Past Wendt Character Lectures
To watch past Wendt Lectures, click the links below:
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Fall 2024 Lecturer: Tammie Jo Shults, a retired naval aviator and airline captain who save Southwest Airlines Flight 1380, shared her story of resilience and steadfastness in her lecture, "Habits, Hope, and Heroes." |
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Spring 2024 Lecturer: Freshta Tori Jan, a political asylee from Afghanistan and a member persecuted minority under the Taliban, Tori Jan raised awareness about the Hazaran genocide happening in Afghanistan with her talk, Truth Beyond the Mountains. |
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Fall 2023 Lecturer: Rev. Gregory Drumwright, public theologian and minister to George Floyd's family during the Derek Chauvin trial, shared his story on the intersectionality of Jesus and justice through his talk, Joseph, Jesus, Justice, and George. |
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Spring 2023 Lecturer: Max Stossel, founder and CEO of Social Awakening, and advisor for the Center for Humane Technology, delivered his talk, We've Been Sneaking into Your Brains, focusing on the impact social media has on our lives. |
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Fall 2022 Lecturer: Chris Norton, former defensive back and spinal cord injury survivor, and subject of the 2021 documentary 7 Yards: The Chris Norton Story, spoke about living with purpose and responding to adversity with resilience and optimism with his talk, The Power to Stand. |
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Spring 2022 Lecturer: Marcus Eriksen, environmental scientist and educator, spoke about Life on the Mississippi: A Journey from Lake Itasca to Waikiki River to Save Our Synthetic Seas, focusing on the global threat of plastic pollution and what we can do to fight the growing crisis. |
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Fall 2021 Lecturer: Kaitlin Curtice, enrolled citizen of the Potawatomi Nation and a Christian, author of Native and Glory Happening, presented her talk, What the World Needs Now. |
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Spring 2021 Lecturer: David M. Bailey, public theologian and culture-maker focused on community and racial reconciliation, spoke on What to Do In Red Sea Moments. |
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Spring 2020 Lecturers: Justin Skeesuck & Patrick Gray, best-selling authors of I'll Push You: A Journey of 500 Miles, Two Best Friends and One Wheelchair and founders of Push, Inc., presented their talk, I'll Push You. |
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Fall 2019 Lecturer: Alex Kotlowitz, award-winning journalist and best-selling author of An American Summer and There are No Children Here, spoke on Bearing Witness: Storytelling and Human Rights. |
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Spring 2019 Lecturer: Sarah Thebarge, author of The Invisible Girls and Well, P.A., volunteer, cancer survivor, presented her lecture, Love Looks Around. |
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Fall 2018 Lecturer: Claude Chester, Retired Warden of United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth, presented his lecture, Limited Opportunities. |
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Spring 2018 Lecturer: Dr. Brian J. Walsh, co-author of Beyond Homelessness: Christian Faith in a Culture of Displacement and The Transforming Vision: Shaping a Christian World View, spoke on Character and the Crisis of Home. |
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Fall 2017 Lecturer: Bill O'Rourke, former President of Alcoa-Russia, Alcoa executive and attorney; veteran; business ethics advisor to boards and universities, presented Leading with Justice and Integrity. |
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Spring 2017 Lecturer: Dr. Quentin Schultze, communication professor, author, speaker, mentor, and master teacher who proclaims the good news that virtuous communication can overcome many of our personal and social problems, presented his lecture, Listen to Love. |
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Fall 2016 Lecturer: Father Gregory Boyle, S.J., Founder and Executive Director of Homeboy Industries and author of Tattoos on the Heart, spoke on Fearless Integrity. |
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Spring 2016 Lecturer: Rais Bhuiyan, victim of a post-911 attack and founder of World Without Hate, presented on The Courage to Forgive. |
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Fall 2015 Lecturer: Nontombi Naomi Tutu, race and gender justice activist and daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, presented her lecture Courageous Compassion. |
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Spring 2015 Lecturer: Sister Helen Prejean, C.S.J., anti-death penalty activist, spiritual adviser to several individuals on death row, and author of Dead Man Walking, spoke on Dead Man Walking: The Journey Continues. |
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Fall 2014 Lecturer: Captain (ret.) Jason Church, Purple Heart recipient and recipient of the 2014 NCAA Inspiration Award, presented his lecture, The Power of a Positive Attitude and Standing up to Adversity. |
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Spring 2014 Lecturer: Mr. Nicholas Carr, author of The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains presented his lecture The Mind in the Net: How Our Gadgets Shape Our Thoughts. |
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Fall 2013 Lecturer: Dr. L. Ripley Smith, Professor of International & Media Communication at Bethel University in St. Paul, MN, spoke about how society can have a dramatic impact on refugees and immigrants with his lecture God's Heart and Our Part in the Lives of Displaced Persons. |
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Spring 2013 Lecturer: Dr. Susan Emmerich, Founder and CEO of Emmerich Environmental Consulting and author of When Heaven Meets Earth: Creation Care as a Ministry of Justice, Reconciliation, and Community Transformation, presented her lecture on her book. |
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Spring 2013 Lecturer: Dr. Bryan Dik, Associate Professor of Psychology at Colorado State University and co-author of Make Your Job a Calling presented his lecture on Web-Slinging and World-Changing: Career Guidance from Spider Man, Martin Luther, and a Hospital Janitor. |
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Fall 2012 Lecturer: Dean Koldenhoven, former Mayor of Palos Heights, IL and the 2002 winner of the Profiles in Courage award, spoke on Religious Tolerance: The Muslim Controversy in Palos Heights, IL. |
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Spring 2012 Lecturer: David Kilgour, 2010 Nobel Peace Prize nominee and human rights activist, delivered the lecture, China and the West: An Uncomfortable Connection. |
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2010-11 Lecturer: Dr. Noah Pickus, Nannerl O. Keohane Director of the Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke University and Associate Research Professor of Public Policy Studies at Duke University, spoke on Integrity Matters. |
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2009-10 Lecturer: Dr. Parker Palmer, Founder of the Center for Courage & Renewal, spoke on The Future of Democracy and Habits of the Heart: Renewing American Politics from the Bottom Up. |
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2008-09 Lecturer: Michael Josephson, Director of the Josephson Institute, presented Does Character Really Count? Going for the Gold - From Sports and Business to Education and Public Service. |
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2007-08 Lecturer: George Will, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and columnist, spoke on The Content of Our National Character: Ethics in Public Policy Making. |
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2006-07 Lecturer: Lynn Brewer, former Enron executive and author, presented Honesty: Shaping Lives of Purpose and Moral Character. |