Lectures & Presentations

Scientist lives by the Serengeti Rules—a lecture April 7

Megan M Rogers — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 20:51:57 +0000

Scientist lives by the Serengeti Rules—a lecture April 7 Megan M Rogers Tue, 03/24/2026 - 14:51

Colorado Arts and Sciences Magazine

Author, filmmaker and scholar Sean Carroll, formerly a CU 91��Ҹ� postdoctoral researcher, will deliver the Rose M. Litman Memorial Lecture in Science.

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Deja Foxx coming to campus April 1

Megan M Rogers — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 17:55:35 +0000

Deja Foxx coming to campus April 1 Megan M Rogers Tue, 03/24/2026 - 11:55

If you go

Who: Open to the public
What: An Evening With Deja Foxx
When: Wednesday, April 1, 7 p.m.
Where: UMC Glenn Miller Ballroom

Gen Z political activist and digital content creator Deja Foxx will speak at CU 91��Ҹ� on April 1, a guest of the student-run Cultural Events Board. Tickets are available now for purchase online.

Tickets for An Evening with Deja Foxx are free for CU 91��Ҹ� students, $2 for faculty and staff, and $5 for the general public.

A graduate of Columbia University, Foxx is best known for her work in reproductive rights and youth political engagement, including a stint as a staffer on Kamala Harris’s 2020 primary election campaign. She is the founder of GenZ Girl Gang, an organization dedicated to empowering young women. Most recently, she ran as a Democratic candidate in Arizona’s Seventh Congressional District, ultimately losing to Adelita Grijalva.

“At a time when activism can feel performative and disconnected from real change, Deja Foxx challenges us to rethink what meaningful engagement looks like,” said CEB Speaker Coordinator Naisha Naik. “Her work connects digital advocacy to real-world impact, reminding us that issues like health care access and economic inequality require sustained action. As students, we must engage thoughtfully and take responsibility for the change we want to see.”

More from the Cultural Events Board on Foxx:

Why did the board select Deja Foxx to speak at CU?

We selected Deja Foxx because she stands at the intersection of voter engagement, media literacy, health care access and housing insecurity, all of which are highly relevant to the CU community. Her work in reproductive rights directly addresses ongoing debates around bodily autonomy, health care access, and systemic inequality, while her rise through digital platforms highlights the evolving role of media in shaping political narratives and activism.

Foxx’s work emphasizes how these challenges are interconnected. Her background, including her experience with housing insecurity as a teenager, allows her to speak authentically about how policy impacts real lives. These are not abstract policy concerns but lived realities that affect students in tangible ways. Disparities in health care access across socioeconomic status, race and other structural factors continue to shape who is able to receive adequate care, while the rising cost of housing in 91��Ҹ� places additional pressure on students navigating financial instability.

We believe her perspective will challenge CU students to think critically about how advocacy operates within both political institutions and media spaces, and how they can actively participate in shaping both.

About the Cultural Events Board

The Cultural Events Board is composed of student leaders and aims to broaden cultural knowledge by supporting the voices of underrepresented and misrepresented groups on campus, thereby promoting student engagement with their platforms. The Cultural Events Board encourages opportunities for interaction among students resulting in respect, appreciation and understanding for cultural differences.

Past CEB speakers have included bestselling author and civil rights advocate Michelle Alexander; acclaimed actress, author and activist Diane Guerrero; award-winning singer, dancer and actress Rita Moreno; South African-born comedian and commentator Trevor Noah; founders of the Black Lives Matter movement; comedian and commentator Hasan Minhaj; former Ohio Governor John Kasich; Olympic gymnast and author Aly Raisman; and Academy Award-winner Viola Davis.

