Cultural Events

Achieving Wellness, Strength and Resiliency

Welcome to Elmhurst University’s Spring 2024 speaker series.

As the University breaks ground this fall on a new health sciences building, this year’s Cultural Season theme is Built to Last: Achieving Wellness, Strength and Resiliency. It’s about seeking robust health—as individuals, as institutions and as a society—and learning how to maintain it.

All of our cultural events are open to the public. Tickets will be made available for purchase here, and when demand permits, they will also be available at the door. Events will be in person unless otherwise indicated. For lectures and most other events, admission is free for Elmhurst University students, faculty, staff and alumni.

Questions? Email marketing@elmhurst.edu.

VIEW OUR CAMPUS MAP


The Business Innovators: Henry Ford to Jeff Bezos

Douglas Brinkley

brinkley

Douglas Brinkley is a historian and best-selling author, acclaimed for his ability to take the historical lessons of our past and apply them to our present and future. As he points out in his epic book Wheels for the World: Henry Ford, His Company, and a Century of Progress, the history of corporations—and the relevance of that history today—are often neglected. In this illuminating lecture, Brinkley compares his research about Henry Ford, who shaped the 20th century, to the challenges and opportunities faced by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and other corporate leaders who will shape the 21st century. A book signing will follow the lecture.

The Rudolf G. Schade Lecture on History, Ethics and Law
Tuesday, April 16, 2024, 7:00 p.m.
Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel
Admission is $15; free for Elmhurst University students, faculty, staff and alumni

Get Tickets

Future-Proofing Against the Challenges of Today’s Workplace

Jessica Sim, Krista Warn

industrial organizational psychology master'skrista warnComing out of the pandemic, the state of the workplace has changed and continues to evolve. Organizations are facing myriad challenges, including talent shortages, leadership burnout and generational differences. Elmhurst University alumna Krista Warn, MIOP ’20, will talk about the realities of these challenges, drawing from her role as a leadership and organization development specialist at the management consulting firm ADVISA. The keynote will be followed by a Q&A facilitated by Jessica Sim, interim program director of the Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology program at Elmhurst University.

The Graduate Studies Lecture Series
Thursday, March 14, 7:00 p.m.
Frick Center, Blume Board Room (This lecture also will be livestreamed.)
Admission is free

Register for 3/14

The (Almost) Total Eclipse of April 8, 2024

Brian Wilhite 

brian wilhite headshotThe next total solar eclipse to visit North America will be on Monday, April 8. As tens of millions of Americans start thinking about how best to observe and appreciate the event, Brian Wilhite, associate professor of physics at Elmhurst University, will discuss the cause of eclipses, the history of human observation of eclipses, and the upcoming total eclipse—which will be almost total in Elmhurst.

Tuesday, April 2, 11:30 a.m.
Frick Center, Founders Lounge
Admission is free

Growing Up in Germany: A Survivor Remembers

Eric Blaustein

Eric BlausteinIn sharing their testimony, Holocaust survivors provide a human dimension to understanding history, enabling us to learn and never forget. Born in Germany, Eric Blaustein started school in 1933, the same year Adolf Hitler became chancellor. At 18, Blaustein was sent to the Buchenwald concentration camp, where he stayed until the Allied liberation in 1945. He went on to work as an engineer, get married and raise a family in the U.S. At Elmhurst University, Blaustein will reflect on his youth in Nazi Germany, surviving Buchenwald, and what it has meant for his life ever since.

The Holocaust Service of Remembrance and Lecture
Sunday, April 14, 7:00 p.m.
Founders Lounge, Frick Center
Admission is free

Register for 4/14

Interfaith Lecture: When Catholics Speak about Jews

John Pawlikowski

Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel on the campus of Elmhurst University in Elmhurst, IL.Fr. John Pawlikowski has been an active participant in the Christian-Jewish dialogue, as well as the wider interreligious dialogue, for nearly 50 years. A professor emeritus of social ethics and former director of the Catholic-Jewish Studies Program at Catholic Theological Union, he also served for six years as president of the International Council of Christians and Jews, and has served several terms on the board of the Parliament of the World’s Religions.

Interfaith Lecture
Monday, April 15, 4:00 p.m.
Frick Center, Blume Board Room
Admission is free

Teachers as Agents of Change: Creating an Action Research Network

Elmhurst U. School of Education alumni

Beverly Troiano, Elmhurst Universitysimeon stumme headshot Join us for a discussion on teacher research as a panel of Elmhurst U. alumni share their experience creating a network to support and sustain teacher research after graduation. School of Education faculty members Beverly Troiano, Ph.D., and Simeon Stumme, Ph.D., will introduce the Virtual Teacher Researcher Network and moderate a discussion by teachers, instructional coaches and administrators who study their own teaching and/or support teachers through action research.

