His popularity as a television personality combined with his political persona should make for an interesting and exciting evening. When Elders was sworn in as surgeon general in 1993, she became the first African-American woman to hold that post. Now a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Arkansas School of Medicine, Elders advocates educating the public about violence, sexually transmitted diseases and substance abuse. He has won numerous writing awards, and his work has been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in poetry. The Kennedy Lecture Series brings to Ohio University nationally recognized speakers who appeal to a cross-section of the community and stimulate thought on major public issues, cultural affairs and scholarly fields.
All events are free and open to the public.