From former presidents to Supreme Court Justices, world-renowned performers to social activists, the University of Mount Union is committed to enhancing the educational experience by bringing top-notch experts to campus. Each semester, Mount Union is proud to sponsor a lecture series made up of several lectureships and fine arts events for students, faculty and community members to enjoy.

The Mount Union Lecture Series is made up of a number of endowed lectureships, special event keynote speakers, convocations, music recitals, art exhibits and theatrical performances held on campus. These events provide learning across disciplines, bringing new perspectives and ideas to campus from places throughout the world. All lectures are free and open to the public. 

During the 2018-2019 Academic Year, the Kershaw Lecture will be presented by Alliance native, Perry King, actor and director. King will screen his film, The Divide, a moving story about the ravages of dementia and the healing power of the family set against the backdrop of drought-plagued northern California in 1976. The Divide has been screened at numerous film festivals where it has won awards for Best Western (Los Angeles Film Awards), Best Dramatic Feature (Arizona Film Festival), and others.

King will also spend time with Theatre and Communication students to discuss the collaborative nature of the performing arts. The lecture will be held September 27 at 7 p.m. in Brush Performance Hall, Giese Center for the Performing Arts.

The Eckler Lecture will feature poet Ocean Yuong, winner of the T.S. Eliot Award for his critically acclaimed poetry collection, Night Sky With Exit Wounds. Vuong, who immigrated with his family from Vietnam when he was two-years-old and was named Ocean by his mother because the Ocean touches so many countries including the US and Vietnam, will read and discuss his works. The lecture will be held on October 17 at 7 p.m. in the Brush Performance Hall, Giese Center for the Performing Arts. 

Bassam Shakhashiri, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, will present the Gallaher Lecture. He will deliver a public lecture entitled, Science is Fun and the Joy of Learning. Shakhashiri encourages both children and adults to attend this talk where he will use demonstrations to show how science can be communicated to all segments of our society. The lecture is scheduled for November 6 at 7 p.m. in Brush Performance Hall, Giese Center for the Performing Arts.

The Faculty Lecture will be presented by Mount Union’s Dr. Kevin Meyer. Meyer, associate professor of psychology, neuroscience, and human development, will be presenting, “Humor, Seriously: Exploring the Connections between Humor and Well-being.” Meyer will discuss how research in the field of humor studies enhances our understanding of how a more rigorous and positive sense of personal well-being is developed and nurtured. The lecture will be presented on February 13, 2019 at 7 p.m. in Presser Recital Hall, Cope Music Hall. 

For more information on the Lecture Series, visit mountunion.edu/lecture-series.