholar and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Samantha Power is the Anna Lindh Professor of Practice of Global Leadership and Public Policy at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Lecture: Nov. 13
Henry Louis Gates Jr.
One of the United States’ most influential cultural critics, Henry Louis Gates Jr. is both an eloquent commentator and formidable intellectual force on multicultural and African American issues. Lecture: Feb. 7
Jerry Greenfield
Jerry Greenfield wanted to be a doctor. Ben Cohen wanted to be a potter. Today, Greenfield and Cohen’s names are synonymous with socially responsible business and all-natural ice cream in innovative flavors through Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Inc. Lecture: March 5
Daniel Glaser
Daniel Glaser is the primary U.S. Treasury official for the development and coordination of international anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing policy. Lecture: March 25
2006–2007
Azar Nafisi
Azar Nafisi is the author of the national bestseller Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books, which offers a compassionate and often harrowing portrait of the Islamic revolution in Iran and how it affected one university professor and her students. Lecture: Sept. 13
Seymour Hersh
Seymour Hersh is one of America’s finest investigative journalists, uncovering some of the most important news stories of our times. He reveals what happens when governments seek to operate unhindered by the checks and balances of our constitutional system. Lecture: Oct. 17
Alfre Woodard
Committed to political activism in the United States and Africa, Alfre Woodard was among artists and activists who, in 1989, founded Artists for a New South Africa, a nonprofit organization dedicated to democracy and equality in South Africa and civil rights in the United States. Lecture: Nov. 13
Bobby Moresco
Hollywood screenwriter Bobby Moresco has achieved Academy Award-winning successes as the co-writer and producer of Crash and co-producer of Million Dollar Baby. Lecture: Feb. 19
Eric Schlosser
Author of the national bestsellers Fast Food Nation and Reefer Madness, Eric Schlosser investigates hidden realms of American business and culture and their far-reaching effects on our lives. He challenges people to think about critical issues, including food safety, workers’ rights, the war on drugs, our prison system, marketing to children, and the obesity epidemic. Lecture: March 13
Gail Sheehy
Called “America’s emotional tour guide” by The New York Times, Gail Sheehy offers dynamic programs based on her groundbreaking investigations and observations of men and women within different phases of their lives. Lecture: April 16
2005–2006
Mitch Albom
In September 2003, Mitch Albom released his first novel, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, which debuted at No. 1 on The New York Times bestsellers list and sold nearly five million copies in its first year. Albom is a columnist for the Detroit Free Press and hosts the The Mitch Albom Show, a nationally syndicated radio program. Lecture: Sept. 9
Boots Randolph
Saxophonist Boots Randolph has been bringing audiences to their feet since the early ’60s, when his signature song, “Yakety Sax,” first hit the airwaves. Randolph was the first to play sax on recordings with Elvis, and he also played on Roy Orbison’s “Oh, Pretty Woman,” Al Hirt’s “Java,” REO Speedwagon’s “Little Queenie,” and Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ ’Round the Christmas Tree.” He has over 40 albums to his credit on the Monument label. Lecture: Oct. 4
Jean Chatzky
Jean Chatzky is the financial editor for NBC’s Today Show and the host of a series of money minutes, Talking Money with Jean Chatzky, on CNBC. She is the author of four books on personal finance, including her latest, Pay It Down! From Debt to Wealth on $10 a Day. Chatzky was named an editor-at-large of Money in February 1998. Lecture: Nov. 8
Tavis Smiley
With his late-night television talk show, Tavis Smiley on PBS, and his radio show The Tavis Smiley Show on NPR, Tavis Smiley is the first American to simultaneously host signature talk shows on both PBS and National Public Radio. Smiley also offers political commentary twice weekly on the Tom Joyner Morning Show. In addition, he has authored eight books and has his own imprint (Smiley Books) with Hay House. Lecture: Feb. 17
Luis Rodriguez
Luis Rodriguez is the author of several collections of poetry that have won a Poetry Center Book Award, a PEN/Josephine Miles Literary Award, and ForeWord magazine’s Silver Book Award, among others. His books for children are published in both English and Spanish. His work Always Running earned a Carl Sandburg Literary Award and was designated a New York Times Notable Book. Lecture: March 2
Liz Murray
Liz Murray’s life is a triumph over adversity. By the time Murray was 15, her mom had died, and she was homeless. Determined to take charge of her life, she finished high school in just two years while camping out in New York City parks and subway stations. Lifetime Television produced a movie about Murray’s life entitled From Homeless to Harvard. Lecture: April 10
2004–2005
The Capitol Steps
The Capitol Steps political comedy troupe began in 1981 at a Christmas party in the office of former Senator Charles Percy. Like most things in Congress, they never knew when to stop. Over the past 20 years, the Capitol Steps have recorded 23 albums and appeared on Good Morning America, the Today Show, 20/20, Entertainment Tonight, Nightline, CNN’s Inside Politics, and dozens of times on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered. Lecture: Sept. 14
