Spring 2025 Speaker Series
Explore timely topics through open dialogue and discussion with local and national experts. Free and open to all.
Tara Murray
The Power of Purpose: Transforming Passion Into Impact
Thursday, February 20 • 7 p.m. • Virtual
Don’t miss an inspiring discussion with Tara Murray, a leading civil and human rights attorney and Executive Director of the National Urban League’s Washington Bureau. This engaging presentation will explore how individuals can harness their passions to create meaningful change, empower their communities, and make a lasting difference.
Panel Discussion
The Many Layers of Indigenous Presence at Historic Germanna
Thursday, March 13 • 7 p.m. • Virtual
Join Victoria Ferguson, Dr. Carole Nash, Catherine Hill, Dr. Eric Larsen, and Jennifer Hurst-Wender for a panel discussion to explore the past, present, and future Indigenous experiences in the Germanna Region. Historic Germanna, located on the banks of the Rapidan in Virginia’s Piedmont, has been a crossroads between Indigenous and colonial people and their stories for over three centuries.
Temple Grandin
The World Needs All Kinds of Minds
Monday, March 24 • 7 p.m. • Virtual
Dr. Temple Grandin, a renowned expert in animal behavior and a leading advocate for autism awareness, will explore how different thinking styles, such as her own visual thinking, offer unique strengths. Attendees will gain insights into the importance of focusing on students' strengths—particularly those with autism, ADHD, or dyslexia—and how this approach can help them build successful careers.
Maya Arakon
Resilience in Exile: Defending Human Rights Against All Odds
April 10 • 7 p.m. • Virtual
Join Dr. Maya Arakon as she shares her personal journey and the challenges of defending human rights in the face of political adversity. With expertise in separatist terrorism, human rights, and minority issues, her work focuses on the Kurdish question in Turkey, ISIS, and security studies. After fleeing Turkey in 2016 due to political persecution, Arakon has become an advocate for academics in exile. She has taught at Denison University, Georgetown, and George Washington University, and has been featured in major international media.