Endowed Lectures

The Richard O. and Cindy F. Connell Lecture Series is an annual event dedicated to exploring the dynamic and often complex relationship between Evangelicalism and Contemporary Affairs. Established in 2005, the series invites distinguished scholars, authors, and public figures to address timely and impactful questions at the intersection of religious conviction and modern society. Through these public lectures, the Connell Series fosters rigorous academic dialogue and encourages the entire university community and local public to engage critically with the crucial role of evangelical thought in today's political, cultural, and moral landscape.

The Donnel Foster Hewett Lecture Series is an annual, distinguished event hosted by Lehigh University's Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (EES). Established through a generous bequest from its namesake, prominent alumnus and legendary USGS geologist Donnel Foster Hewett (known as "Mr. Manganese" for his work on mineralogy and manganese ores), the series brings world-renowned experts to campus. These scholars deliver lectures and host symposia focused on cutting-edge research across the geosciences, exploring topics from deep-Earth processes and planetary habitability to environmental change and the evolution of life, inspiring the next generation of earth scientists with a look at the most complex challenges facing our planet.

The Kenner Lecture on Cultural Understanding stands as a cornerstone of intellectual life at Lehigh University, offering an annual platform for rigorous public discourse on the most critical issues facing our global community. Endowed in 1997 by Jeffrey L. Kenner '65, '66, this premier series is dedicated to bringing world-renowned leaders, journalists, authors, and scholars to campus to challenge preconceived notions and encourage dialogue across differing viewpoints. By exploring themes such as global politics, threats to democracy, social polarization, and the importance of human dignity, the Kenner Lecture inspires students and the wider public to cultivate a deeper sense of cultural empathy and work toward a more understanding and tolerant world.

The A. Everett Pitcher Lecture Series in Mathematics is a distinguished annual event that showcases the intellectual vibrancy of the Lehigh Mathematics Department. This series is held in honor of A. Everett Pitcher, who was a foundational figure at the university, serving in the mathematics department here at Lehigh from 1938 until 1978, when he retired as Distinguished Professor of Mathematics. The lecture series brings some of the world’s most eminent mathematicians to campus to delve into groundbreaking and complex concepts across fields like topology, geometry, number theory, and mathematical physics. 

The Selfridge Lecture Series in Philosophy is a signature event of the Lehigh University Department of Philosophy, inviting leading scholars from around the world to campus to engage the community in profound philosophical inquiry. Made possible by the generous bequest of Charles W. MacFarlane (CE 1876) to maintain the Selfridge Professorship of Pure Philosophy—named for his father-in-law, William Wilson Selfridge—the series began in 1984. Annually, the Selfridge Lecture challenges students and the public to grapple with fundamental questions in ethics, metaphysics, social justice, and the history of thought, reinforcing the department’s commitment to rigorous inquiry and critical thinking.

The Rocco J. Tresolini Lectureship in Law stands as a premier annual event hosted by the Department of Political Science, dedicated to fostering rigorous public discourse on critical issues of law, government, and justice. Established in 1978 to honor the legacy of Professor Rocco J. Tresolini (1920–1967), a beloved constitutional scholar and the first chair of Lehigh’s Department of Government, the series annually invites a figure of national prominence to campus. By featuring esteemed Supreme Court justices, renowned legal scholars, investigative journalists, and influential public intellectuals, the Tresolini Lecture challenges the community to examine contemporary constitutional developments, civil liberties, and the foundational role of law in American society.

The Robert C. and Virginia L. Williamson Lecture is a distinguished event hosted by the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. As the founder and first chair of the Department of Social Relations, Dr. Robert C. Williamson and his wife Virginia endowed this series. It was established in 1996 and showcases contemporary societal crises, power structures, social change, and the pursuit of a more equitable and just world.