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones is known for his powerful and critically acclaimed stage and screen performances. He won two Tony Awards—one for his work in Great White Hope and the other for Fences. His appearance in the critically acclaimed CBS series Under One Roof and in NBC’s sitcom Frasier brought Jones Emmy nominations. Lecture: Nov. 9
Deepak Chopra
Acknowledged as one of the world’s greatest leaders in the field of mind-body medicine, Deepak Chopra continues to transform our understanding of the meaning of health. Through his creation of The Chopra Center for Well Being in California in 1995, Chopra’s work is changing how the world views physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social wellness. Lecture: Dec. 10
Nikki Giovanni
Over the past 25 years, Nikki Giovanni’s outspokenness, in her writing and in person, has made her one of the most widely read American poets. She prides herself on being “a black American, a daughter, a mother, a professor of English.” Lecture: Feb. 2
David Brooks
David Brooks’s goal as a commentator is to make conservatism attractive to both the East and West Coasts. He has a gift for bringing audiences face to face with the spirit of our times with humor, insights, and quiet passion. He is a keen observer of the American way of life and a savvy analyst of present-day politics and foreign affairs. For some time a frequent contributor to The New York Times, he now writes a regular biweekly op-ed column for the newspaper. Lecture: March 17
Janie Fricke
Janie Fricke has gone from Indiana farm girl to internationally acclaimed recording artist. She was born in South Whitley, Indiana, and raised on a farm where her father taught her how to play guitar. From county fairs to corporate trade shows, live concerts, in recording studios, or before millions on television, Fricke's voice and personality have captivated audiences around the world. Lecture: April 13
2003–2004
P. J. O’Rourke
With more than a million words of trenchant journalism under his byline and more citations in The Penguin Dictionary of Humorous Quotations than any other living writer, P. J. O’Rourke has become one of American’s favorite political satirists. Lecture: Sept. 8
Ben Vereen
A consummate entertainer who left his mark on the Broadway stage, concert circuit, in film and on television, Ben Vereen’s enduring success results from his unique ability to blend rare talent, artistic mastery, and discipline with a strong sense of social consciousness. Lecture: Oct. 2
Winona LaDuke
An internationally respected Native American and environmental activist and author, Winona LaDuke fights for environmental justice issues in native America. She focuses particularly on energy policy, including nuclear waste, dam projects, coal strip mining, and alternative energy. Lecture: Nov. 18
B. D. Wong
Known across generations as the compassionate and tireless Father Ray Mukada from the HBO series Oz, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Huang on NBC’s Law and Order: SUV, and as the voice of Captain Li Shang in Disney’s Mulan, B. D. Wong tells how his career choice has forced him to not only accept but embrace his racial identify. Lecture: Feb. 9
Richard Rodriguez
One of America’s most respected essayists and master of the “personal essay,” Richard Rodriguez writes about the intersection of his personal life with some of the great vexing issues of America, including bilingual education, affirmative action, and understanding the role of race in America’s past and future. Lecture: March 31
Joyce Carol Oates
Joyce Carol Oates is one of America’s most versatile, serious writers and the author of a number of distinguished books in several genres. Often her vision is that of a highly complex America populated with presumably ordinary families who experience common yet intense emotions and relationships and who frequently encounter violence. Lecture: April 12
2002–2003
Charlie Trotter
Charlie Trotter started cooking professionally in 1982. His adept understanding of cultural influences and flavors from around the world are intuitively and spontaneously translated into his own highly original cuisine. Lecture: Sept. 4
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has earned a reputation as a resolute defender of the environment, is chief prosecuting attorney for the Hudson Riverkeeper and the senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council. Lecture: Oct. 9
Barbara Buhler Lynes
Barbara Buhler Lynes is the curator of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and author of the Georgia O’Keeffe: Catalogue raisonné. Lecture: Nov. 21
Barbara Ehrenreich
A respected and original social commentator, author, and journalist, Barbara Ehrenreich has been a contributing writer for Time magazine since 1990. Her articles, reviews, essays, and humor have appeared in range of publications. Lecture: Feb. 27
Henry Cisneros
Henry Cisneros became the first Hispanic-American mayor of a major U.S. city—San Antonio, Texas—in 1981. Lecture: March 13
2001–2002
Rulon Gardner
An athlete with a history of notable but obscure success, Rulon Gardner became a household name—and the pride of a nation—when he took the Olympic gold medal for wresting in Sydney in 2000. Lecture: Sept. 11
