Browse All Upcoming Lectures

Anti-Capitalist Personal Finance
6:00 PM – 2630 Memorial Union - Leo Aquino is a non-binary Filipinx writer, journalist, and financial coach based in Los Angeles. They are known for their work in anti-capitalist personal finance, focusing on financial literacy and empowerment for queer and trans communities. Leo is the founder of Queer & Trans Wealth, an initiative dedicated to increasing economic empowerment and collective liberation.Leo's expertise stems from their experiences and conversations with economically diverse communities across the US. They have written extensively on topics such as debt payoff, saving, budgeting, and maximizing workplace benefits. Leo's unique approach to finance is rooted in their commitment to uplifting BIPOC and LGBTQ+ stories.This event is part of a Women’s and Gender Studies Lecture Series funded by the Mellon Foundation’s Affirming Multivocal Humanities Grant, which was awarded to Dr. Winfrey and the WGS program in the fall of 2023.This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

Feeding Story County: Reiman Gardens’ Grow and Give Program
6:00 PM – Garden Room, Reiman Gardens - Nearly 11% of Iowans and 15.4% of Iowa children face food insecurity, and that percentage increases to more than 30% of Iowa State students. Reiman Gardens’ Grow and Give food donation program for Story County has been fighting hunger in Ames and surrounding communities for two decades. Staff will share an inside view of how Reiman Gardens, volunteers, and local food pantries work together to address the needs of Story County. Whether you are a home or community gardener, a volunteer, a food bank employee, or a community member interested in supporting fresh food collection in Story County, join us to learn more!Note: This event will not be recorded.

The Negro Artist Documentary Screening
6:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Amidst the often-overlooked spaces of the Midwest lives a Black voice that demands to be heard. This documentary is a journey into the world of Caleb Rainey, a Black spoken word poet professionally known as The Negro Artist. Rainey's poetry is a profound exploration of race, identity, and the lived realities of systemic inequality. His stage name is inspired by the Langston Hughes essay "The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain." Hughes was an early influence for Rainey as he came into his own as an artist.This film seeks to capture the essence of Rainey not just as an artist, but as a vital voice in the ongoing dialogue about race in America. His work challenges us to confront uncomfortable truths and inspires us to envision a more equitable future. By sharing Rainey's story, the hope is to provide a window into the transformative potential of poetry and to affirm the significance of every voice in the ongoing quest for justice and understanding.Greenlee Visiting Professional Nik Heftman is the founder and CEO of The Seven Times, a full service video and event production company. The company was founded  in 2022 with the goal of spotlighting Black entrepreneurs across the United States. That vision evolved into a weekly docuseries highlighting Black entrepreneurs, artists and other trailblazers who are making tangible, positive impacts in their communities.  Heftman produced stories for CBS Mornings in New York City and Los Angeles for more than five years, helping the show earn an Emmy for Outstanding Live News Program. He earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications, with a designated area of concentration in international studies, from Iowa State University. He is currently on the advisory board of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication.While at Iowa State, Heftman worked for several local newspapers. His reporting earned him a Mark of Excellence Award from the Society of Professional Journalists for outstanding breaking news reporting. He also received an award from the Iowa Associated Press for a feature he co-wrote on South Sudanese refugees living in rural Iowa. He later was nominated for an SPJ Mark of Excellence Award for feature writing.After the documentary screening, stay for A Conversation with the Filmmaker and Protagonist of "The Negro Artist" to follow.Note: This documentary screening will not be recorded.

A Conversation with the Filmmaker and Protagonist of "The Negro Artist"
7:15 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Before the panel, make plans to arrive at 6pm for a screening of "The Negro Artist" in the Sun Room.Greenlee Visiting Professional Nik Heftman is the founder and CEO of The Seven Times, a full service video and event production company. The company was founded  in 2022 with the goal of spotlighting Black entrepreneurs across the United States. That vision evolved into a weekly docuseries highlighting Black entrepreneurs, artists and other trailblazers who are making tangible, positive impacts in their communities.  Heftman produced stories for CBS Mornings in New York City and Los Angeles for more than five years, helping the show earn an Emmy for Outstanding Live News Program. He earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications, with a designated area of concentration in international studies, from Iowa State University. He is currently on the advisory board of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication.While at Iowa State, Heftman worked for several local newspapers. His reporting earned him a Mark of Excellence Award from the Society of Professional Journalists for outstanding breaking news reporting. He also received an award from the Iowa Associated Press for a feature he co-wrote on South Sudanese refugees living in rural Iowa. He later was nominated for an SPJ Mark of Excellence Award for feature writing.Heftman’s dedication to reporting on diversity and inclusion issues earned him the honor of speaking at public forums about the topic, including the Iowa State Conference on Race and Ethnicity (ISCORE) -  a comprehensive forum on issues of race and ethnicity at Iowa State University and beyond. Before graduating from Iowa State in 2017, Heftman hosted a blunt debate about the way journalists cover Muslims at home and abroad. The event was called Muslimedia. It was held at a local mosque in Ames. Heftman is also a speaker at the annual Okoboji Writer’s Retreat and a member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. He also volunteers for Young Storytellers, a nonprofit organization that empowers young people to use the art of storytelling to explore their identities, impact the people around them, and create a more just and equitable world.Caleb "The Negro Artist" Rainey is an accomplished author, poet, performer, and community builder from Columbia, Missouri, holding a B.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Iowa. Known for his debut book *Look, Black Boy*—an award-winning, bestselling work in African American poetry—Caleb has published multiple books, released spoken word albums, and performed on global stages, ranking 7th in the 2023 UNESCO Slam-O-Vision. He has also acted in plays, produced a short film, and been the subject of a documentary. A tireless advocate for spoken word poetry, Caleb fosters young talent through his program IC Speaks and produces events like the Mic Check Poetry Fest in Iowa City.This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event. The recording will only be available for three weeks from the date of the lecture.

