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Provost's
Distinguished Lecture Series

ACADEMICS

Advancing Knowledge Through Dialogue and Discovery

Dr. Hegedus created The Provost’s Distinguished Lecture Series in 2025 to bring leading voices from across disciplines to share their insights, scholarship, and vision with the regional community.

A reception will follow each lecture series, offering a chance for conversation and connection.

✸ Free & open to the public.

Brian at his lecture with an audience member
Terence signing his book
people observe microscope exhibit
Terence Dwyer giving a lecture
WCSU Provosts Distinguished Lecture Series
Brian, Neeta and Terrance
The audience at Bryan's lecture
person in tick costume
Brian giving his lecture

ACADEMIC YEAR 2026-2027

Lecture Series Two

These panels will tackle one of the foundational questions
of human experience with a year-long examination of

What is Truth?

Supported with funding from The Macricostas Family Lecture Series Endowment

macricostas-family-foundation2

Truth in Journalism & Media

Featuring Various Speakers

Reporting Reality in an Age of Misinformation

The first event of the Provost’s Distinguished Lecture Series will begin at 6 p.m. on Sept. 30 with a panel discussion on “Truth & Journalism: Reporting Reality in an Era of Misinformation,” featuring editors and reporters who set the standard for journalism in Connecticut.

They will talk about how they manage the pressures of today’s media landscape to present news in an authoritative, empathetic, and clear manner.

  • Elizabeth Hamilton, editor, CT Mirror, winner of the 2026 Pulitzer Prize
  • Stephen Busemeyer, managing editor, CT Mirror
  • John Breunig, editorial page editor, Hearst Connecticut Media Group
  • Eddy Martinez, breaking news/general assignment reporter, Connecticut Public TV
  • JC Barone, WCSU professor of Communication and Media Arts, who produces the annual “Election Connection” live Election Night report with WestConn students
Register Here

Truth and Science

Speaker To Be Announced

Evidence, Uncertainty, and
the Scientific Search for Truth

This lecture will examine:

  • Does science discover truth of continually revise it?
  • How does evidence become accepted knowledge?
  • What is the relationship between certainty and scientific inquiry?
  • How should the public interpret scientific disagreements?
registration Coming Soon

Truth and Justice

Speaker To Be Announced

Evidence, Perspective, and the Pursuit of Justice

This lecture will examine:

  • Is legal truth the same as factual truth?
  • Can justice exist without truth?
  • How do courts determine what happened?
  • What roles do memory, testimony, and evidence play?
registration Coming Soon

Truth and Imagination

Speaker To Be Announced

How Art, Literature, and Creativity Reveal Truths

This lecture will examine:

  • Can fiction convey truths that facts cannot?
  • Why do stories shape human understanding?
  • What is the relationship between imagination and reality?
  • How do artists challenge accepted truths?
registration Coming Soon

Past Distinguished Lectures

The Office of the Provost hosted the Inaugural Provost’s Distinguished Lecture Series from late 2025 to early 2026. 

The series launch celebrated the work of three CSU Professors, Neeta Connally, Terrence Dwyer and Brian Clements. Each of whom shared their impactful work and stories with our community.

VIEW Lecture Series Photo Galleries
WESTERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY Provost's Distinguished Lecture Series
WESTERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY Provost's Distinguished Lecture Series
WESTERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY Provost's Distinguished Lecture Series

Dr. Neeta Connally How to Be a Bad Host: Preventing Lyme Disease When There are More Ticks in More Places

Mr. Terrence P. Dwyer Criminals, Clients, Curricula, and Creativity

Dr. Brian Clements The Marketplace of Campo de’ Fiori, or What is Poetry?

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