Hutson Lecture Series

The John Hutson Memorial Guest Lecture Series, named in memory of a beloved former History and Political Science Chair, embodies our commitment by providing students, parents, faculty, alumni, and community members unique opportunities to hear from and in many cases, meet with world-renowned authorities in areas such as literature, journalism, science, history, philosophy, and politics.

Our lecture series features two speakers per year:

We select one speaker each year to come to campus during the school day and speak specifically with students. Past examples are Tobias Wolff whose work is studied by the entire senior class, Luis Rodriguez with a discussion of how poetry and literature helped him break free from life in a Los Angeles street gang, and Orville Schell talking about politics and the media during an election year.

We select one speaker each year for an evening event, to which all of our constituents and the general public are invited. Attendance at this event has ranged from 350 to 800 people. Before the big evening program, the speaker meets informally with students and faculty members who have a specific interest in the author’s works or the evening’s topic.

Past evening speakers have included:

Past daytime speakers for students have included: