WTAMU’s Distinguished Lecture Series (DLS) was created in 2007 to enhance education in the classroom. A portion of the student activity fee funds the series, and committee members strive to select speakers who appeal to a broad spectrum of the student body. The mission of the Distinguished Lecture Series is to invite persons of national prominence to the WTAMU campus in order to expose our students to some of the most important issues of our times.
In addition to offering funding support for visits by subject-matter experts to expand the work of our colleges and departments, the Distinguished Lecture Series at WT has brought world reknown guests to campus through the years to inspire and enlighten students, faculty and the community. Topics are varied, and guest speakers have included Dr. Temple Grandin, Astronaut Mark Kelly, Humans of New York founder Brandon Stanton, President Bill Clinton, Maya Angelou, Astronaut Sally Ride, Steve Burns of "Blue's Clues," actress and author Anna Deavere Smith, and author George Saunders.
Fall 2024 Events
Megan Fernandes
Dorothy Patterson Poetry Series
Date: Oct. 10
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: FAC Recital Hall
Student Q&A
Date: Oct. 11
Time: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Event managed by Dr. Matthew Harrison, Department of English, Philosophy and Modern Languages
In addition to three books, Fernandes' work is published in The New Yorker, The American Poetry Review, Tin House, Ploughshares, Chicago Review, Boston Review, Rattle, PANK, The Common, Guernica, the Academy of American Poets, and McSweeney’s Internet Tendency. https://www.meganfernandes.com/poems-essays
Clay Jenkinson
Garry L. Nall Lecture in Western Studies:
“The Language of Cottonwoods: A Dialogue on the Plains and Sense of Place”
Date: Nov. 7
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Legacy Hall
Event managed by Dr. Alex Hunt, Center for the Study of the American West
Clay Jenkinson is a humanities scholar, author, and social commentator, devoting most of his career to public humanities programs. As one of the nation’s leading interpreters of Thomas Jefferson and other historical figures, Clay has performed before Supreme Court justices, presidents, 18 state legislatures, and countless public, corporate and student audiences as well as appearing on The Today Show, Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, The Colbert Report, and CNN. He has dedicated the better part of his life to researching the historical characters that he portrays and to bringing back and defining the “living theatre” of Chautauqua, which also emphasizes education with audience participation to enhance the learning and entertainment experience.
The lecture is free and open to the public, but the event includes special access for subscribers to the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities Sub-Series.
Spring 2025 Events
Benjamin H. Johnson
“Texas: An American History”
Date: March 5 (evening)
Event managed by Dr. Tim Bowman, History
Spring 2024 Past Events
Kathryn Sydell Pilkington co-founder of Company E
“Creating Connections: Dance, Film, and the Art of Cultural Diplomacy”
Date: Thursday, Jan. 25
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex Recital Hall
Hosted by: Crystal Bertrand, the WT Dance Program within the Department of Art, Theatre, and Dance
Janel Pineda & Sara Uribe, poets
“Dreaming America through Latinx Poetry”
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 6 Discussion on Writing and Poetry
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Location: Blackburn Room of the Cornette Library Poetry Reading
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex Recital Hall
Hosted by: Dr. Andrew Reynolds, the WT Spanish Program within the Department of English, Philosophy, and Modern Languages
Audrey Wright, violinist
"Voices of the Violin” Lecture and Recital
Date: Tuesday, March 26
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex Recital Hall
Hosted by: Evgeny Zvonnikov, WT School of Music
George Saunders, author
Date: Thursday, April 4
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Legacy Hall
Hosted in partnership with Amarillo College's Creative Mind Lecture Series and the Center for the Study of the American West’s Garry L. Nall Lecture in Western Studies