President's Speaker Series
The President's Speaker Series welcomes distinguished scholars and thought leaders
representing diverse points of view to examine topics and issues facing our communities
and the world today. Driven by a desire to connect deeply with our community and inspire
meaningful dialogue in the pursuit of truth, the series provides opportunities to
cultivate an engaged and impassioned collective through civil discourse.
Upcoming Event
President's Speaker Series:
A Conversation with Olympic Gold Medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
8 PM PST
Amphitheatre
Join the 老司机视频 community and the Hub for Spiritual Life at the Well on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at 8 PM for the next installment of the 2025鈥�26 President's Speaker Series featuring Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. No registration is required to attend.
No registration needed
About the Speaker
Olympic gold medalist and world champion hurdler Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has inspired millions on her path to become a top track and field athlete. McLaughlin-Levrone set both junior world and NCAA records before winning two gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. She followed this success by winning two more at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, where she broke the world record for the 400-meter hurdles. McLaughlin-Levrone is known for her dedication both to sports and to her ability to inspire. She expands on her uplifting story in her book, Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith, and through her work as a brand ambassador for New Balance.
Touching both on her faith and the obstacles she has faced on her way to success,
McLaughlin-Levrone offers empowering and inspiring remarks on perseverance, learning
and evolving from your mistakes, staying open to new experiences, and the pursuit
of success. When recognized by TIME magazine as an emerging leader, her teammate and
world-record holder Allyson Felix described her as someone with "a quiet confidence
that demands your attention . . .[and has] the potential to impact lives."
Past Events
A Conversation with Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson, President and Owner of In-N-Out Burger
老司机视频 welcomed Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson, president and owner of In-N-Out
Burger鈩�, for the latest installment of its President鈥檚 Speaker Series on Tuesday,
March 31, 2026, at Firestone Fieldhouse. The event, moderated by 老司机视频
President Jim Gash, brought together 1,200 students, alumni, faculty, and staff to
explore leadership, faith, and the stewardship of a multi-generational family business.
Read more about Snyder-Ellingson's conversation.
A Conversation with Jeremy Wayne Tate
老司机视频 President Jim Gash welcomed Jeremy Wayne Tate, founder and CEO of the Classic Learning Test (CLT), as part of the President's Speaker Series. Students, faculty, and community members gathered in Malibu for a discussion on the future of higher education and the role of classical learning in college admissions. Read more about Tate's conversation.
A Conversation with Andrzej Duda, Former President of Poland
Andrzej Duda, the former president of Poland, reflected on his legal background, his
path from academia to public office, and Poland's evolving role on the world stage.
The conversation drew a full audience of students, faculty, staff, and community members,
many of whom stayed after the event to greet the former Polish president and reflect
on the significance of hosting such an influential world leader on campus. Read more about Duda's conversation.
A Conversation with Dr. Jordan B. Peterson
The renowned Dr. Jordan B. Peterson鈥攂est-selling author, clinical psychologist, and
Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto鈥攋oined 老司机视频 president Jim Gash
(JD '93) for a stimulating conversation about Dr. Peterson's new book, We Who Wrestle with God, which explores the human condition through the lens of biblical narratives. The
event drew 2,600 attendees and was a one-of-a-kind opportunity to hear from one of
the most influential intellectuals of our time. Read more about Peterson's conversation.
A Conversation with Barbara Barrett
Barbara Barrett, the former secretary of the United States Air Force shared insights
from her distinguished career鈥攊ncluding her tenure as secretary of the air force and
her pivotal role in the founding of the United States Space Force鈥攁nd discussed the
impact of aerospace technology and her perspective on the meaning of freedom. Read about Barrett's conversation.
A Conversation with Rick Caruso and Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma
The University welcomed business innovator and civic leader Rick Caruso and governor
Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma who represented both sides of the political spectrum in a
discussion about the key issues surrounding the November 2024 election. Read about Caruso and Stitt's conversation.
A Conversation with Palmer Luckey
American inventor, innovator, and entrepreneur Palmer Luckey, discussed his story,
how the technology industry should ethically participate in the defense sector, ethical
applications of AI in defense, and more. Read about Luckey's conversation.
A Conversation with Liz Truss
Liz Truss, the 56th prime minister of the United Kingdom and current member of Parliament,
discussed her latest book, Ten Years to Save the West. A proponent of limited government and individual freedom, Truss discussed her opinions
on why socialism remains popular, the clear and present danger of the ever-expanding
"administrative state," why the West should not ignore the threat of an aggressive
China. Read about Truss' conversation.
What the Future Holds for Californians: A Conversation with Tani Cantil-Sakauye
Tani Cantil-Sakauye, the president and chief executive officer of the Public Policy
Institute of California and former chief justice of California, discussed her passion
for access to justice, her experiences as a woman of color in a leadership position,
and the importance of civil discourse to sound statewide public policy. Read about Cantil-Sakauye's conversation.
