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Fowler Public Affairs Lecture Series

The Fowler Public Affairs Lecture Series serves as an open forum on public affairs. In addition to classroom sessions with Roanoke College students, guest lecturers give public addresses, free of charge, to the community.

Since its initiation in 1983, the program has brought to campus such political luminaries as former presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford; former U.N. ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick; former Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor; former secretaries of state Henry Kissinger and Lawrence Eagleburger; civil rights leaders Julian Bond and Andrew Young; former governors Michael Dukakis, Charles Robb, and Ann Richards; former CIA director Stansfield Turner; former West German chancellor Helmut Schmidt; former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto; and former Polish President Lech Walesa.

Hear firsthand from world leaders

Roanoke's Henry H. Fowler Public Policy Program has hosted speakers ranging from presidents, prime ministers, national commentators, Supreme Court justices, renowned scholars and recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize. Students have the chance to hear firsthand from global leaders and learn about issues facing the world.

Mara Liasson at Roanoke College

NPR national political correspondent and FOX News panelist Mara Liasson shared her insights about the landscape of the media and the electorate in a Nov. 2, 2022, talk entitled, "Implications of the Mid-Term Elections: A View of Democracy in America."
Jen Psaki at Roanoke College

Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki sat down with journalist Howard Kurtz for a conversation on "Civil Discourse and Democracy" on Nov. 12, 2019. Psaki served in high-level posts in two presidential administrations.
President Jimmy Carter at Roanoke College

The 39th president of the United States made a headline-generating visit to Roanoke College on April 10, 1984. President Jimmy Carter delivered a talk entitled, "Conflict and Consensus: America Today." 
General Clapper at Roanoke College

The nation's fourth director of national intelligence offered his expertise on the complex and evolving field in a talk entitled, "Intelligence Needs for the Future." Lt. Gen. James R. Clapper's address took place on March 22, 2018. 
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor at Roanoke College

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who made history as the first woman to serve on the high court, headlined Roanoke College's 2009 commemoration of Constitution Day. Her talk on the subject of judicial independence took place on Sept. 17, 2009.

In addition to the public servants listed above, visiting Fowler scholars have included urban affairs columnist William Raspberry; educator and former commissioner of education Earnest Boyer; economist and author Walter Williams; activist for the homeless Rev. John Steinbruck; Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Ellen Goodman; journalist and publisher William Buckley, Jr.; Princeton University professors and authorities on women in public life, Cecilia Rouse, Christine Stansell and Carol Swain; broadcast columnist Daniel Schorr; political columnist James Kilpatrick; economics scholar and former presidential advisor on inflation Alfred Kahn; author Alex Haley; and University of Virginia political analyst Larry Sabato.

Alternative Program Formats

Fowler professors may serve in a variety of ways including:

  • Course consultants-providing a minimum of three College lectures, complementing a particular course or curriculum;

  • Adjunct professors-teaching a semester-long course;

  • Visiting professors-teaching one or more courses, while participation in other scholarly activities; or

  • Research consultants-performing scholarly investigations, yet available for course consultation and other educational activities.

Suggestions for speaker or request for information about this program are welcome and may be
directed to:
Timothy Isaacs
(540) 375-5776
Bast Hall 228