In the past two decades, The University of Akron has hosted a wide array of authors, policymakers, journalists, entrepreneurs and politicians for its UA Forum Lecture Series at E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall.
Paul Theroux
On Thursday, Oct. 2, the 20th season will begin with Paul Theroux presenting “China – The Years Between Mao and Modernism” at 7:30 p.m. The talk by the novelist, travel writer, short-story writer and critic also is the keynote address for China Week 2014 — Sept. 28 to Oct. 3. Theroux's latest work, “Mr. Bones: Twenty Stories,” will be released Sept. 30. The Confucius Institute and Thomas Hall are sponsors of the talk.
Piper Kerman
Next at the podium will be Piper Kerman, author of “Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Woman's Prison,” on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 7:30 p.m. This is UA's "First Year Lecture" and is free to students with a ticket. The talk is sponsored by New Student Orientation.
In her memoir, Kerman recounts the 15 months that she spent in the Danbury Correctional Facility and shares the stories of the women she met there. The Netflix series, “Orange is the New Black,” is based on her book.
Jane Pauley
“Your Life Calling” is the title for a talk by Jane Pauley on Monday, Nov. 3, at 7:30 p.m. A broadcast journalist for more than 30 years, Pauley is a former anchor of the “Today Show” and “Dateline,” both on NBC. She joined the CBS News show “Sunday Morning” as a contributor earlier this year. Her lecture is sponsored by The Dorothy Garrett Martin Memorial Delta Gamma Lectureship on Values and Ethics and Thomas Hall.
Pauley has written two New York Times bestsellers. Her latest, and the topic of her lecture, “Your Life Calling: Reimagining the Rest of Your Life,” is based on her award-winning series on “Today,” – about people 50+ starting different careers, learning new skills, making a difference or pursuing their dreams. In addition, Pauley is an advocate for mental health, children’s health and education issues.
Melissa Harris-Perry
The UA Forum Series continues in 2015 with Melissa Harris-Perry on Monday, Feb. 2, at 7:30 p.m. A writer, professor, television host and political commentator with a focus on African-American politics, she hosts her own weekend news and opinion television show on MSNBC. Harris-Perry also provides expert commentary on U.S. elections, religious questions and gender concerns for a variety of media outlets.
Harris-Perry also is a professor of politics and international affairs at her alma mater, Wake Forest University. Her talk is sponsored by Rethinking Race, Office of Inclusion and Equity and Culture Quest.
Dr. Michael Eric Dyson
On Friday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m., Dr. Michael Eric Dyson will deliver a lecture as the keynote speaker for the 2015 Black Male Summit. A religious and cultural studies scholar, professor and best-selling author, Dyson’s appearance is sponsored by Black Male Summit and Thomas Hall.
Dyson has been named by Ebony magazine as one of the 100 most influential black Americans, is the author of 16 books, including “Holler if You Hear Me, Is Bill Cosby Right?” and “I May Not Get There With You: The True Martin Luther King Jr.” He is a University Professor of Sociology at Georgetown University.
Jack Hanna
A first-of-its-kind UA Forum lecture is planned Thursday, April 30, at 7 p.m. with “Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild Live!” Animal expert Jack Hanna is bringing his Emmy Award-winning television series to the Thomas Hall stage. There will be animals, humorous stories and video.
Hanna’s lecture is presented by Nationwide Insurance and sponsored by Thomas Hall and the Honors College with support of The Humane Society of Greater Akron.
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist, author and science communicator, will conclude the UA Forum season on Wednesday, May 6, at 7:30 p.m. Tyson is head of the world-renowned Hayden Planetarium in New York City and is also a research associate of the Department of Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History. His appearance is sponsored by the Honors College and Thomas Hall.
Tyson recently served as executive editor and on-camera host and narrator of the Emmy-nominated series, “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey.”
Tickets are $10 each for the general public, $8 for UA faculty, staff and seniors, and $6 for UA students. Until Sept. 29, UA Forum subscriptions are $49 each for the general public, $35 for UA faculty and staff and seniors, and $18 for UA students. For tickets, call the Thomas Hall Ticket Office at 330-972-7570 or visit uaevents.com.