Academics

Penn State Forum series announces 2019-20 speaker lineup

The highly acclaimed series will return Sept. 25. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

Editor's note: The March 25 event with Megan Devine has been rescheduled for Nov. 30.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Forum Speaker Series committee has announced the lineup for the coming year. The 2019-20 speakers include a grief consultant, a social entrepreneur, a performing artist and educator, a creative director, the CEO of the Pittsburgh Foundation, a Wild Nature Institute scientist and the Penn State Laureate.

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. in venues on the University Park campus.

The 2019-20 speakers include:

Sept. 25 — Molly Melching, founder and creative director of Tostan, will present, "The Hidden Heart of Human Rights Transformation,” in the Ballroom of the Nittany Lion Inn.

Oct. 15 — Jessica Weiner, social entrepreneur, change agent and CEO of Talk to Jess, LLC, will present, "Generational and Cultural Differences in Branding and Consumer Behavior,” in the President's Hall of The Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center. This event also is the 2019-20 AAUW State College Centennial Lecture.

Nov. 5 Lacresha Berry, performing artist and educator, will present, "Finding your lane. A crash course on believing in yourself and the work you create,” in the President's Hall of The Penn Stater. This event also is the 2019-20 John W. Oswald Lecture.

Dec. 4 — Maxwell King, CEO of the Pittsburgh Foundation, will present, "The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers,” in the President's Hall of The Penn Stater.

Feb. 17, 2020 William Doan, Penn State professor of theatre, past president of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education, fellow in the College of Fellows of The American Theatre, and the 2019-20 Penn State Laureate, will present, "The Anxiety Project: An Artist's Look at Mental Health and Wellness,” in the President's Hall of The Penn Stater.

March 25, 2020 — Megan Devine, author, speaker, grief consultant, and founder of Refuge in Grief, will present, "It's Okay You're Not Okay,” in the Ballroom of the Nittany Lion Inn. This event has been rescheduled for Nov. 30.

April 22, 2020 — Derek Lee, principal scientist at the Wild Nature Institute and associate research professor of biology at Penn State, will present, "True Tall Tales from Tanzania: Giraffe Science and Reasons for Hope in the Biodiversity and Climate Crisis,” in the Ballroom of the Nittany Lion Inn.

The Penn State Forum Speaker Series is open to the general public. Tickets for the Penn State Forum are $25 and include a buffet lunch. Tickets may be purchased through the id+ office in 103 HUB-Robeson Center, or by calling 814-865-7590 or emailing idcard@psu.edu. For more information, visit http://sites.psu.edu/forum/.

Last Updated March 13, 2020