Honors College
University Forum Speaker Schedule
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Since 1974, University Forum has brought hundreds of respected and innovative speakers to Southern Miss. In 2024, University Forum is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of this extraordinary Southern Miss tradition with an incredible slate of speakers and, of course, cake. (Our anniversary celebration will take place on October 8th!)
Registration is not required and all Forum events are free and open to the public. We are happy, however, to send you a reminder email (that will include an easy-to-use link to attend virtually).
All fall 2024 Forum events will be held in person at Bennett Auditorium on the Hattiesburg Campus. Most Forum events are also available through a livestream broadcast. Links to live events will be posted below the speaker鈥檚 bio on the day of the event. (Live streams of Forum events are offered as a courtesy; unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the quality of the live stream and cannot take questions from the online audience. If you are a student and your instructor requires proof of attendance, you must attend the in-person event to have your attendance recorded.)
If you require a sign language translator or any other accessibility accommodations, please contact University Forum at forumFREEMississippi at your earliest convenience.
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Fall 2024 Speaker Schedule
Ed Yong
September 17, 2024
6:30 p.m.
Bennett Auditorium
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ed Yong explores complex scientific concepts in accessible ways. A former staff writer at The Atlantic, Yong鈥檚 2016 book I and his 2022 book were both New York Times bestsellers and An Immense World won the Andrew Carnegie Medal. The Poynter Institute for Media Studies named him 鈥渢he most important and impactful journalist鈥� of 2020 for his writing on the coronavirus. At Forum, Yong will speak about the 鈥渦nique sensory bubble鈥� that all animals live in and how humans perceive 鈥渂ut a tiny sliver of an immense world.鈥�
Kathleen Koch
50th Anniversary Event
October 8, 2024
6:30 p.m.
Bennett Auditorium
A Mississippi native and graduate of the Honors College at Southern Miss, Kathleen Koch covered the White House, Capitol Hill, and Pentagon as well as almost every disaster imaginable during her 18 years as a correspondent at CNN. She is the author of and her two documentaries on Bay St. Louis鈥檚 recovery earned her a Peabody Award. In 2018, she was named to the Southern Miss Alumni Hall of Fame and she currently serves on the SWAG视频 School of Mass Communications and Journalism Advisory Board. At Forum, Koch will speak about her experiences as a journalist and the importance of persistence and listening to your inner voice in making a meaningful difference in the world.
| Join us after Kathleen Koch鈥檚 talk to celebrate University Forum鈥檚 fiftieth anniversary. We will recall Forum鈥檚 rich history, cut some cake, and raise our glasses to a distinguished Southern Miss tradition. |
Erin Brockovich
November 12, 2024
6:30 p.m.
Bennett Auditorium
Erin Brockovich鈥檚 unwavering pursuit of justice for the residents of Hinkley, California, exposed 30 years of Pacific Gas & Electric鈥檚 contamination of the small town鈥檚 water supply and led to one of the largest settlements for a direct-action lawsuits in U.S. history. Her battle with PG&E inspired Steven Soderbergh鈥檚 film and Julia Robert鈥檚 unforgettable performance. Since then, she has consulted on other pollution litigation and has published a New York Times-bestselling autobiography, . Most recently, she authored She remains a prominent voice for environmental justice. At Forum, Brockovich will speak about America's (and Mississippi鈥檚) water crisis.
Spring 2025 Speaker Schedule
Ada Lim贸n
February 11, 2025
6:30 p.m.
Bennett Auditorium
Ada Lim贸n is the 24th Poet Laureate of the United States and the first Latina to be named Poet Laureate. Her poems explore themes of identity, nature, and the human experience. Born in 1976 in Sonoma, California, Lim贸n grew up in a rural setting, and her work has been praised for its lyrical beauty, emotional depth, and keen observations of the natural world. She has published several poetry collections, including , a finalist for the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. She is a highly respected teacher and has taught poetry at various universities and writing programs. University Forum is proud to partner with The University of Southern Mississippi鈥檚 Center for Writers to bring Ada Limon to Southern Miss to talk about the role of poetry in our lives.
Armstrong-Branch Lecture Series
March 18, 2025
6:30 p.m.
Thad Cochran Center Ballrooms
Now in its third decade, the Armstrong-Branch Lecture Series is named for Gwendolyn Armstrong-Chamberlain and Raylawni Adams Branch, the first Black students to enroll at SWAG视频.
Founded in 1994, this historic lecture series was initially supported and modeled after University Forum. Now it is sponsored by the Dean of Students Office; however, during University Forum鈥檚 anniversary year, we are proud to be collaborating once again. The speaker will be announced in November 2024.
Lachi
April 8, 2025
6:30 p.m.
Mannoni Performing SWAG视频 Center
Lachi, known for , gained global recognition for her distinctive blend of pop and dance music. Twice nominated for an Independent Music Award, she has collaborated on projects with Kendra Black, Snoop Dogg, and Cardi B. Her career as a musician has been influenced by, but never defined by, her visual impairment, but in recent years she has become an influential advocate for disability rights. The self-described 鈥渓oud and proud鈥� singer is the founder of RAMPD, Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities, and has spoken and performed at the White House and the United Nations. In 2024, Lachi was named one of USA Today鈥檚 Women of the Year, and in 2025 she will release her first book, I Identify as Blind. At Forum, Lachi will perform some of her hit works and discuss disability rights.