Cornel West
One of the first black scholars at Harvard University to receive the academic title of professor, the school’s highest faculty post, Cornel West teaches Afro-American studies and philosophy of religion. Lecture: Oct. 25
John Updike
The author of the Rabbit series, John Updike has two Pulitzer Prizes, and is only the third American to be so honored. His other works include novels, volumes of poetry, and short-story collections. Lecture: Nov. 28
Dale Chihuly
Dale Chihuly has led the avant-garde in the development of glassblowing as a studio art and the broader contemporary interest in glass as an expressive medium. His work is included in more than 190 museum collections worldwise. Lecture: Jan. 31
Yevgeny Yevtushenko
Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko gained international fame in 1961 with his poem “Babi Yar” in which he denounced Nazi and Russian anti-Semitism. His demands for greater artistic freedom and his attacks on Stalinism and bureaucracy in the late 1950s and 1960s made him a leader of Soviet youth. Lecture: March 22
Christy Haubegger
The visionary founder of Latina, the first bilingual magazine that targeted exclusively Hispanic women in the United States, Christy Haubegger is a dynamic personality breaking down barriers for Hispanics in business and mainstream media. Lecture: April 17
2000–2001
Jim Hightower
Hightower hosts a daily radio talk show and produces radio commentaries heard on 70 stations across the United States. He publishes daily commentaries on his Web site and coedits The Hightower Lowdown, a monthly newsletter. Lecture: Sept. 19
Mitzi Gaynor
Gaynor’s vibrant personality and singing, dancing, and acting talents have made her a star of motion pictures, television, the theatrical stage, Las Vegas, and concerts. She is best known for her role as Ensign Nellie Forbush in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific. Lecture: Oct. 10
David S. Broder
Broder, a national political correspondent reporting the political scene for The Washington Post, writes a biweekly column that covers an even broader aspect of American political life. Broder is known for his grassroots analysis of election campaigns. Lecture: Nov. 13
Brent Staples
In celebration of Black History Month, IPFW proudly presents author and journalist Brent Staples, who writes on education, politics, and culture for the New York Times editorial board. Lecture: Feb. 8
Wendy Wasserstein
Seen by many as the voice of a generation, playwright Wendy Wasserstein used her art to chronicle the staggering social changes that have transformed modern life. Lecture: March 19
Jules Feiffer
Pultitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Jules Feiffer, a humorist who mixes such unlikely subjects as nuclear destruction and sexual relationships, has been called a satirist whose strong point is compassion. Lecture: April 26
1999–2000
Beverly Sills
Regarded as one of the most beloved and respected American opera sopranos, Beverly Sills was a member of the New York Opera from 1955 to 1980 and performed in leading opera houses around the world. Lecture: Sept. 9
Bianca Jagger
Actress, human rights activist, and environmentalist Bianca Jagger’s early efforts focused on earthquake victims, homeless people, and refugees. She frequently speaks before U. S. Congress, supporting such organizations as Amnesty International and Save the Children. Lecture: Oct. 6
Edward Albee
Acclaimed as America’s most important dramatist still writing, Edward Albee is most famous for his Tony Award-winning play Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? His award-winning plays are repeatedly produced in theatres throughout the world. Lecture: Nov. 16
Alan Page
A Minnesota Supreme Court Justice and ardent defender of equal education for all children, Alan Page established the Page Foundation that has produced more than 180 scholarships for underserved youth. He was a member of the famed “Purple People Eaters”, was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Lecture: Feb. 10
Eleanor Clift
A key member of the Newsweek political team, Eleanor Clift reported regularly on the Washington power structure and, as contributing editor, explored the White House and Congress. Clift became the deputy Washington bureau chief in 1992 in 1992 and later became a political analyst for the Fox News Network. Lecture: March 21
Dinesh D’Souza and Nadine Strossen
Dinesh D’Souza, renowned author and speaker, and senior analyst at the White House during the Reagan administration, debates Affirmative Action with Nadine Strossen, the first female president of the American Civil Liberties Union, who has written, lectured, and practiced extensively in constitutional law, civil liberties and international human rights. Lecture: April 11
1998–1999
Clarence Page
A Pulitzer Prize-winning commentator and nationally syndicated columnist, Clarence Page is passionate about how race continues to divide Americans. He makes no apologies for attacking the current tend of racial denial. Lecture: Sept. 9
Judy Chicago
An artist, writer, feminist, and intellectual, Judy Chicago makes it her mission to translate women’s life experiences into art. She ignites controversy as she confronts cultural issues through her art work. Lecture: Oct. 19
Joe Clark
The former high school principal who expelled 300 students in a single day for fighting, vandalism, drug possession, profanity, and abusing teachers, Joe Clark is remembered as “the principal with a baseball bat in his hand.” Lecture: Nov. 10
