Spring 2026 Events

February 4 at 6:30 p.m.

Monroe Hall 134

One of UVA's most popular economics professors on public choice theory and why crony capitalism isn't capitalism.

Cosponsored with UVA Econ Club

February 10 at 6:30 p.m.

Monroe Hall 110

Judge Daniel Bress, a Circuit Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, will join us for a talk on criminal law.

Co-sponsored with Phi Alpha Delta, the undergraduate pre-law fraternity

Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m.

Location TBA

One of America's most interesting commentators and journalists is talking about one of the country's most important and confusing developments: the spread of conspiracy thinking and mistrust of our institutions.

Cosponsored with The Roosevelt Society

February 18 at 6:30 p.m.

Monroe Hall 134

How do policies in DC actually get made? Do think tanks influence that, and what exactly do they do? Come to a conversation with the head of one of the biggest, oldest, and most effective think tanks in history, the American Enterprise Institute.

Cosponsored with College Republicans

February 23 at 6:30 p.m.

Monroe Hall 134

A big gap has opened in how men & women vote in the U.S. This has been accelerating in the last few years, as young men vote a lot more to the right and young women a lot more to the left. This can affect politics, our political parties, romantic relationships, and more—and it's in other countries too. Come here two leading experts on polling and politics talk about this dramatic new development.   

Cosponsored with the Virginia Review of Politics

February 24 at 6:30 p.m.

Location TBA

Former U.S. Ambassador to monitor and combat human trafficking John Cotton Richmond will speak about the injustice of modern day slavery, forced labor, and human trafficking.

Cosponsored with International Justice Mission at UVA, Second Year Council DEI Committee, and Phi Alpha Delta, the undergraduate pre-law fraternity

March 23 at 6:30 p.m.

Monroe Hall 134

To celebrate America at 250, come hear Mary Kate Cary, one of UVA's most popular professors, talk about one of America's most famous orators: Patrick Henry, the American Revolution, and "give me liberty or give me death!"

Cosponsored with The Virginia Review of Politics

March 30 at 7:30 p.m.

Monroe Hall 134

Tim Heaphy is a white-collar criminal defense lawyer who worked as a prosecutor in cases involving the Charlottesville neo-Nazi rally and investigating the January 6 mob. Heaphy will make the case that everyone needs to rediscover how to get along with each other. We'll have free copies of his important book!

Cosponsored with University Democrats and Phi Alpha Delta, the undergraduate pre-law fraternity

April 1 at 6:30 p.m.

Monroe Hall 134

How can we anticipate the ethical implications of AI? How have we assessed technologies of the past? Princeton Prof. Steven Kelts will join the Blue Ridge Center for a talk on why we need to be more concerned with anticipating what AI will bring than the difficult-to-quantify long-term existential risks of technology.

Cosponsored with Societal AI at UVA

April 9 at 6:30 p.m.

Monroe Hall 110

Many people are having so few babies that populations are set to crash in countries from Europe to Turkey, South Korea, and beyond. Why is this happening and how will it change our world? Come hear Catherine Pakaluk, a leading expert on the economics of the family and trends in human fertility.  

Cosponsored with UVA Econ Club

April 16 at 6:30 p.m.

Monroe Hall 110

Do biotech companies have ethical obligations—and what are they? UVA Professor Nikki Hastings has a biomedical engineering PhD and teaches about biotech in McIntire. She’ll review Theranos, Orchid, Neuralink, and other major (and controversial) biotech projects. Come hear her and ask your own questions!

Date and Location TBA

CJ Howard helps lead a major architecture school, designs beautiful and sacred buildings, and has strong thoughts about why buildings matter, which styles are best, and why the trends at UVA are all in the wrong direction.