University Park

Forum launches 2010-11 speaker series on Sept. 3

University Park, Pa. -- The Penn State Forum Speaker Series is bringing a diverse lineup of speakers to the University Park campus this fall. Those attending will get to hear from a professor of American literature, a national investigative reporter, a singer/songwriter, a counterterrorism professional and others during the 2010-11 academic year.

The Forum series is modeled after the National Press Club Speaker Series, which includes a presentation by an invited speaker, followed by audience questions. The luncheons are held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Stephen Lewis, co-director of AIDS-Free World, leads off the series on Sept. 3. Lewis will speak on "A Decidedly Sour View of the Progress of the Millennium Development Goals" in the President's Hall at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel. AIDS-Free World is an international advocacy organization that works to promote more urgent and more effective global responses to HIV/AIDS.

Lewis has held several senior roles at the United Nations (UN) over the past two decades. He was the UN secretary-general's special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa from June 2001 until the end of 2006. From 1995 to 1999, Lewis was deputy executive director of UNICEF. From 1984 through 1988, he was Canada's ambassador to the United Nations.

In addition to his work with AIDS-Free World, Lewis is a professor in global health, faculty of social sciences at McMaster University. He serves as a member of the board of directors of the Clinton Health Access Initiative and of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. Lewis also is chair of the board of the Stephen Lewis Foundation in Canada. He holds 30 honorary degrees from Canadian universities and is a Companion of the Order of Canada, Canada's highest honor for lifetime achievement. In 2007, the Kingdom of Lesotho invested Lewis as Knight Commander of the Most Dignified Order of Moshoeshoe. The order, named for the founder of Lesotho, is that country's highest honor.

Other speakers in the series and their topics are:

-- Michael Oriard, distinguished professor of American literature and culture at Oregon State, “The Big Game, or Mardi Gras Every Saturday in the Fall” on Friday, Sept. 24, in Alumni Hall, HUB-Robeson Center. Lunch for this event will be served using disposable plates, utensils and cups.

-- Brian Ross, chief investigative correspondent, ABC News, “Scams, Scandals and Scoundrels” on Friday, Oct. 8, in President’s Hall at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel.

-- Anthony D. Cortese, president of Second Nature, “The Critical Role of Higher Education in Creating a Healthy, Just, Secure and Sustainable Society” on Thursday, Oct. 21, in Heritage Hall, HUB-Robeson Center. Lunch for this event will be served using disposable plates, utensils and cups. Due to the smaller venue, only 230 tickets will be sold for this event.

-- Jill Jayne, singer/songwriter, “Nutrition Education through Entertainment” on Friday, Nov. 19, in President’s Hall at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel.

-- Penn State Laureate Robin Becker, “Works and Days: A Poetry Reading” on Friday, Jan. 14, in President’s Hall at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel.

-- James W. McJunkin, assistant director of the FBI Counterterrorism Division National Security Branch, “Counterterrorism Overview” on Friday, Feb. 25, in President’s Hall at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel.

-- Hal F. Rosenbluth, Walgreens senior vice president and president of Walgreens Health and Wellness Division, “Caring to Compete: An Inside Look at how Companies that Focus on their People First, not their Customers, Provide the Best Service and the Resultant Profits” on Wednesday, March 2, in President’s Hall at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel.

-- Ed Montgomery, director of recovery and executive director of White House Council for Auto Communities and Workers, “Stepping Back from the Abyss: Auto Companies and Communities” on Thursday, April 7, in Alumni Hall, HUB-Robeson Center.

Co-sponsored by the Penn State Bookstore and the offices of the Executive Vice President and Provost and the Senior Vice President for Finance and Business, the Penn State Forum Speaker Series is open to the general public. Tickets for the Penn State Forum are $18. To purchase tickets for any or all of these events, contact the ID+ Office, located at 103 HUB-Robeson Building, University Park, call (814) 865-7590, or visit http://www.idcard.psu.edu/forums/ online for more information.

To suggest future Penn State Forum speakers, contact Karin Foley, chair of the forum committee, at kef3@psu.edu, or coordinator Carol Griffin at cjg3@psu.edu.

Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated January 9, 2015

Contacts