2017-2018 Weekly Convocations
The weekly convocation series is a shared campus experience that brings students, faculty, and staff together for one hour for a lecture or presentation from specialists in a variety of fields. The goal of the convocation series is to stimulate thought and conversation on a wide range of subjects. Convocations are open to the public and free of charge.
September 2012
Monday, September 10th
- Opening Convocation
- Annual all-college assembly celebrating the beginning of the academic year, with the address given by Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton.
- 3:00 pm, Skinner Chapel
Friday, September 21st
- Convocation: Patty Webster
- President of Amazon Promise brings medical aid and health education to the poorest and most remote communities of Peru.
- 10:50 am, Skinner Chapel
Friday, September 28th
- Convocation: Michael Duffy
- Executive editor and Washington Bureau chief of TIME Magazine
- 10:50 am, Skinner Chapel
October 2012
Friday, October 5th
- Convocation: Jose Antonio Vargas
- Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter who unmasked himself as an undocumented immigrant.
- 10:50 am, Skinner Chapel
Friday, October 12th
- Convocation: Phil Plait
- Astronomer, lecturer and author debunks bad science and popular misconceptions.
- 10:50 am, Skinner Chapel
Friday, October 19th
- Convocation: Baoting Li and Miao Song and Dance Troupe
- Premier performance troupe in China dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the rich cultural Hmong resources.
- 10:50 am, Carleton Concert Hall
Friday, October 26th
- Convocation: Sherry Turkle
- Expert on the subjective side of human relationships with technology.
- 10:50 am, Skinner Chapel
November 2012
Friday, November 2nd
- Convocation: Leslie Harper
- Founder of elementary school Ojibwe language immersion program on the Leech Lake Reservation.
- 10:50 am, Skinner Chapel
January 2013
Friday, January 4th
- Convocation: Anthony DeCurtis
- Editor at Rolling Stone magazine discusses the music of social protest.
- 10:50 am, Skinner Chapel
Friday, January 11th
- Convocation: Ronald Henkoff '76
- Editor at Bloomberg Markets magazine examines how the economy has been affected by scandals within financial institutions.
- 10:50 am, Skinner Chapel
Friday, January 18th
- Convocation: Anita Sarkeesian
- Media critic explores the representations of women in pop culture narratives, including television, movies, and gaming.
- 10:50 am, Skinner Chapel
Friday, January 25th
- Convocation: Helene York
- Food activist discusses the complexities and ethical challenges of food service providers to make more sustainable food available.
- 10:50 am, Skinner Chapel
February 2013
Friday, February 1st
- Convocation: Ebony Utley
- Communication studies professor examines rap music and religion.
- 10:50 am, Skinner Chapel
Friday, February 8th
- Convocation: David Gergen
- Trusted advisor to four presidents and to both political parties
- 10:50 am, Skinner Chapel
Friday, February 15th
- Convocation: Brenda Brenner
- Music educator has done ground-breaking work with underprivileged and underachieving students in low-income neighborhoods.
- 10:50 am, Skinner Chapel
Friday, February 22nd
- Convocation: Siri Hustvedt
- Author explains how personal experience and memory become transformed into narrative.
- 10:50 am, Skinner Chapel
April 2013
Friday, April 5th
- Convocation: K. David Harrison
- Authority on endangered and dying languages.
- 10:50 am, Skinner Chapel
Friday, April 12th
- Convocation: Zalmay Khalilzad
- Former United States Ambassador to the United Nations
- 10:50 am, Skinner Chapel
Friday, April 19th
- Convocation: Sarah Kay
- Spoken word poet and founder of Project V.O.I.C.E., a group dedicated to inspiring youth to use spoken word as a tool of self expression.
- 10:50 am, Skinner Chapel
Friday, April 26th
- Convocation: Emily Schultz '05
- Educator with success in turning around failing schools.
- 10:50 am, Skinner Chapel
May 2013
Friday, May 3rd
- Convocation: Jeff Chang
- Chinese-American journalist discusses the colorization of America.
- 10:50 am, Skinner Chapel
Friday, May 10th
- Convocation: Bob Beckel and Cal Thomas
- A liberal Democratic strategist and a conservative columnist seek common ground in the contentious issues that divide our nation.
- 10:50 am, Skinner Chapel
Friday, May 17th
- Convocation: Randy Cohen
- Former ethics columnist for New York Times Magazine skillfully blends moral authority and humor.
- 10:50 am, Skinner Chapel
Friday, May 31st
- Honors Convocation: Kai Knutson '11
- Annual ceremony that draws the campus community together to celebrate the awards and academic accomplishments of our students.
- 3:00 pm, Skinner Chapel