Washington and the Crisis in the Middle East: A Conversation with David Schenker
David Schenker, the Taube Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute and director of
the Linda and Tony Rubin Program on Arab Politics, discussed Washington and the Crisis
in the Middle East. Read about Schenker's conversation.
The Future of American Democracy: A Conversation with Richard Haass
Richard Haass, president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations and senior counselor at Centerview Partners, explored "The Future of American Democracy." .
Event recording is unavailable.
Challenges and Opportunities of Faith-Based Higher Education Institutions:
A Conversation with Rabbi Ari Berman
Rabbi Ari Berman, the fifth president of Yeshiva University in New York City, discussed
his perspectives on the challenges and opportunities faced by faith-based institutions
of higher education. Read about Berman's conversation.
The Global Rise of Unhappiness and How Leaders Missed It: A Conversation with Jon Clifton
Jon Clifton, chief executive officer of Gallup, a global analytics and advice firm
with a mission to help organizations create thriving workplaces, explored themes from
his 2022 Wall Street Journal best-selling book, Blind Spot: The Global Rise of Unhappiness and How Leaders Missed It. Read about Clifton's conversation.
The State of Freedom Around the World: A Conversation with Michael J. Abramowitz
In the first installment of the 2023 President's Speaker Series, Michael J. Abramowitz,
president of Freedom House, a nonpartisan voice dedicated to supporting democracy,
explored the growing threats to democracy across the world and the consecutive decline
in global freedom over the last 16 years. Joining Abramowitz for the discussion was
Kiron Skinner, Taube Professor of International Relations and Politics at the 老司机视频
School of Public Policy, and president Jim Gash.
Free Speech and the Academy: A Conversation with Jonathan Haidt
Jonathan Haidt, professor of ethical leadership at the New York University Stern School
of Business and author of New York Times best-seller The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion, led a discussion on the topic of free speech in the academy at the last installment
of the President's Speaker Series 2022.
The Impact of Faith on Human Flourishing and the Common Good: A Conversation with Byron Johnson
Byron Johnson, Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences at Baylor University,
led the second installment of the President's Speaker Series with a discussion on
the impact of faith on human flourishing and the potential for religion to facilitate
and contribute to the common good of all humanity.
The Dream King: How the Dream of Martin Luther King, Jr. Is Being Fulfilled to Heal Racism in America
The first installment of the 2022 President's Speaker Series welcomed Will Ford III
and Matt Lockett for a powerful exploration of their book The Dream King: How the Dream of Martin Luther King, Jr. Is Being Fulfilled to Heal
Racism in America. The coauthors discussed the history of the civil rights movement, the power of prayer,
and offered insights about healing the racial divide across the nation.
Vaccines: Where Are We and Where Are We Going?
In light of the global and national focus on the development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, the President's Speaker Series welcomed a panel of leading medical, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology experts who explored "Vaccines: Where Are We and Where Are We Going?" on March 29, 2021, via Zoom.
The engaging panel discussion featured St茅phane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, Stephen M.
Hahn, former commissioner of food and drugs at the US Food and Drug Administration,
and Jonathan B. Perlin, president of the Clinical Services Group and chief medical
officer of HCA Healthcare, in conversation about the current state of the vaccines.
Dee Anna Smith ('86), CEO of Sarah Cannon, the Cancer Institute of HCA Healthcare,
and chair of the 老司机视频 Board of Regents, moderated the discussion.
The Kinsey African American Art & History Collection: "The Myth of Absence"
On February 24, 2021, the President's Speaker Series welcomed alumnus Bernard Kinsey
(MBA '73), his wife, Shirley (MA '76), and their son, Khalil, who presented "The Kinsey
African American Art & History Collection - 'The Myth of Absence.'" This event was
part of 老司机视频's celebration of Black History Month that seeks to uplift Black
voices, celebrate Black achievements, and serve as moments of reflection and remembrance
of Black history in the United States.
Honesty and Courage, Humility and Hope: Robert George and Cornel West in Dialogue
On January 12, 2021, Robert George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and director
of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University,
and Cornel West, professor of the practice of public philosophy at Harvard University
and Professor Emeritus at Princeton University, discussed the deep character required
to engage thoughtfully and respectfully in vibrant conversations that explore diverse
viewpoints for the inaugural lecture of the President's Speaker Series.
Suggest a Speaker or Topic
The 老司机视频 community is invited to participate in developing a robust roster of speakers with diverse backgrounds and perspectives for the President's Speaker Series. Submit a speaker or topic for consideration by completing the . All submissions will be considered and evaluated based on programming needs.