The Graduate Studies Lecture Series
Thursday, April 18, 7:00 p.m.
Frick Center, Blume Board Room (This lecture also will be livestreamed.)
Admission is free

Register for 4/18

From Class to Clinical Practice: A Discussion with Speech-Language Pathology Alumni

Elmhurst U. Communication Sciences and Disorders program alumni

This panel discussion will feature alumni from Elmhurst University’s Communication Sciences and Disorders program who are working in a variety of clinical settings. The panelists will discuss their experiences transitioning from the classroom to the clinic, the challenges and rewards of their work, and how they have used their education to make a difference in the lives of their clients. This event is a great opportunity to learn about what it is like to work as a speech-language pathologist and to get advice from experienced professionals.

The Graduate Studies Lecture Series
Thursday, May 2, 7:00 p.m.
Frick Center, Alexander Room (This lecture also will be livestreamed.)
Admission is free

Register for 5/2

Leadership in Nursing: Voices from the Front Line

Becky Hulett, Laura Minarich

Becky Hulett, Elmhurst UniversityLaura MinarichNurses are uniquely positioned to influence patient care and help patients navigate healthcare’s complexities. Becky Hulett, director of the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs; and Laura Minarich, director of the Master’s Entry in Nursing Practice (MENP) program, will lead a panel discussion on how people can expand their health literacy, and current challenges in the nursing profession. Elmhurst University prepares nurses at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels to be leaders on the front lines of healthcare.

The Graduate Studies Lecture Series
Tuesday, Feb. 6, 7:00 p.m.
Frick Center, Blume Board Room (This lecture also will be livestreamed.)
Admission is free

Elizabeth Brandeis and the Radical Jewish Women that Influenced the Nation

Paul Raushenbush

heschel paulThe Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is a longtime leader in the interfaith movement working to protect an inclusive vision of religious freedom for people of all faiths and none. An ordained Baptist minister, Rev. Raushenbush has served as president and CEO of Interfaith Alliance since 2022. He also has been working on a biography about his grandmother, economist Elizabeth Brandeis, daughter of Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis.

Abraham Joshua Heschel Lecture
Tuesday, March 5, 7:00 p.m.
Frick Center, Founders Lounge
Admission is free

Dea Ex Machina: Using Feminine Images of God to Describe AI

Kristel Clayville

Staudt-Kristel-ClayvilleMuch of the language that is used to talk about AI draws on apocalyptic discourse as well as on images of God that are rooted in ideas of God’s omniscience. Rev. Dr. Kristel Clayville is a lecturer in ethics in the computer science department at University of Illinois Chicago, where she also teaches in the medical school. Her talk will center other aspects of God’s being from biblical texts and feminist theology, to offer ways to think about AI on different terms.

The Genevieve Staudt Intercultural Lecture
Wednesday, March 6, 4:00 p.m.
Frick Center, Founders Lounge
Admission is free

 

Past Events

The Public Intellectual Life of Elmhurst University

A panel of distinguished Elmhurst University faculty considers the elements—in particular, the University’s vibrant intercultural and religious lectures—that invigorate the campus’s public intellectual life. How does Elmhurst’s public intellectual life enhance the student experience and enrich the greater community, and how can we further its reach?

Faculty Panelists:

  • Josh VanArsdall, Associate Chair and Associate Professor, Psychology
  • Lawrence Brown, Assistant Professor, Business and Economics; Director, MBA Program
  • Mary Kay Mulvaney, Professor, English; Director, Honors Program
  • Theresa Robinson, Associate Professor, Education; Director, Noyce PRIDE STEM Teacher Scholars Program; Program Director, Secondary Education
  • Katrina Sifferd, Professor, Philosophy; Genevieve Staudt Endowed Chair

Moderators:

  • Bruce King, Vice President for Equity and Inclusion
  • Dean Pribbenow, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty

Hosted by the Office of the Chaplain

Tuesday, Sept. 12, 11:45 a.m.
Schaible Science Center, Illinois Hall
Admission is free

Chicagolandia: How Latinos Remade the Suburbs

Antonio Ramirez

Antonio Ramirez, Social justice advocate and associate professor of Latino history at Elgin Community CollegeAntonio Ramirez is a social justice advocate and associate professor of Latino history at Elgin Community College. At this year’s César Chavéz lecture at Elmhurst University, Ramirez will explain the Chicagolandia Oral History Project, which documents the lives, work and culture of Latinx suburban communities around Chicago while exploring the impact of those communities on the changing nature of Chicago and its suburbs.

The César Chavéz Intercultural Lecture
Wednesday, Sept. 13, 4:00 p.m.
Frick Center, Founders Lounge
Admission is free

The Role of Law in 2024

Nicholas Schroeck ’02

Nicholas Schroeck ’02, Associate dean of experiential learning and director of the Environmental Law Clinic at Detroit Mercy Law SchoolNicholas Schroeck ’02 is associate dean of experiential learning and director of the Environmental Law Clinic at Detroit Mercy Law School. Schroeck, who was an urban studies major at Elmhurst, and his law students will meet remotely with the Elmhurst audience for a spirited conversation about the foundations and function of the law and its role in society today.

Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2:00 p.m.
Frick Center, Melanchthon Room
Admission is free

Why Theology Matters

H. Scott Matheney

Scott Matheney, Elmhurst UniversityIn his 26th year as chaplain at Elmhurst University, the Rev. H. Scott Matheney will reflect on why theology continues to be relevant today, whether there is such a thing as healthy or destructive theology and how theology can help one find one’s voice amid all the noise.

