Presidential Lecture Series
An evening with former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg
Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, Druley Performance Gymnasium, Athletics and Wellness Center, at Earlham College
Join us for an evening with Pete Buttigieg, who served from 2021 to 2025 as U.S. Secretary of Transportation, where he worked to launch over seventy thousand infrastructure projects across the country, improve transportation safety and technology, strengthen airline passenger protections, and address pandemic-related supply chain challenges. A Rhodes Scholar and Navy veteran, Buttigieg previously served two terms as mayor of South Bend, Indiana. He gained national attention during his historic presidential campaign and is now a leading voice on politics and public life.
This event is open to the public.
The Presidential Lecture Series aims to bring prominent speakers and change-makers to campus to address the important topics of the day, especially those focused on diversity, innovation, social justice and overcoming adversity.
Each Presidential lecture is funded by the Hawkins Just Society Lecture Fund, the Artist and Lecture Series and the President’s Discretionary Fund. The Hawkins Just Society Lecture Fund was established by Neil and Annmarie Hawkins and their daughter, Rachel, who graduated from Earlham in 2010. The fund is named in the honor of Neil’s parents, Kazue Fukada Hawkins and Julian Neil Hawkins, whose lives were forever changed by World War II and the Korean War. Its purpose is to bring to Earlham speakers or performers who are survivors of prejudice or whose particular message or performance addresses issues of societal injustice; who celebrate the indomitable spirit of those who advocate for fairness and justice; or who overcame such experiences to address them in broader society. Prejudice areas included in the series are race, religion, sexual orientation/gender status, and disability.
Past events
Artist and Lecture Series featuring David Brooks
David Brooks has been a leading voice in American journalism for more than two decades. A longtime op-ed columnist for the New York Times and a regular contributor to PBS NewsHour, he is widely known for his thoughtful analysis of politics, culture, and character. His most recent bestseller, How to Know a Person, explores the art of truly seeing others and building deeper human connections. He is the author of six books, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the recipient of more than 30 honorary degrees.
Presidential Lecture Series featuring Nikole Hannah-Jones
Nikole Hannah-Jones, award-winning New York Times correspondent and creator of “The 1619 Project,” visited Earlham College on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, for a moderated talk titled “A Conversation about Truth, History, and The 1619 Project.”
“The 1619 Project” examines the harsh history of the transatlantic slave trade and honors the contributions of Black people and culture to the founding, creation, and ongoing prosperity of the Untied States. The endeavor has spawned three books including a New York Times-bestselling adaptation of the original podcast, a picture book adaptation for kids titled “Born on the Water,” and an anthology of essays and poems that expands on The 1619 Project’s original content, titled “A New Origin Story.” Hulu recently picked up the series for a six-part documentary that covers six chapters of “The 1619 Project” book and topics such as capitalism, music and democracy.
Hannah-Jones has earned accolades such as the MacArthur Fellowship (“Genius Grant”), the Peabody Award, and the National Magazine Award (three times over). Prior to joining The New York Times, Hannah-Jones worked as an investigative reporter at ProPublica in New York City, where she spent three years chronicling the way official policy created and maintains segregation in housing and schools. She is also the Knight Chair of Race and Journalism at Howard University and the founder of the Center for Journalism & Democracy.
Presidential Lecture Series featuring Van Jones
The first Presidential Lecture Series hosted CNN commentator and Emmy award winner Van Jones.
Best known for his insightful election night analysis on CNN, Van Jones is a three-time New York Times-bestselling author, attorney, social entrepreneur, and an Emmy Award winner.
Jones has hosted or co-hosted the CNN shows Crossfire, The Messy Truth, The Van Jones Show, and The Redemption Project with Van Jones. He is the author of “The Green Collar Economy,” “Rebuild the Dream,” and “Beyond the Messy Truth.”
Jones has also created success having founded and led many thriving nonprofits including the REFORM Alliance, Color of Change, and the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights.
Van Jones recently spoke to Cal State students about the importance of character in political candidates in the school’s Behind the Ballot initiative.
