The William Weber Lectures in Government and Society were founded by Bill Weber, a 1939 graduate of Kalamazoo College. In addition to this lectureship, William Weber has founded the William Weber Chair in Political Science at the College.
The College is sad to note the passing of Bill Weber in June 2012.
2022 Guest Lecturer
Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, K’99
Chief Medical Executive for the State of Michigan
Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MD, MPH, FIDSA, is the Chief Medical Executive for the State of Michigan, in which she provides overall medical guidance for the State of Michigan as a cabinet member of the Governor.
For the last year Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian served the State of Michigan in the role of Senior Public Health Physician with the Department of Health and Human Services, where she oversaw the SARS-CoV-2 testing strategy for the state and helped bring rapid testing technologies to vulnerable populations. Since early 2020 she has served as a consultant for the World Health Organization (WHO), providing technical guidance on outbreak preparedness and COVID-19.
Additional Zoom Event information:
Meeting ID: 852 3599 7454
Passcode: kzoo
SPECIAL CAMPUS VIEWING AREA FOR STUDENTS, STAFF AND FACULTY
Past Lecturers
2019
Dr. Joe Soss
“Preying on the Poor: Criminal Justice as Revenue Racket”
2018
DeRay Mckesson, Civil Rights Activist
“On the Other Side of Freedom: The Case for Hope”
2016
Sasha Issenberg, Political Correspondent and American Journalist
“The Victory Lab 2016: A Report from the Campaign Trail”
2015
Martin Gilens, Professor of Politics
“Economic Inequality & Political Power In America”
2015
Gerald E. Rosen, Chief U.S District Judge
“Detroit Bankruptcy: Lessons Learned”
2013
Jacqueline Stevens, Professor of Political Science
“Government Illegals: Deportation and the Rule of Law”
2012
Dr. Joan Mandle
“Who Owns Democracy”
2011
Mr. Van Jones
“Rebuild The Dream: The Next American Economy”
2010
Mr. Justin Brooks
Freeing the Innocent: Overcoming Constitutional Procedural and Practical Barriers”
2009
Mr. Mickey Edwards
“It’s the 21st Century: Does the Constitution still matter?”
“Do the People Still Govern?”
2008
Ms. Tamara Draut
Falling Behind: The Economic Challenges Confronting a New Generation”
“Strapped: Why It’s Harder than Ever to Get Ahead, and What You Can Do about It”
2007
Professor Spencer Overton
“Stealing Democracy: the New Politics of Voter Suppression”
“Being a Political Animal at K: How to Stay Involved Beyond the Bubble”
2006
Mr. Miles Rapoport
“The Challenge to our Social Cond and our Democracy: What We Can Do to Rescue Both, and How Tuesday’s Results Impact our Prospects for Success “
“From Both Sides Now: Working for Social Change as an Advocate, A Politician, and Back”“
2005
Dr. Frances Fox Piven
“Disruption and Democracy: Lessons from American History“
“Whatever Happened to the American New Deal?“
Weber Lecture Speakers Prior to 2005
2004 – Mr. Benjamin Ginsberg. Lecture I – Elections and Presidential Power. Lecture II – Downsizing Democracy
2003 – Larry Rasmussen. Lecture I – An Axial Moment. Lecture II – Religion’s Responses
2002 – John Esposito. Lecture I – Islam, U.S. Foreign Policy, and War on Terrorism. Lecture II – The Many Faces of Islam
2001 – Charles Curran. Lecture – Terrorism and Christian Ethics
2000 – Ernesto Cortes, Jr. Lecture – The Importance of Politics and Why We Don’t Do It Anymore
1999 – William Greider. Lecture – “ Moral Dilemmas of the Global Economy”
1998 – Edward Cabot. Lecture – “Do Citizen Matter?”
1997 – Ronald Thiemann. Lecture – “Religion in Public Life: A Dilemma for Democracy”
1996 – Jean Bethke Elshtain. Lecture – “Ethics and Public Life”
1995 – John Judis. Lecture – “American Politics on the Eve of the Millennium,I”
1994 – John Cobb. Lecture – “When Economic Growth Must End: What Next?”
1993 – E.J. Dionne Jr. Lecture – “Why Americans Hate Politics”
1992 – Frances Moore Lappe Lecture – “Citizen Politics and the Future of Democracy”
1991 – Thomas Edsall. Lecture – “Race, Rights, Values and American Politics”
1990 – David Broder. Lecture – “Democracy Derailed”
1989 – Michael McPherson. Lecture – “Distinctive Justice and Higher Education”
1988 – Russell Kirk. Lecture – “The Rights of Man vs. The Bill of Rights”
1987 – G. Mennen “Soapy” Williams. Lecture – ( No Title) 1st William Weber Lecture