Lectures & Presentations

Rescheduled: Author of 'The New Jim Crow' to speak at С�� Boulder Feb. 25

Megan M Rogers — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 18:00:23 +0000

Rescheduled: Author of 'The New Jim Crow' to speak at С�� Boulder Feb. 25 Megan M Rogers Thu, 02/05/2026 - 11:00

Editor's note: Michelle Alexander's Nov. 5 talk was postponed and will now be held Feb. 25. All originally purchased tickets remain valid.

Best-selling author and civil rights advocate Michelle Alexander will speak at С�� Boulder at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb 25. The event will take place at the UMC Glenn Miller Ballroom and tickets are available now.

Tickets will be $2 for students, $5 for faculty and staff, and $10 for the general public. The event is sponsored by С�� Boulder’s student-run Cultural Events Board (CEB). Ticket prices don't include processing fees.

Perhaps best known for her 2010 bestseller "The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness," Alexander's career spans law, academia, advocacy and journalism. She has served as a civil rights lawyer, taught law at Stanford and Ohio State, and continues to write on issues of justice as an opinion columnist for The New York Times.

More from the Cultural Events Board on Alexander:

Why did the board choose Michelle Alexander to speak at С��?

We selected Michelle Alexander because she stands at the intersection of civil liberties and media literacy. These are two themes that CEB felt the С�� community would benefit from learning more about.

Her book, "The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness," explores systemic racism in the American prison system, national conversations on systemic racism, criminal justice reform and the continuing impact of racial inequality. As a civil rights lawyer, legal scholar, advocate and writer, Alexander speaks directly to the challenges of due process, the criminalization of activism and the biases embedded in legal and media systems.

Alexander has the ability to connect pressing cultural and legal issues with the lived experiences of marginalized groups. Her work critically examines the ways media and policy shape the collective understanding of civil liberties. We believe her insights will challenge and inspire С�� students to think deeply about equity, solidarity and truth in our society.

What about her work and career will connect with and intrigue С�� students?

Her insights will resonate with С�� students who are navigating questions about systemic inequality, misinformation and the role of media in shaping public understanding. С�� students will benefit from her perspective on how narratives—whether legal, political or digital—can reinforce oppression or foster solidarity.

About the Cultural Events Board

The Cultural Events Board is composed of student leaders and aims to broaden cultural knowledge by supporting the voices of underrepresented and misrepresented groups on campus, thereby promoting student engagement with their platforms. The Cultural Events Board encourages opportunities for interaction among students resulting in respect, appreciation and understanding for cultural differences.

Past CEB speakers have included award-winning singer, dancer and actress Rita Moreno; South African-born comedian and commentator Trevor Noah; comedian and commentator Hasan Minhaj; former Ohio Governor John Kasich; Olympic gymnast and author Aly Raisman; Academy Award-winner Viola Davis; acclaimed actress, author and activist Diane Guerrero.

If you go

Who: Open to the public
What: An Evening With Michelle Alexander
When: Wednesday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m.
Where: UMC Glenn Miller Ballroom

Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $2 for students, $5 for faculty/staff and $10 for the general public.

Get Your Tickets

Michelle Alexander's Nov. 5 talk was postponed and will now be held Feb. 25. All originally purchased tickets remain valid.

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'Do Deportations Help or Hurt the Economy?' A talk Feb. 19

Megan M Rogers — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:44:19 +0000

'Do Deportations Help or Hurt the Economy?' A talk Feb. 19 Megan M Rogers Thu, 02/05/2026 - 09:44

Using data from past deportation campaigns alongside new findings from 2025, Associate Professor Chloe East will examine whether deportations actually improve outcomes for United States-born workers and the broader economy, as well as changes in ICE activity both in Colorado and nationwide.

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'Beyond Preservation: Rehumanizing the University from the Inside Out' Feb. 18

Megan M Rogers — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 16:08:45 +0000

'Beyond Preservation: Rehumanizing the University from the Inside Out' Feb. 18 Megan M Rogers Tue, 02/03/2026 - 09:08

Join the next free BoulderTalks presentation, where visiting expert Randy Bass of Georgetown University will talk about how universities can navigate transformative change.

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Researcher addresses the challenges of species survival—join Feb. 17

Megan M Rogers — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 18:36:08 +0000

Researcher addresses the challenges of species survival—join Feb. 17 Megan M Rogers Mon, 02/02/2026 - 11:36

Colorado Arts and Sciences Magazine

In his Distinguished Research Lecture, С�� Boulder Professor Dan Doak will address the question, "What can we do that will actually help species survive?"

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С�� Boulder Federal Governance and Higher Education series to return Feb. 19

Megan M Rogers — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 18:26:18 +0000

С�� Boulder Federal Governance and Higher Education series to return Feb. 19 Megan M Rogers Mon, 01/26/2026 - 11:26

Join a panel discussion, "Will American Higher Education Remain Global? International Scholars, International Students, and the Federal Government."

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Know before you go: Three Minute Thesis Jan. 29

Megan M Rogers — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 14:46:08 +0000

Know before you go: Three Minute Thesis Jan. 29 Megan M Rogers Mon, 01/26/2026 - 07:46

Join this annual event, which showcases graduate students' ability to distill their nine-hour thesis down to three minutes. See the speakers, their topics and more.

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'Life at the bottom of the world'—A talk by Diane McKnight Feb. 5

Megan M Rogers — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 19:57:45 +0000

'Life at the bottom of the world'—A talk by Diane McKnight Feb. 5 Megan M Rogers Fri, 01/23/2026 - 12:57

Hosted by INSTAAR, this 75th anniversary seminar will feature Distinguished Professor Diane McKnight discussing her 27-plus field seasons in Antarctica. There will also be refreshments and a student poster showcase.

