2026 Event Series
Dialogue Vanderbilt’s 250 Conversations on America: Civil Discourse in Action is a yearlong series celebrating our nation’s 250th anniversary and Vanderbilt’s enduring commitment to open dialogue.
About
Vanderbilt is gathering leaders and innovators, from all disciplines to participate in conversations across our Nashville and New York campuses to model civil discourse in action.
These conversations will be real dialogue that moves beyond sound bites and performance to tackle some of the most pressing issues of our time and brings curiosity and conversation back to the public square. Together, we will explore how listening, understanding and learning how to “disagree” and “agree” with nuance, evidence and civility can shape a stronger, more connected future.
2026 Event Series
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February 25, 2026:
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham to discuss his latest book in conversation with former NBC News anchor and correspondent John M. Seigenthaler
American Struggle: Democracy, Dissent, and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union
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February 26, 2026:
Bishop Johnson Black Cultural Center presents the Black Future Symposium 2026: Blackness and Artificial Intelligence
Presenters: Morgan Debaun, Founder and CEO of Blavity Inc and AfroTech Conference; Corey Ponder, Alum (B.S. '07) & Global Head of Policy and Product Partnerships at TikTok; Dr. Charreau Bell, Senior Data Scientist at the Data Science Institute at Vanderbilt
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February 26, 2026:
Live. Learn. Lead. Academy Symposium Keynote Speaker Coach Clark Lea
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February 27, 2026:
2026 Tennessee Campus Civic Summit
Student-Driven Solutions for Tennessee's Future featuring Keynote Speaker Katie Fahey, Executive Director of The People
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March 2, 2026:
Is There A Center in America? A Conversation with Joe Manchin and Jon Meacham
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March 5, 2026:
Barrett Lecture: Civic Courage, the Rule of Law, and the Legal Profession at a Crossroads featuring Donald B. Verrilli, Jr.
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March 11, 2026:
Nashville's Hidden Heroes: Honoring Rabbi Randall M. Falk
Moderated by André L. Churchwell, M.D.
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March 17, 2026:
Housing Justice: Community Over Chaos Speaker Series featuring Tara Raghuveer, KC Tenants
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March 18, 2026:
Evolutionary Studies Initiative 2026 J.T. Scopes Lecture featuring Tyrone B. Hayes
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March 18, 2026:
Charley Pride: I’m Just Me: A Film Screening and Live Discussion
Featuring Filmmaker and Director Barbara Hall and Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick
Vanderbilt Sports & Society Initiative
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March 19, 2026:
Covering Climate in Chaotic Times featuring Sadie Babits, National Public Radio Senior Supervising Climate Editor
Event registration open to Vanderbilt University Students, Faculty & Staff only.
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March 24, 2026:
Veteran music journalist Craig Havighurst to discuss his latest book
Musicality for Modern Humans: How to Listen Like an Artist
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March 26, 2026:
National Book Award-winning historian Dr. Ibram X. Kendi to discuss his latest book in conversation with a special guest
Chain of Ideas: The Origins of Our Authoritarian Age
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April 2, 2026:
Poverty: Community Over Chaos Speaker Series featuring Dr. Matthew Desmond, Princeton University
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April 15, 2026:
Evolutionary Studies Initiative Earth Day Lecture: Mass Extinction and Ecosystem Recovery featuring Greg Wilson Mantilla
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April 23, 2026:
Jock Jams: A Listening Session with Soul’d Creative Collective
Vanderbilt Sports & Society Initiative
Past Events
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February 24, 2026:
We Live Here: Community Power and the Struggle for Environmental Justice featuring Sharon Cayette Lavigne and Shamyra Lavigne-Davey of RISE St. James
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February 20, 2026:
Vanderbilt Holocaust Lecture Series featuring Dr. Alex Kor & Dr. Stacy Gallin
Medicine and Morality: Why the Lessons and Legacies of the Holocaust Matter Now More Than Ever
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February 18, 2026:
Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr. Memoir Launch Celebration
NONVIOLENT: My Life of Resistance, Agitation, and Love by Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr. and Emily Yellin
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February 18, 2026:
International Darwin Day Lecture featuring Michael Lynch
Evolutionary Cell Biology: Rethinking the Origins of Cellular Architecture
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February 17, 2026:
The John C. Kornblum Distinguished Lecture Series featuring Metin Hakverdi
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February 11, 2026:
Building What Lasts: No BS Lessons from a Made-in-America Company featuring Bill Banta, CEO of DECKED
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February 11, 2026:
Where is Our Hope in a World of Death? A conversation on living and dying well featuring Jessika C. Boles and Lydia Dugdale in collaboration with The Veritas Forum
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February 6, 2026:
Vanderbilt Divinity School Lunch and Learn featuring Rep. Harold Love, Jr.
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February 4, 2026:
The Vanderbilt Lecture Series on Modern Conflict and Emerging Threats featuring Richard Moore, KCMG
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February 3, 2026:
The Death of Facebook featuring Teddy Solomon, CEO of Fizz
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January 15, 2026:
MLK Commemorative Event Series featuring Cheryl McKissack Daniel in Conversation with Jeremi London
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January 13, 2026:
Community as Sanctuary: Defending Immigrant Families in Times of Fear featuring Cathy Carrillo, Co-Founder of ReMIX TN