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Rebel Wilson to visit CU 91��Ҹ� April 15

Megan M Rogers — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 16:36:56 +0000

Rebel Wilson to visit CU 91��Ҹ� April 15 Megan M Rogers Mon, 03/23/2026 - 10:36

If you go

Who: Open to the public
What: An Evening With Rebel Wilson
When: Wednesday, April 15, 7 p.m.
Where: Macky Auditorium

Get Tickets

Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $2 for students, $8 for faculty/staff and $15 for the general public.

Actress, comedian and producer Rebel Wilson will visit CU 91��Ҹ� on April 15 as part of a campus speaker event presented by the student-run Distinguished Speakers Board. Tickets are available now for purchase online.

Tickets for An Evening with Rebel Wilson are $2 for students, $8 for CU faculty and staff, and $15 for the general public. Doors open at 6 p.m. Additional handling fees may apply.

Perhaps best known for her breakout roles in “Bridesmaids” and the “Pitch Perfect” movies, Wilson began her acting career in Australia, where she was born and raised. In addition to acting, she has been a producer and author, recently penning the memoir “Rebel Rising: A Memoir.”

“Rebel Wilson has built a career by turning individuality into a strength,” said Cooper Baldwin, chair of the Distinguished Speakers Board. “Her willingness to take risks, challenge expectations and bring humor into everything she does makes her a compelling voice for students thinking about how to carve out their own path.”

Wilson’s story resonates strongly with students navigating academic, personal and career decisions, Baldwin added.

“Students often feel pressure to follow a perfectly mapped-out plan, but Wilson’s story shows that success can come from unexpected directions,” Baldwin said. “Many students are still figuring out who they want to be and where they’re headed; her experience reminds us that confidence, creativity and a sense of humor can open doors you never anticipated.”

The event is open to students, faculty, staff and members of the community.

About the Distinguished Speakers Board

The Distinguished Speakers Board’s mission is to cultivate a diversity of thought in the student body and the surrounding community by bringing speakers who engage and challenge society through their actions and ideas. Ultimately, DSB strives to create a more thoughtful and aware campus and community.

The board, composed entirely of CU 91��Ҹ� students, works to connect the campus with global voices across culture, politics, science, the arts and more. Past speakers have included Anderson Cooper, Trevor Noah, Garry Kasparov, Hank Green, Chloe Kim, Jennette McCurdy and Giancarlo Esposito. Each event provides students, faculty, staff and the 91��Ҹ� community the chance to engage in conversations that expand perspectives and inspire action.

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Nobel Laureate Donna Strickland to visit CU on April 1

Megan M Rogers — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:25:22 +0000

Nobel Laureate Donna Strickland to visit CU on April 1 Megan M Rogers Tue, 03/17/2026 - 08:25

Physicist Donna Strickland will give a lecture on "From Nonlinear Optics to High-Intensity Laser Physics," including her Nobel-winning developments of chirped pulse amplification.

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'Mama Said Knock You Out'—a pedagogy keynote March 24

Megan M Rogers — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 17:36:32 +0000

'Mama Said Knock You Out'—a pedagogy keynote March 24 Megan M Rogers Fri, 03/13/2026 - 11:36

Carmen Kynard of Texas Christian University will deliver the annual keynote address of CMDI's Inclusive Pedagogy Series. She interrogates race, Black feminisms, Black cultures and languages, and the politics of education with an emphasis on composition and literacies studies.

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Women in engineering—a panel, networking event March 11

Megan M Rogers — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 16:32:38 +0000

Women in engineering—a panel, networking event March 11 Megan M Rogers Thu, 03/05/2026 - 09:32

As CU 91��Ҹ� marks its 150th anniversary, alumnae at different stages of their careers will share insights, lessons learned and strategies for navigating the engineering field and advancing professionally.

As CU 91��Ҹ� marks its 150th anniversary, alums at different stages of their careers will share insights, lessons learned and strategies for navigating the engineering field and advancing professionally.

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Is free speech an outmoded concept? Join a discussion April 1

Megan M Rogers — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 18:58:52 +0000

Is free speech an outmoded concept? Join a discussion April 1 Megan M Rogers Fri, 02/27/2026 - 11:58

Nadine Strossen, a former longtime ACLU president, will discuss the most challenging questions about free speech rights—and wrongs.