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Join an afternoon with StoryCorps founder Dave Isay Feb. 25

Megan M Rogers — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:33:23 +0000

Join an afternoon with StoryCorps founder Dave Isay Feb. 25 Megan M Rogers Tue, 01/20/2026 - 08:33

Discover what it means to find work that truly matters at the Buffs One Read speaker event with StoryCorps founder Dave Isay. Registration is open.

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Student Testing Center: Faculty presentation Jan. 20

Megan M Rogers — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 19:53:53 +0000

Student Testing Center: Faculty presentation Jan. 20 Megan M Rogers Fri, 01/09/2026 - 12:53

Join Disability Services for a faculty-focused presentation on the Student Testing Center. Learn which students are eligible, how to submit exam requests and key procedures for finals week.

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Join in 'Imagining Tomorrow' through MLK series beginning Jan. 15

Megan M Rogers — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 18:28:03 +0000

Join in 'Imagining Tomorrow' through MLK series beginning Jan. 15 Megan M Rogers Tue, 12/23/2025 - 11:28

The campus’s 2026 celebrations of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are scheduled from Thursday, Jan. 15, through Tuesday, Jan. 20, and will include student table talks and an evening keynote.

This year’s theme—“Imagining Tomorrow: Afro-Futurist Visions of Community, Creativity and Collective Care”—emerges from King’s expansive vision of justice and community interconnectedness. Embracing Afrofuturist frameworks and ancestral rhythms, the convocation will explore creative expressions of justice, community wellness and intergenerational care.

Ibram X. Kendi

The keynote event on Jan. 15 will feature Ibram X. Kendi, a leading anti-racist scholar and historian, and the founding director of the Howard Institute for Advanced Study. He is the author of many highly acclaimed books including “Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America,” which won the National Book Award for Nonfiction, making him the youngest author to win that award. In 2020, Time magazine named Kendi one of the 100 Most Influential People in the world. He was awarded a 2021 MacArthur Fellowship, popularly known as the Genius Grant. His latest book, “Malcolm Lives!: The Official Biography of Malcolm X for Young Readers,” was an instant New York Times bestseller.

Kendi will join in a moderated discussion with Michele Simpson, a С�� Boulder associate teaching professor and faculty affiliate of the Renée Crown Wellness Institute and Center for African and African American Studies. Together, they will examine King’s lesser-known writings on economic justice, global solidarity and radical imagination, and connect these concepts to contemporary visions of equitable, sustainable communities.

"Dr. King's writings and teachings continue to resonate with all of us who strive to create a more just, equitable and connected community," said Chancellor Justin Schwartz. "As we celebrate his legacy, I can't imagine a more capable guide through American history than Ibram X. Kendi. I'm thrilled to welcome Dr. Kendi to our campus and hear his perspectives and vision for our collective future."

The Center for Cultural Connections and Community will be hosting student table talks before and after the keynote event. The first workshop, on Thursday, Jan. 15, at noon, will introduce students to dialogic principles, including strategies for evaluating how bias and language choice can impact how we engage in crucial conversations. A second talk will follow on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 5:30 p.m., which will reflect on topics and themes discussed during the keynote. Both talks will be supplemented with guided visualizations inspired by Afrofuturist principles.

David Humphrey, associate vice chancellor for leadership support and programming, said the convocation theme was inspired by sentiments of yearning and dreaming shared by many colleagues across campus.

“Navigating our current historical moment requires a radical imagination, one capable of seeing beyond what is to envision what could be. Social transformation has always depended on the courage to dream past the limits of the present,” said Humphrey.

“This prophetic invitation sits at the heart of Dr. King’s philosophy of nonviolent resistance and the Beloved Community. The 2026 convocation invites our campus to imagine boldly, to re-member honestly and to cultivate a shared vision of what it means to build a more just and flourishing community. In gathering together, we honor both the dreams that carried us here and the collective visioning required to shape what comes next.”

The keynote event is free and open to students, staff, faculty and the public. Guests are encouraged to register in advance to guarantee their seat.

For accommodation requests, please email the convocation planning team.

If you go

Who: Students, faculty, staff, community members
What: MLK keynote
When: Thursday, Jan. 15, 6–7:30 p.m.
Where: Macky Auditorium

Campus events for students

Jan. 15: The Art of Meaningful Conversation
Jan. 20: MLK Convocation Reflection

In the community

Jan. 13: Colorado Symphony MLK Tribute and Humanitarian Awards
Jan. 19: City of Lafayette MLK Celebration
Jan. 19: Denver’s Martin Luther King Jr. Marade
Jan. 20: MLK Jr. African-American Heritage Rodeo

Campus celebrations of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will take place Jan. 15–20. The keynote will feature a moderated discussion with Ibram X. Kendi, leading anti-racist scholar and bestselling author.

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Martin Luther King Jr. leads the March on Washington in 1963. Photo by Warren Leffler.

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Lectures & Presentations

Rescheduled: Author of 'The New Jim Crow' to speak at С�� Boulder Feb. 25

Why did the board choose Michelle Alexander to speak at С��?

What about her work and career will connect with and intrigue С�� students?

About the Cultural Events Board

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Rescheduled: Author of 'The New Jim Crow' to speak at С���� Boulder Feb. 25

Why did the board choose Michelle Alexander to speak at С����?

What about her work and career will connect with and intrigue С���� students?

About the Cultural Events Board

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What about her work and career will connect with and intrigue С�� students?

С�� Boulder Federal Governance and Higher Education series to return Feb. 19