Inaugural Lecture Series Largest Ever

This year 14 newly promoted Professors in Arts and Humanities will be giving Inaugural Lectures. The Inaugural Lecture Series is a long-standing program honoring those who have reached the highest rank of academic achievement, that of Full Professor. Each faculty member promoted to Full Professor is given an opportunity to deliver a lecture to their colleagues on the general subject of their research. Inaugural lectures frequently have the virtue of being enlightening to those outside the lecturer's particular field, as well as being of great interest to specialists. They are both a summing up of a lifetime's work and a look ahead to new horizons. The Inaugural Lecture has become one of the most pleasant rituals of the academic year; it is a rite of passage where the introduction is an acknowledgment of excellence, the audience is enthusiastically supportive, and the questions rich and varied, all in honor of one of OSU's finest faculty. This year we can expect to hear lectures on everything from the musical rhythm of the heartbeat to the data on American homicide, by experts in subjects ranging from life-writing to dance notation. 2009-2010 is a banner year for the series, and a wide audience is anticipated for all lectures, which will take place from 4:30-5:30 pm in the OSU Faculty Club (with one exception, at Sullivant Hall Theatre) at several dates during the year.

The first two lecturers scheduled for Autumn quarter are Christopher Highley, Professor of English, on October 19, 2009, and Mary Tarantino, Professor of Theatre, scheduled for November 18, 2009, both at the OSU Faculty Club (181 S. Oval Drive). All members of the University community and their guests are invited.

Plan to attend all of our inaugural lectures.