Program Overview
Out of concern for the health of communities across the state, we and our partners are holding only online Speakers Bureau events. Find online events on our calendar, or learn how to host an online Speakers Bureau event here.
You don’t need to be a student or live near a college to hear an intriguing talk from a scholar or expert. In communities throughout Washington State, Speakers Bureau presenters give free public presentations on history, politics, music, philosophy, spiritual traditions, and everything in between.
Our roster of 34 Speakers Bureau presenters is made up of professors, artists, activists, historians, performers, journalists, and others—all chosen not only for their expertise, but also for their ability to inspire discussion with people of all ages and backgrounds. Hundreds of Speakers Bureau events take place each year. Each talk lasts about an hour.
To reach as many Washingtonians as possible, we partner with a wide range of organizations, including libraries, schools, museums, historical societies, retirement homes, community centers, and civic organizations. These organizations host and publicize the events.
Find a Speakers Bureau event near you. We also encourage nonprofit organizations to host a speaker.
Speakers Bureau is made possible with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the State of Washington via the Office of the Secretary of State, and the Thomas S. Foley Institute of Public Policy and Public Service at Washington State University, and generous contributions from other businesses, foundations, and individuals.
Upcoming Online Events
ONLINE: From Mexican to Mexican-American: A Family Immigration Story
As immigration has become more hotly debated in the United States, the arguments have become cartoonish, with one side often painted as naïve and another as xenophobic. What has become lost is the human story of immigration to America, with all its complexity, heartache, and hope. Professor Carlos Gil sought to understand immigration by tracing […]
- When
- 10:30 am, Wednesday
April 14, 2021 - Register
- Click here to register
ONLINE: Is Truth Really Dead in America?
Alternative facts, fake news, post-truth—these phrases have flooded the American conversation over the past several years. But how bad is it really, and what can we, as a society and as individuals, do to be better informed? WSU professor Steven Stehr investigates the roots and consequences of the erosion of truth, with a focus on […]
- When
- 1:00 pm, Wednesday
April 14, 2021 - Register
- Click here to register
ONLINE: From Mexican to Mexican-American: A Family Immigration Story
As immigration has become more hotly debated in the United States, the arguments have become cartoonish, with one side often painted as naïve and another as xenophobic. What has become lost is the human story of immigration to America, with all its complexity, heartache, and hope. Professor Carlos Gil sought to understand immigration by tracing […]
- When
- 6:30 pm, Wednesday
April 14, 2021 - Register
- For more information about how to register for this event, please visit the event sponsor's website.
ONLINE: Tangled: Why Your Hair Matters to Society
Hair is simply a collection of protein filaments that sprout from our scalp, yet it carries great meaning for us and our society. From twists and tapers to braids and buns, what’s on top of our head and how it is received by others often reflects society’s standards of beauty and desirability. Using song, video, […]
- When
- 12:00 pm, Thursday
April 15, 2021 - Register
- For more information about how to register for this event, please visit the event sponsor's website.
ONLINE: Heating Up: The Ethics of Climate Change
What if we could tell ourselves a new story about climate change—and, in doing, so, alter our relationship to our planet? With larger, longer wildfire seasons, accelerating species extinction, ocean acidification, and sea-level rise, it’s increasingly clear that climate change isn’t something that’s about to happen—it’s here. But while the laundry list of problems wrought […]
- When
- 11:15 am, Monday
April 19, 2021 - Register
- Click here to register
ONLINE: Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Principal’s Office?
Beginning as early as preschool, Black students are disproportionately suspended and expelled from school. As many of these students reach adulthood, these punishments can lead to legal trouble, creating what some call the “school-to-prison pipeline” that affects many Black communities. Why are Black students punished more than others in the classroom? Based on his extensive […]
- When
- 1:00 pm, Wednesday
April 21, 2021 - Register
- Click here to register
ONLINE: She Traveled Solo: Strong Women in the Early 20th Century
During a 5,000 mile solo bicycle ride from southern California to Maine, Tessa Hulls heard the same thing daily: that a woman can’t travel alone. She began researching other women who traveled solo in different ways, and became fascinated with many in stories from the early 20th century: explorers, mountaineers, and even a circus performer—women […]
- When
- 7:00 pm, Wednesday
April 21, 2021 - Register
- Registration info to come
ONLINE: Higher Power: The History of Evangelicals in American Politics
Explore the history and meaning behind a uniquely American movement: Evangelical Christianity. Evangelicals are the strongest religious voting block in America, despite being a relatively new coalition. How did they come to hold such power? In this balanced and respectful talk, WSU professor Matthew Sutton traces the history of the religious right in America, from its […]
- When
- 6:30 pm, Thursday
April 22, 2021 - Register
- Registration info to come