In 1776, a declaration was made—not only of independence, but of enduring ideals.
In 2026, Assumption University marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence by returning to the ideas that animated it: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These ideals are not relics of the past, nor slogans to be taken for granted. They are claims about human dignity, freedom, responsibility, and the common good—claims that must be examined, debated, and renewed by each generation.
Rooted in the Catholic intellectual and Augustinian traditions, Assumption’s year-long series, Striving for Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, brings scholars, students, and the broader community together to celebrate this historic milestone while engaging in serious reflection on its meaning, its tensions, and its unfinished work.
List of Lectures and Public Events
“The Founders Saw the Dangers of Great Wealth”: Daniel Mandell on American Inequality
Tuesday, February 24, at 5:00 p.m. in the Curtis Performance Hall
This lecture explores Professor Mandell’s research on the American Founders’ deep-seated fear that concentrated wealth would corrupt their republic, highlighting their original commitment to “rough equality” as a safeguard for democracy. It traces how this egalitarian vision, though marginalized by the rise of modern capitalism, remains a crucial historical counter-narrative to contemporary originalist interpretations of power and privilege.
Team of Rivals: Leadership Lessons from Abraham Lincoln
Thursday, March 26, at 5:30 p.m. in the Curtis Performance Hall
Assumption University’s Center for Civic Friendship will host Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin for a public conversation regarding leadership lessons from Abraham Lincoln. The event features a dialogue between Goodwin and President Greg Weiner centered on using the principles of civic friendship to bridge modern political divisions.
This event is sponsored by the President’s Office and the Center for Civic Friendship.
Public Reading of the Declaration of Independence and Panel Discussion
Thursday, April 23, at 5:00 p.m.
In celebration of Worcester’s history as the site of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence in Massachusetts, Assumption University will host a commemorative event featuring a public reading of the historic document. This presentation will be followed by an insightful panel discussion with University faculty exploring the Declaration’s enduring impact and significance.
This event is sponsored by the President’s Office.
Foundations Lecture
Wednesday, September 9, at 5:00 pm. in the Curtis Performance Hall
The Foundations Lecture series illuminates the importance of a Catholic liberal arts education, and how understanding the true, the good, and the beautiful is at the heart of an Assumption education by bringing together faculty from different disciplines to examine and discuss a common idea. This lecture will feature President Greg Weiner as one of the speakers.
This event is sponsored by the President’s Office.
Constitution Day Lecture
Wednesday, September 23, at 5:00 p.m. in the Curtis Performance Hall
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and in honor of that day in American history, the Political Science department hosts an annual Constitution Day lecture on or near the anniversary. The lecture covers current and universal political topics and themes, and features a guest speaker and welcomes back an alumnus to respond to the lecture.
This event is sponsored by the Department of Political Science.
CTEQ: Fortin & Gonthier Lecture
Wednesday, October 14, at 5:00 p.m. in the Curtis Performance Hall
The Fortin/Gonthier Lecture is delivered annually by an invited scholar to give a formal lecture on some topic that relates to the educational priorities of the CTEQ Program. This lecture will feature Diana Schaub, a professor of political science at Loyola University Maryland.
This event is sponsored by the Core Texts and Enduring Questions (CTEQ).
Conversations with AU Authors: Carl Robert Keyes, “A Decade of Chronicling Politics, Commerce, and Everyday Life during the Era of the American Revolution in the Adverts 250 Project and the Slavery Adverts 250 Project”
Wednesday, October 21, at 5:00 p.m.
Conversations with AU Authors is a lecture series sponsored by the Provost’s Office that brings two Assumption professors into dialogue with one another, one discussing a recent publication and the other serving as a moderator.
This event is sponsored by the Provost’s Office.
Rabbi Joseph Klein Lecture
Tuesday, November 17, at 5:00 p.m.
The Rabbi Joseph Klein Lecture is an annual lecture about interfaith dialogue and Catholic-Jewish friendship. This year’s event will feature Yuval Levin, director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he also holds the Beth and Ravenel Curry Chair in Public Policy. The founder and editor of National Affairs, he is also a senior editor at The New Atlantis, and a contributing editor at National Review. Dr. Levin served as a member of the White House domestic policy staff under President George W. Bush. He was also executive director of the President’s Council on Bioethics and a congressional staffer at the member, committee, and leadership levels.
This event is sponsored by the Center for Civic Friendship.