 

Thursday, Sept. 28, 7:00 p.m.
The Chaplain’s Home, 255 Elm Park Ave., Elmhurst
Admission is free
Part of the Religious Literacy Project at Elmhurst University

Telling Our Stories: Moving Illinois Forward for LGBTQIA+ Justice

Michael Ziri

Michael Ziri, director of public policy at Equality IllinoisMichael Ziri is the director of public policy at Equality Illinois, the state’s civil rights organization for LGBTQIA+ people. At this year’s William R. Johnson Lecture at Elmhurst University, he will discuss legislative initiatives focused on equality in Illinois.

 

The William R. Johnson Intercultural Lecture
Wednesday, Oct. 11, 4:00 p.m.
Frick Center, Founders Lounge
Admission is free

Ethical Leadership: Why It Matters Now

Lawrence “LB” Brown

Lawrence Brown, Elmhurst UniversityOrganizations are facing myriad challenges—local, national and global. Whether it’s balancing a triple bottom line or navigating tumultuous sociopolitical dynamics, ethical leadership can play an important role in successfully negotiating those challenges. Elmhurst University MBA Program Director Lawrence “LB” Brown will host a conversation on building an ethical value system that can help drive employee engagement and build business success.

The Graduate Studies Lecture Series
Tuesday, Oct. 17, 7:00 p.m.
Frick Center, Blume Board Room
Admission is free
Celebrating 25 years of graduate studies at Elmhurst University

Everything is Interfaith at Elmhurst University

Mark Pettis

Rev. Mark Pettis, minister for ecumenical and interfaith relations for the United Church of ChristThe Rev. Mark Pettis is the minister for ecumenical and interfaith relations for the United Church of Christ. In this role, he travels around the nation and world building partnerships and bridges of hope to address hate. At Elmhurst, he will discuss his work, which informs the mission and core values of Elmhurst University.

Hosted by the Spiritual Life Council and the Office of the Chaplain

Monday, Oct. 23, 12:00 p.m.
The Chaplain’s Home, 255 Elm Park Ave., Elmhurst
Admission is free
Part of the Religious Literacy Project
For more information, contact the Office of the Chaplain

Three Girls from Bronzeville: An Author Visit with Dawn Turner

Dawn Turner, author of "Three Girls from Bronzeville: A Uniquely American Memoir of Race, Fate, and Sisterhood"Dawn Turner is the author of Three Girls from Bronzeville: A Uniquely American Memoir of Race, Fate, and Sisterhood, which depicts the coming of age—and divergent paths—of the author, her younger sister and her best friend in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood. An award-winning author and journalist, Turner will talk about her book and her work with Andrea Krieg, assistant professor of criminal justice at Elmhurst University. A book signing will follow the lecture.

Presented with the Elmhurst Public Library and Friends of the Elmhurst Public Library

One Book, One Elmhurst*
Thursday, Oct. 26, 7:00 p.m.
Frick Center, Founders Lounge
Admission is free but registration is required

*One Book, One Elmhurst is a partnership of the Elmhurst Public Library and Elmhurst University that encourages the entire community to read and engage with the same book title. Learn more at elmlib.org/OneBook.

How Today’s AI Will Impact Your Profession and How You Can Prepare

James Kulich

Jim Kulich, Elmhurst UniversityAs advances in artificial intelligence accelerate, the emphasis is quickly shifting from careers in AI to careers with AI. James Kulich, director of the Master in Data Science and Analytics program at Elmhurst University, will lead a panel of experts in a discussion about the impacts of AI on your professional world, whatever it might be, and ways to tap into its potential.

The Graduate Studies Lecture Series
Thursday, Nov. 2, 7:00 p.m.
Frick Center, Blume Board Room
Admission is free
Celebrating 25 years of graduate studies at Elmhurst University

Mental Health Matters: A Conversation
with Karamo

Karamo Brown, culture expert on Netflix’s Emmy-nominated hit series "Queer Eye"As the culture expert on Netflix’s Emmy-nominated hit series Queer Eye, and host of a nationally syndicated talk show, Karamo is known for his ease in relating to people and helping them discover strength in their identities. Drawing from his own life experience and work in social services, Karamo will talk about the mental health journey, especially for young people, in conversation with Lauren Petty, medical and health reporter for NBC-Chicago Channel 5.

The 2023 Roland Quest Lecture
Tuesday, Nov. 14, 7:00 p.m.
Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel
Admission is $15; free for Elmhurst University students, faculty, staff and alumni

Climate Change and Public Policy: Lessons from the Netherlands

Arthur Petersen

Arthur PetersenArthur Petersen is a professor of science, technology and public policy at University College London, and is editor-in-chief of Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science. He joined University College London after more than 13 years’ work as a scientific adviser on environment and infrastructure policy for the Dutch government.


Wednesday, Nov. 15, 4:00 p.m.

Schaible Science Center, Illinois Hall
Admission is free

Connect with #elmhurstu