ULA Lecture Series
University Library Association lectures are sponsored by the University Library Association (ULA) and the University Libraries. Members of the DU community, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, neighbors and friends, are welcome to attend at no charge.
September 11, 2025
Adrian E. Miller presents: Cooking to the President’s Taste
Anderson Academic Commons, Room 290
Adrian Miller is a James Beard Award–winning food writer, attorney, and certified barbecue judge. His books explore African American culinary history, including Soul Food, The President’s Kitchen Cabinet, and Black Smoke. A former White House advisor and policy analyst, Adrian now serves as executive director of the Colorado Council of Churches and co-leads the “Proclaiming Colorado’s Black History” exhibit. He lives in Denver, Colorado.
October 9, 2025
Barbara Adams presents: NASA Space exploration: Mission to Mars It Real?
Anderson Academic Commons, 290
Is a human mission to Mars science fiction or soon-to-be reality? This session dives into NASA’s long-term plans for Mars exploration, examining current missions, technological challenges, and timelines for sending astronauts to the Red Planet. From the Artemis program to the development of the Mars transport architecture, we explore what’s real today, what’s on the horizon, and what it will take to make Mars a destination for human exploration.
November 13, 2025
Illene Grabel presents: Not Your Grandmother’s Global Financial Order: Making Sense of Today’s Global Financial System
Anderson Academic Commons, 290
This session explores key challenges shaping the fast-moving global financial landscape in 2025. From rising interest rates and inflationary pressures to geopolitical instability, digital currencies, and evolving regulatory frameworks, the discussion will examine how these trends are impacting markets, institutions, and policy responses worldwide. Participants will gain insights into emerging risks and strategic considerations for navigating uncertainty in a rapidly changing financial environment.
January 8, 2026
Philip Tedeschi presents: Advancing Inter-Species Justice
Anderson Academic Commons, 290
This session explains how a generous gift will advance the University of Denver's global leadership in understanding non-human animals and in advocating for their well-being. DU’s internationally recognized Institute for Human-Animal Connection at the Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) and the Animal Law Program at the Sturm College of Law, the newly formed Institute for Animal Sentience and Protection will aim to expand the scientific understanding of the cognitive and emotional capabilities of non-human animals. This evolving understanding will have a lasting transformative impact on the protection of animals.
February 12, 2026
Dean Sobel presents: Peggy Guggenheim and Betty Parsons, Women Ahead of Their Time
Anderson Academic Commons, 290
This lively discussion will focus on the achievements of Peggy Guggenheim and Betty Parsons who, in their own ways, sparked the enormous rise of American art during the crucial post-World War II era. Though largely associated with the achievements of white men, the movement of Abstract Expressionism was received, at least on a commercial level, through the efforts of two insightful and powerful women, both of whom opened art galleries in New York in the 1940s. Their activities created pathways for other women gallerists who, up to the present day, are similarly inseparable from the art history of their respective moments.
March 12, 2026
Natalie Conklin presents: Why We Wear What We Wear...How History Has Influenced Fads and Fashion
Anderson Academic Commons, 290
From royal courts to streetwear, this session explores how historical events, cultural shifts, and social movements have shaped the clothes we wear. Discover how fashion trends reflect the times—and how the past still influences what’s in style today.
April 9, 2026 *session date is subject to change based on spring quarter teaching schedules
Kelley Loper presents: The Past and Future of Human Rights in Hong Kong
Anderson Academic Commons, 290
This session traces the evolution of human rights from their origins to modern international legal frameworks. It examines current global challenges and focuses on Hong Kong as a case study to explore how international human rights law responds to violations. The talk concludes with a look at future prospects for rights protection in an increasingly complex global landscape.