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Two MacArthur “Genius” Award winners, a host of bestselling authors, distinguished professors and other leading figures from a variety of fields will examine the theme of “Transformations” in the 2017-18 Chautauqua Lecture Series at Eastern Kentucky University.

The series, which runs throughout the academic year and also includes an art exhibit on the theme, kicks off Thursday, Sept. 7, with Temple University education and sociology professor Sara Goldrick-Rab discussing “College Costs, Financial Aid and the Betrayal of the American Dream.” All lectures are free and open to the public and will begin at 7:30 p.m. in O’Donnell Hall of the Whitlock Building.

The complete schedule of this year’s series:

Fall 2017

Thursday, Sept. 7 – Sara Goldrick-Rab, “The Transformation of Higher Education: The New Economics of College and Their Consequences.”

Thursday, Sept. 14 – Sylvester James Gates Jr., “Einstein vs. Roberts: Does Diversity Matter in Science?” (Celebration of Science Week Keynote Address)

Thursday, Sept. 28 – Julissa Arce, “An American DREAMer: from Undocumented to Wall Street to Immigration Advocacy.” (Hispanic Heritage Month Keynote Address)

Thursday, Oct. 5 – “Hillbilly*, the Documentary: 100 Years of Appalachia in TV and Film,” filmmakers Sally Rubin and Silas House present scenes from a work in progress. (Appalachian Heritage Festival Special Event)

Wednesday, Oct. 11 – Rebecca Goldstein, “The Transformation of the Ancient Greeks and the Making of Philosophy.” (Ron Messerich Distinguished Lecture in Philosophy and Religion)

Thursday, Nov. 16 – Kelli Carmean, “Mayan Transformations: Historical Fact and Creative Fiction.” (Native American Heritage Month Keynote Address)

Thursday, Nov. 30 – Pam Soltis, “Transformation and Conservation: Climate Change and the Southern Landscape.” (Bruce MacLaren Distinguished Lecture)

Spring 2018

Thursday, Jan. 25 – National Juried Art Exhibition, opening reception 5-7 p.m., Fred Parker Giles Gallery, Campbell Building. Exhibition runs Jan. 22-Feb. 16.

Thursday, Feb. 1 – Lee Dugatkin, “Rapid Evolution: How to Tame a Fox and Build a Dog.”

Thursday, Feb. 15 – Joyceyln Wilson, “The Outkast Imagination: Hip Hop Education and Transformative Pedagogy.” (Black History Month Keynote Address)

Thursday, March 1 – Maryanne Wolf, “Literacy in the Digital Age: Transformations of the Reading Brain.”

Thursday, March 22 – Kimberly Hoang, “Money Movers: Ethnography of Desire in Gray Economies in Southeast Asia.” (Combined Women’s History and Asian Studies Keynote Address)

Thursday, April 5 – Robert Frank, “Success and Luck: Good Fortune and the Myth of Meritocracy.”

Thursday, April 19 – Robert Darnton, “Censorship and Literary Transformation: Bourbon France, British India and Communist East Germany.” (Distinguished Lecture in International Studies)

For more information about the series or speakers, visit www.chautauqua.eku.eduor contact Chautauqua Lecture Coordinator Dr. Erik Liddell at erik.liddell@eku.edu.