Lectureships

Course Catalog

The Charles Martin and Elizabeth Stults Bond Lectureship on the meaning of religion was established in 1967 by colleagues, alumni, and friends. It is filled from time to time, upon the invitation of the department of religion, by a person who has made significant contributions in the general area of religious interpretation, thought, and action.

The Class of 1953 Lectureship was established by the class as a 25th Reunion gift to the university. Its purpose is to bring to the campus for a brief residency every other year one or more distinguished visitors representing a broad spectrum of interests and disciplines.

The Class of 1956 Lectureship was established as a lecture to be given annually by a member of the faculty of Bucknell University. The committee which selects the recipient of this lectureship consists of the president, the vice president for academic affairs, and the faculty representative at designated meetings of the Board of Trustees.

The Martin and Arlene Cummings Lectureship was established by Martin M. ’41 and Arlene Avrutine Cummings ’42, to provide annual lectures and residencies by distinguished scholars who will discuss and speak on the history of science, scientific inquiry, and the effects of science on culture, politics, and the human condition.

The Ralph B. Derr Memorial Lectureship was established with funds from the estate of Ralph B. Derr, Class of 1917, in his memory. The speaker for the annual lecture will be a person of note from the field of chemical engineering, selected by the chemical engineering faculty to speak on an area of particular current interest in the profession.

The James A. Gathings Lectureship in International Politics, established in 1971 by students, colleagues, and friends of Professor Gathings, annually presents a significant analyst in this field. The designated lecturer, to be selected by the department of political science, shall possess a particular knowledge of international politics, together with a concern for the political education of all, regardless of academic training or specialty.

The O. V. W. Hawkins Lectureship was established by the Board of Trustees, with funds provided by Mr. Hawkins, who was, himself, a trustee for many years. The lecture is to be in the field of public policy, but not limited to politics or government, and is to be given by a respected person of national prominence.

The Anna L. Putterman Memorial Lectureship was established by Arnold L. Putterman, Class of 1960, in memory of Anna L. Putterman. The subject of the annual lecture is to be in the humanities, the social sciences, the history of philosophy, or the history of the natural sciences.

The Harry Wolcott Robbins Lectureship was established in 1957 in honor of Harry Wolcott Robbins, John P. Crozer Professor of English and chairman of the department of English from 1923-54. Funded originally by the university and now endowed with a bequest from Mrs. Robbins, the lecture is given annually by a person who has made significant contributions to English and American literary scholarship.

The Roy Wood Sellars Lectureship commemorates the productive collaboration of Sellars, founder of the critical realist movement in American philosophy, and William Preston Warren, historian of the movement and editor of Sellars’ writings. Initiated by Sellars, the lectureship was augmented by students and colleagues of Warren, former professor of philosophy at Bucknell. A distinguished scholar in American philosophy lectures annually.

The Ralph Spielman Memorial Lectureship was established by the relatives, colleagues, students, and friends of Professor Spielman in memory of his service to the university from 1958 until his death in 1978. The lectureship emphasizes ‘‘Frontiers in Social Science’’ by bringing to the campus when possible, but at least every second year, a lecturer to describe promising attempts to interpret and open new fields in social science.

The Douglas Sturm Dialogue on Ethics and Social Justice was established in 1992 in honor of Dr. Sturm who served Bucknell for more than 35 years as a teacher and scholar. The dialogue is intended to honor Dr. Sturm’s substantive concerns with ethics and social justice issues and his commitment to the honest exchange of ideas on those matters.

The Virginia Travis Lectureship in Social Justice was endowed by her family and friends to commemorate her life and convictions. The lecturer ordinarily will be a member of the Bucknell or Lewisburg communities who has worked compassionately and diligently to promote justice and social change at the local, national, or international level. The annual lecture will articulate a vision of justice and a strategy of social change to achieve it.