Amy Hempel
A writer of funny, lyrical short stories, Amy Hempel features dogs and other furry creatures that make her one of the country’s top short-fiction writers. Lecture: Feb. 23
William Kristol
An authority on national politics and an ABC news analyst and weekly contributor to This Week with Sam Donaldson and Cokie Roberts, William Kristol’s writings about political philosophy, American political thought, and public policy have appeared in both popular and academic journals. Lecture: April 20
1997–1998
Molly Ivins
An outspoken columnist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and a commentator on 60 Minutes, Molly Ivans amused audiences with her political humor and wit. Her book, Molly Ivins Can’t Say That, Can She? is a collection of essays on politics and journalism. Lecture: Sept. 17
Edward James Olmos
A successful actor and an effective activist, Edward James Olmos is best known for his roles on Miami Vice and the film Stand and Deliver. Lecture: Oct. 3
Joy Harjo
An author, poet, musician, and enrolled member of the Muscogee tribe, Joy Harjo combines elements of storytelling, prayer, and song to create a unique voice. Harjo was called one of the most powerful Native American voices of her generation. Lecture: Nov. 10
Douglas L. Wilder
Douglas Wilder was the first-elected black governor in U. S. history. He was elected in Virginia, the heart of the Confederacy during the Civil War. Lecture: Feb. 19
Phyllis Schlafly and Sarah Weddington
Phyllis Schlafly, a conservative political activist and lawyer, engages in a gender issue debate with Sarah Weddington, an attorney and women’s advocate famous for representing the winning side of Roe v. Wade. Lecture: March 23
Jean-Michel Cousteau
The son of environmentalist and ocean pioneer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Jean-Michel Cousteau shares his vision and great love and concern for the planet through his impassioned and eloquent lectures on proactive environmental preservation and unique educational field study programs. Lecture: April 6
1996–1997
James R. Hansen, Hans Mark, and Mark N. Brown
James R. Hansen, Hans Mark, and Mark N. Brown presented a panel discussion on NASA’s past, present, and future. Hansen is a specialist in the history of technology, Mark is the former deputy administrator of NASA, and Brown is the director of aerospace operations for Decision Technologies Division and former NASA astronaut. Lecture: Sept. 19
Hazel R. O’Leary
The U. S. Secretary of Energy during the Clinton administration, Hazel O’Leary directed the clean-up of the nation’s nulcear weapons plants—one of the largest environmental programs in the world. Lecture: Oct. 6
Betty Friedan
The foremost spokesperson for women’s rights, Betty Friedan founded the National Organization for Women (NOW). Her book, The Feminine Mystique, is regarded as the catalyst of the women’s movement. Lecture: Nov. 14
Jeannetta B. Cole
Jeannetta Cole was the first African-American woman to head the historically black college for women: Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. She was a leading educator, anthropologist, and advocate for people of color and women everywhere. Lecture: Feb. 24
Lynne V. Cheney
The former chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities, CNN’s Sunday Crossfire host Lynne Cheney is an outspoken cultural critic with a firm conviction to improve our schools. Lecture: March 20
Wolf Blitzer
The former CNN’s senior White House correspondent and military affairs correspondent at the Pentagon, Wolf Blitzer has reported on a wide range of major breaking stories around the world during his 30 years in journalism. Lecture: April 10
1995–1996
Ralph Nader
Citizen action group activist and a consumer advocate Ralph Nader launched the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the meat and poultry inspection laws. He points to the Freedom of Information Act of 1974 as one of his proudest achievements. Lecture: Sept. 18
Robert Heilbroner
Economist and Emeritus Norman Thomas Professor of Economics at the New School for Social Research, Robert Heilbroner is the author of 21st Century Capitalism and The Debt and the Deficity. These and many of his other works are used extensively in classrooms in the United States and Europe. Lecture: Oct. 18
Harry Wu
After respected human rights campaigner Harry Wu spent 19 years as a political prisoner in the Chinese government’s “Bamboo Gulag,” he repeatedly risked his life by returning to China to document slavery and human rights abuse. Lecture: Feb. 15
Studs Terkel
Stage, radio, film actor, television personality, and author of nonfiction books, Studs Terkel began hosting The Studs Terkel Show in 1954. His radio work earned him the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award for excellence in broadcasting. Lecture: Nov. 28
Daniel J. Boorstin
Librarian of Congress Emeritus Daniel Boorstin served as director of the Library of Congress from 1975 to 87, director of the National Museum of American History, and the senior historian at the Smithsonian Institution. He was the first incumbent of a chair in American history at the Sorbonne and at Cambridge University, England. Lecture: March 27
Dick Gregory
Comedian, author, nutritionist, businessman, recording artist, actor, philosopher, antidrug crusader, and activist Dick Gregory was most famous for his hunger strikes and fights for social change. Lecture: April 22