Speaker Series
Since its founding in 2009, the Office of Sustainability has invited nationally and internationally renowned artists, activists, authors, scientists, and conservationists to speak at Wake Forest. Through partnership with faculty members and departmental co-sponsors, our annual keynote lectures facilitate cross-disciplinary discussion and engagement with sustainability topics. Our keynote lectures are free and open to the public.
Previous speakers have included: three-time U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo (2022), activist and writer Raj Patel (2019), urban revitalization strategist Majora Carter (2018), award-winning writer and conservationist Terry Tempest Williams (2017), Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell (2016), and activist and scholar Vandana Shiva (2014), among others. See the full list below.
The 2023 – 24 keynote speaker is award-winning author and science writer, David Quammen. Learn more and register here.
Keep an eye out for all of our upcoming events at events.wfu.edu.
Past Speakers
- Poet Warrior: An Evening with US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo (2022)
- Climate Feminism: “To Change Everything, We Need Everyone” Virtual Keynote with Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnston (2021)
- Leadership for Environmental Justice: Changing Food Systems through Access, Equity and Empowerment with Brahm Ahmadi (2020)
- The Uninhabitable Earth with David Wallace Wells (2019)
- Writing Beyond Words: Perspectives on Earth and Humanity with Carl Safina (2019)
- The World that Food Made with Raj Patel (2018)
- Earth Week Keynote Address by Majora Carter (2018)
- The Age of Consequences with Filmmaker Sophie Robinson (2018)
- Drawdown: A Playbook for Reversing Climate Change with Katharine Wilkinson (2017)
- Writing Resistance with Terry Tempest Williams (2017)
- An Evening of Songs and Stories with Chuck Leavell (2016)
- North Carolina Power Dialog (2016)
- Truth, Lies, and Politics (2016)
- Road to Paris – Climate Education (2015)
- Make Every Bite Count Speaker & Event Series featuring Keynote Lecture with Dr. Vandana Shiva (2014)
Related Posts:
- Earth Month 2024 EventsCelebrate Earth Day and spring at Wake Forest with events and programs March 24 – April 26, 2024. With 25+ events led by partners and student leaders, there’s something for everyone during Earth […]
- Save the Date for an Evening with Science Writer David QuammenFebruary 13, 2024 In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, how do the relationships between humans, non-human animals, and landscapes influence public health? Join Wake Forest’s Office of Sustainability and co-sponsoring departments on Tuesday, […]
- Reflecting on an Evening with Joy Harjo: The Arts as a Catalyst for Conversations on Environmental Justice & SustainabilityOn January 26th, 2022, partners across the Wake Forest University community had the honor of hosting Joy Harjo, the 23rd Poet Laureate of the United States, for an evening of poetry and reflection. […]
- How Can Alarm Motivate Us to Take Climate Action?Are you alarmed about climate change? Good. According to David Wallace-Wells, you should be. On Wednesday, Oct. 16 the award-winning author and deputy editor of New York Magazine shared this message with a […]
- Writing Beyond Words: Perspectives on Earth and Humanity with Carl SafinaAward-winning author and conservationist Carl Safina drew laughs from an audience of nearly 200 students, staff, and community members gathered in Kulynych Auditorium when an image of his fluffy, grey dog looking […]
- Raj Patel Speaks to Campus on “The World that Food Made”