President's Lecture Series

The President’s Lecture Series at Assumption College is a public forum in which important ethical, spiritual and human issues are illuminated and examined within the Catholic intellectual tradition.

The heart of a classical liberal arts education is an ongoing conversation across disciplines. By ensuring that the sharpest minds, representing diverse viewpoints and areas of study, are a part of this dialogue Assumption reaffirms –and bolsters– its commitment to providing students with an education that goes beyond the mere memorization of facts and acquisition of skills and empowers them to continue the discussion.

The 2019-2020 President's Lecture Series speakers will be announced in August 2019. If you would like to receive information about upcoming lectures, please request to be added to Lecture mailing list.

Previous Lectures

Media plays a significant role in shaping the public’s minds and opinions and religion are no different. Assumption College welcomes Father Edward Beck, C.P. ’80, CNN’s faith and religion commentator, who presents “Religion, Church and the Media: A Delicate Balance” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 2, in the La Maison Salon. Religion, Church and the Media: A Delicate Balance, focuses on the various portrayals of faith and religion in mainstream media, particularly through televised news. Fr. Beck draws upon his 10 years of experience in network and cable news to examine the ways in which mainstream media cover faith and religion in television news. Fr. Beck graduated from Assumption College in 1980, was ordained in 1985 as a Roman Catholic priest, and is a member of the Passionist Order. For the past 10 years, Fr. Beck has served as a media contributor, providing media analysis on issues of ethics, faith, morality and religion for ABC News, CBS News, Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, ABC Family Channel, HLN and current TV. For four years, he co-hosted the weekly ABC News show Focus on Faith with Chris Cuomo. In 2013, Fr. Beck contributed to the coverage of the Conclave that elected Pope Francis.

Upcoming Lectures

Mercy and Justice in Political Life: Augustine, Seneca, and Nussbaum

November 14, 2019, 7 p.m. La Maison Salon

Mercy and Justice in Political Life: Augustine, Seneca, and Nussbaum

Sarah Byers, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Philosophy, Boston College

Augustine's letters to Roman magistrates and other bishops concerning the distinction between 'compassion' and 'mercy,' the importance of justice, and the moral rightness and wrongness of various kinds of punishment (including cases of human trafficking and the use of torture by the government).

View Event

What’s Still Wrong with the World

October 8, 2019, 7 p.m. Jeanne Y. Curtis Performance Hall

What’s Still Wrong with the World

John C. “Chuck” Chalberg, Ph.D.

Professional historian John C. “Chuck” Chalberg, Ph.D. will deliver a lecture in the persona of Catholic convert and apologist, G.K. Chesterton. Drawing upon Chesterton’s wit, wisdom and humor, Chalberg will lecture on "What's Still Wrong with the World," based upon a book written by Chesterton more than a century ago. Chalberg, as Chesterton, will examine and contrast topics of concern in the early 1900s to their continued impact and interest in today’s society. Some of those topics include the state of the family, feminism, education, democracy and the general state of the country.

View Event

Request Information

Apply

Visit Assumption

President's Lecture Series

The President’s Lecture Series at Assumption College is a public forum in which important ethical, spiritual and human issues are illuminated and examined within the Catholic intellectual tradition.

Previous Lectures

Upcoming Lectures

Mercy and Justice in Political Life: Augustine, Seneca, and Nussbaum

What’s Still Wrong with the World

Light the way.

A Catholic college located in the heart of New England in Worcester, Massachusetts, Assumption College strives to form graduates known for their critical intelligence, thoughtful citizenship, and compassionate service.