Annual Emeritus Faculty Lecture Series
The University of Wisconsin–Madison Institute on Aging hosts this award-winning series of lectures by retired University of Wisconsin–Madison faculty known for their teaching excellence and scholarship. The series, initiated in 1993 by Dr. Emily Auerbach, is targeted to members of the community of all ages. The talks are free and open to the public.
Upcoming Lectures
28th Annual Emeritus Faculty Lecture Series: Eloquence & Eminence
Fall 2025
Date: Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: Pyle Center | 702 Langdon St., Madison, WI
Talk by Valerie J. Gilchrist, M.D.
Emeritus Professor Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, School of Medicine and Public Health, UW–Madison
Past Lectures
28th Annual Emeritus Faculty Lecture Series: Eloquence & Eminence
Spring 2025: Wednesday, March 5, 2025
35 Years of Struggling to Understand Family Change and the Effects of Family Policy
Talk by Daniel R. Meyer, Ph.D.
PhD in Social Welfare, UW–Madison; MSW/MBA, Washington University
In this talk, Dr. Meyer will show changes in the structure of families in the US and around the world and describe some of the dilemmas faced by governments in trying to craft family policies that will facilitate the economic well-being of children in contemporary families. He will reflect on things he had to learn on his journey, the limits of our current knowledge base, and what he’s hoping for the future.
Talk Recording: Coming soon
27th Annual Emeritus Faculty Lecture Series: Eloquence & Eminence
Fall 2024: Wednesday, October 9, 2024
A Canadian Cold War Kid and the Persisting Challenge of Russia
Talk by David McDonald, Ph.D.
Alice D. Mortenson/Petrovich Distinguished Professor of Russian History; Professor Emeritus, History; Former Special Assistant to the Chancellor for Athletics, UW–Madison
This talk focuses on an unlikely career in the study of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union, leavened with excursions into the realm of modern sports.
Talk Recording: Watch the lecture
Spring 2024: Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Topsy-Turvy History: Regulation and Individual Rights in Public Health
Talk by Judith W. Leavitt, Ph.D.
Ruth Bleier and Rupple Bascom Professor Emerita of History of Medicine, History of Science, Gender and Women’s Studies, and History, UW–Madison
COVID-19 has brought public health issues and interventions into the news and into our lives. The history of public health in the 19th and 20th century reveals a trajectory of increasing power and authority of health departments to protect community health. A deep-dive into Milwaukee, Wisconsin, however, uncovers interruptions in the usual trajectory and provides insight into current dissention over masks and vaccinations. The talk draws on Dr. Leavitt’s book The Healthiest City to demonstrate that social and historical contexts informed responses to epidemics. Using examples of smallpox and influenza, it finds topsy-turvy changes in public health’s efforts to control infectious diseases.
Talk Recording: Watch the lecture