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How CU 91��Ҹ� innovators are using AI to win major grants—an event March 25

Megan M Rogers — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:12:19 +0000

How CU 91��Ҹ� innovators are using AI to win major grants—an event March 25 Megan M Rogers Fri, 02/27/2026 - 10:12

This virtual session will highlight real-world strategies for integrating AI into idea generation, narrative framing and proposal refinement—offering attendees actionable insights they can use immediately.

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The Colorado Constitution at 150 and why it matters—a lecture Feb. 25

Megan M Rogers — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 18:13:40 +0000

The Colorado Constitution at 150 and why it matters—a lecture Feb. 25 Megan M Rogers Fri, 02/20/2026 - 11:13

As the United States Constitution approaches its 250th anniversary, the Centennial State Colorado marks 150 years since the adoption of its own constitution.

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Cultural Events Board hosting Michelle Alexander Feb. 25

Megan M Rogers — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 18:00:23 +0000

Cultural Events Board hosting Michelle Alexander Feb. 25 Megan M Rogers Fri, 02/20/2026 - 11:00

Editor's note: Michelle Alexander's 2025 talk was postponed and will now be held on Feb. 25, 2026. All originally purchased tickets remain valid.

Best-selling author and civil rights advocate Michelle Alexander will speak at CU 91��Ҹ� at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb 25. The event will take place at the UMC Glenn Miller Ballroom and tickets are available now.

Tickets will be $2 for students, $5 for faculty and staff, and $10 for the general public. The event is sponsored by CU 91��Ҹ�’s student-run Cultural Events Board (CEB). Ticket prices don't include processing fees.

Perhaps best known for her 2010 bestseller "The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness," Alexander's career spans law, academia, advocacy and journalism. She has served as a civil rights lawyer, taught law at Stanford and Ohio State, and continues to write on issues of justice as an opinion columnist for The New York Times.

More from the Cultural Events Board on Alexander:

Why did the board choose Michelle Alexander to speak at CU?

We selected Michelle Alexander because she stands at the intersection of civil liberties and media literacy. These are two themes that CEB felt the CU community would benefit from learning more about.

Her book, "The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness," explores systemic racism in the American prison system, national conversations on systemic racism, criminal justice reform and the continuing impact of racial inequality. As a civil rights lawyer, legal scholar, advocate and writer, Alexander speaks directly to the challenges of due process, the criminalization of activism and the biases embedded in legal and media systems.

Alexander has the ability to connect pressing cultural and legal issues with the lived experiences of marginalized groups. Her work critically examines the ways media and policy shape the collective understanding of civil liberties. We believe her insights will challenge and inspire CU students to think deeply about equity, solidarity and truth in our society.

What about her work and career will connect with and intrigue CU students?

Her insights will resonate with CU students who are navigating questions about systemic inequality, misinformation and the role of media in shaping public understanding. CU students will benefit from her perspective on how narratives—whether legal, political or digital—can reinforce oppression or foster solidarity.

About the Cultural Events Board

Past CEB speakers have included award-winning singer, dancer and actress Rita Moreno; South African-born comedian and commentator Trevor Noah; comedian and commentator Hasan Minhaj; former Ohio Governor John Kasich; Olympic gymnast and author Aly Raisman; Academy Award-winner Viola Davis; acclaimed actress, author and activist Diane Guerrero.

If you go

Who: Open to the public
What: An Evening With Michelle Alexander
When: Wednesday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m.
Where: UMC Glenn Miller Ballroom

Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $2 for students, $5 for faculty/staff and $10 for the general public.

Get Your Tickets

Michelle Alexander is a best-selling author and civil rights advocate, whose career spans law, academia and journalism.

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Scientist lives by the Serengeti Rules—a lecture April 7

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