University Lecture Series Revival Begins with Critically Acclaimed Author, Poet
Carnegie Mellon University’s re-envisioned University Lecture Series kicks off Monday, Sept. 17 with renowned author, poet and activist Nikki Giovanni. Her talk, “Dying by Ignorance, Living by Words, Creating by Grace,” will begin at 4:30 p.m. in Simmons Auditorium in the new David A. Tepper Quadrangle.
Giovanni, a distinguished professor of English at Virginia Tech, will share her eloquent words of wisdom, spanning the civil rights movement, politics, love and art. She will discuss the ideals of equality, and present experiences and thoughtful poetry that embody her activism and passion for the arts within the framework of current events and news cycles.
The recipient of numerous awards and honors, including Woman of the Year by Mademoiselle Magazine, Ladies’ Home Journal and Ebony Magazine, Giovanni is the first speaker in Carnegie Mellon’s ULS revival.
“During the 2017-18 academic year, the ULS Committee invited students, faculty and staff to nominate inspiring and provocative speakers to bring to campus,” said Amy Burkert, vice provost for education. “The committee also hosted roundtable discussions to re-envision the series and address ways to improve student engagement with conversations that matter to you, to the nation and the world.”
Burkert said members of the campus community can continue to suggest speakers, performers and topics for this year and beyond through a rolling nomination process. She said individuals can be thought leaders in academic fields, industry icons, visionary artists or voices on prominent topics of concern to the university community and society at large.
“The ULS is a critical part of an immersive CMU experience that extends beyond the classroom, lab or studio,” Burkert said.
In addition to hosting guest lectures, the ULS partners with research centers and academic units across campus to present policy, research and academic talks throughout the year. Departments, student groups and centers are encouraged to apply for ULS co-sponsorship to help bring speakers to campus.
Following Giovanni’s talk, the ULS is partnering with the Thomas Kerr Lecture Series to present Cass Sunstein, the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard Law School, on Sept. 27. His talk is titled “Divided Democracy in the Age of Social Media.”
The next featured ULS lecture is Nov. 29, when the series hosts roboticist Daniela Rus, the Andrew and Erna Viterbi Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and director of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at MIT.
Also scheduled this fall:
Oct. 12
Pioneering orthopedist and alumnus Anthony DiGioia, co-sponsored by Student Affairs
Oct. 30
Alan Mallach, city planner and senior fellow at the Center for Community Progress, co-sponsored by the Remaking Cities Institute and the School of Architecture
Nov. 2
Hugh Dubberly, technology designer and principal of Dubberly Design Office, co-sponsored by the Human-Computer Interaction Institute
Nov. 16
Katherine Baicker, dean and the Emmett Dedmon Professor at Harris Public Policy at the University of Chicago, co-sponsored by Heinz College
Nov. 29 - ULS Featured Lecture
Roboticist Daniela Rus, the Andrew and Erna Viterbi Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and director of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at MIT
For more information on the ULS, visit https://www.cmu.edu/uls/.