2014-2015 Tate Lectures to feature former secretaries of state, broadcasters and Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer

Journalist David Gergen is among the luminaries the Tate Lectures will feature this season.

David Gergen

The Willis M. Tate Distinguished Lecture Series at SMU DALLAS (SMU) – Political luminaries, an award-winning presidential historian, a futurist and two national broadcasters are among the speakers for the 2014-15 Willis M. Tate Distinguished Lecture Series at SMU. In its 33rd season, the Tate Series brings leaders from wide-ranging fields to share their unique perspectives with area residents and students.

“The Tate Lecture Series and Student Forums are among the many advantages SMU brings to the community and to the learning experiences of our students,” says SMU President R. Gerald Turner. “We are grateful to our sponsors for supporting this program and enriching the dialogue on important issues.”

Single tickets to lectures that are not sold out may be purchased online at smu.edu/tate or by calling 214-SMU-TATE (214-768-8283). The 2014-15 season will include the following lecturers:

Monday, Sept. 29, 2014 (Sold Out)
The Linda and Mitch Hart Lecture

Colin L. Powell
U.S. Secretary of State, 2001-05

Madeleine K. Albright
U.S. Secretary of State, 1997-2001

David Gergen, moderator
CNN senior political analyst

Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014
The Tolleson Lecture

Peter Thiel
Former CEO and co-founder of PayPal; first outside investor in Facebook; technology entrepreneur; philanthropist who funds creative young people with ambitious ideas through the Thiel Fellowship; author of the upcoming book Zero to One

Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014
The Omni Hotels Lecture

David Brooks
Political, social and foreign affairs analyst; best-selling author; columnist for The New York Times; commentator for PBS NewsHourand NPR’s All Things Considered

Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014

Platon
World-renowned, award-winning photographer of well-known world figures, including more than 120 heads of state, many of whom have appeared on the covers of The New Yorker and Time

Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015 (Sold Out)
The Ebby Halliday Companies Lecture

Robin Roberts
Co-anchor, ABC News’ “Good Morning America”; cancer survivor; author of recently released Everybody’s Got Something

Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015 (Sold Out)
The Anita and Truman Arnold Lecture

Doris Kearns Goodwin
Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer; best-selling author; presidential historian

Tuesday, March 24, 2015 (Sold Out)
The Oncor Lecture

Michio Kaku
Theoretical physicist, professor, best-selling author; futurist who predicts trends affecting business, commerce, finance and technology; one of the world’s most recognized figures in the field of science

Tuesday, May 5, 2015 (Sold Out)
The Jones Day Lecture

Nate Silver
Popular statistician who correctly predicted the 2008 and 2012 presidential election results; founder of FiveThirtyEight and partner with ESPN; one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People and Rolling Stone’s 100 Agents of Change; commentator and best-selling author

“This year’s robust lineup promises to provide students and the Dallas community with a host of diverse and insightful Tate Lectures,” says Brad Cheves, SMU vice president for development and external affairs. “And the accompanying student forums, created specifically for SMU students, area high school students and the University’s staff and faculty, provide unique accessibility to these highly regarded speakers. It is an unparalleled lecture series experience.”

The Tate Lecture Series is produced by SMU and is presented by The Dallas Morning News and sponsored by WFAA-TV Channel 8, Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, and Turner Construction/and Wells Fargo. Supported by 570AM KLIF News and Information, Ducky-Bob’s Event Specialists, Sewell Lexus, SMU Student Foundation and The Weitzman Group & Cencor Realty Services, the series returns more than $800,000 to SMU each year for academic scholarships and student programs. A primary beneficiary of these funds is the prestigious President's Scholars Program, which provides full-tuition scholarships and study abroad opportunities.

For additional information about individual lectures, follow the Tate Lecture Series on social media via Twitter (@SMUtate) and Instagram (@smutate).

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