Great Lives Separator A slash icon used to separate content Archived Lectures Separator A slash icon used to separate content 2025

2025

Date Lecture Speaker Media
Date Lecture Speaker Media
Jan. 21 Women of the CIA Liza Mundy
Jan. 23 Pete Rose Keith O’Brien
Jan. 28 Rod Serling Anne Serling
Jan. 30 Barbara Walters Susan Page
Feb. 4 John Glenn and Ted Williams Adam Lazarus
Feb. 6 Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull Mark Lee Gardner
Feb. 18 Captain James Cook Hampton Sides
Feb. 20 James A. Garfield C.W. Goodyear
Feb. 27 Phillis Wheatley: America’s First Black Poet  David Waldstreicher
Mar. 11 James Longstreet Elizabeth Varon
Mar. 13 Da Vinci, Shakespeare, Newton, Beethoven, and Einstein                                              Bulent Atalay
Mar. 18 Hedy Lamarr Stephen Michael Shearer
Mar. 20 Jay Gatsby Bob Batchelor
Apr. 1 John Lewis Raymond Arsenault
Apr. 3 Pat Nixon Health Hardage Lee

Great Lives

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This compelling lecture series offers insight into a wide and diverse range of figures of historical and cultural significance. These presentations are delivered by eminent authorities from throughout this country — and abroad. Thanks to a substantial initial endowment and continuing annual support from John Chappell, the program is open to the public free of charge and no admission tickets are required. Public support — via attendance, donations, and ideas about future lecture topics — is vital to the continuation of this program.

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Weather Cancellations

When the University of Mary Washington is closed due to inclement weather the Great Lives Lecture is cancelled for that evening. To check for cancellations due to inclement weather, visit the Campus Advisories page, or the UMW Information Line at 540-654-2424.