Wordslut
6:00 PM – Sun Room, Memorial Union - Amanda Montell is an acclaimed author, linguist, and podcast host based in Los Angeles. She speaks at various events worldwide, covering topics such as cult language in social media and the workplace, gender-inclusive language, and cognitive biases.Amanda has authored two bestselling books, Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism and Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language, and co-hosts the popular podcast Sounds Like A Cult. Her work has been praised by major publications like The New York Times and The Washington Post. Cultish was named a best book of 2021 by NPR and is being developed for TV.Amanda is currently writing her third book, The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, due in 2024. Originally from Baltimore, she holds a degree in linguistics from NYU. Dr. Kelly L. Winfrey became director of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program in August 2022. She is also an associate professor and director of Graduate Education in the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication. Her research focuses on gender and political campaign communication. She published Understanding How Women Vote: Gender Identity and Political Choices (Praeger) in 2018, and she has published journal articles and book chapters on gender group identification voters, the effects of gender in presidential and U.S. Senate campaigns, perceptions of candidate image by debate viewers, online self-presentation strategies of political candidates, media coverage of women candidates, and the content and effects of presidential campaign television ads. Winfrey teaches classes on political campaigns, gender and leadership, public relations, and research methods. She also regularly mentors undergraduate and graduate students interested in researching gender and politics. This event is part of a Women’s and Gender Studies Lecture Series funded by the Mellon Foundation’s Affirming Multivocal Humanities Grant, which was awarded to Dr. Winfrey and the WGS program in the fall of 2023.This lecture will be recorded and available for two weeks on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

The Age of Magical Overthinking
6:00 PM – Great Hall, Memorial Union - Annual Goldtrap Lecture & Quentin Johnson Lecture in Linguistics Author and linguist Amanda Montell will explore how modern technology and information exacerbate our inherent cognitive biases, leading to irrational and "magical" thinking when people believe their thoughts can directly influence external events. Montell will argue that our brains' evolutionary shortcuts are causing problems in the digital age, leading to issues like conspiracy theories and unhealthy online behaviors.Montell has authored two bestselling books, Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism and Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language, and co-hosts the popular podcast Sounds Like A Cult. Her work has been praised by major publications like The New York Times and The Washington Post. Cultish was named a best book of 2021 by NPR.Originally from Baltimore, she holds a degree in linguistics from NYU. This lecture will be recorded and available for two weeks on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event.

The Good and the Bad of Altering the Global Nitrogen Cycle
7:00 PM – South Ballroom, Memorial Union - Fobes Ronald Lecture in Environmental ConservationNitrogen is a major building block of all life on Earth but throughout history, has been a major limiting nutrient for the growth of plants and animals. This changed in the 20th century with the industrial manufacture of nitrogen fertilizer. The Green Revolution, stimulated by synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, has increased human quality of life and stimulated population increases worldwide, but it comes at a great cost to the environment. In this lecture, Dr. Baron will describe the impacts of nitrogen pollution on air, water, climate, and ecological resources, and share examples of how we can continue to reap the benefits of nitrogen for humanity while reducing the damage.Jill S. Baron is a Senior Research Scientist with the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory at Colorado State University. She retired from the U.S. Geological Survey in 2025, where she was a Senior Scientist specializing in ecosystem ecology. Her interests include applying ecosystem concepts to the management of human-dominated regions and understanding the biogeochemical and ecological effects of atmospheric deposition and climate change on mountain ecosystems. She serves on the project management board of the International Nitrogen Management System, a program that brings together the science community, the private sector, and civil society to gather and synthesize evidence that can support international policy development to improve global nitrogen management. Baron is the founder and Co-Director of the John Wesley Powell Center for Earth System Science Analysis and Synthesis. She is also the founder and Principal Investigator of the Loch Vale Watershed long-term monitoring and research program in Rocky Mountain National Park, which, since 1983, seeks to understand the ecological and biogeochemical implications of atmospheric deposition and climate change. Baron was President of the Ecological Society of America in 2014 and is a Certified Senior Ecologist. She is a Fellow of the Ecological Society of America and the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences. Dr. Baron received her Ph.D. from Colorado State University in 1991 and has undergraduate and master’s degrees from Cornell University and the University of Wisconsin.This lecture will be recorded and ready to view on the Available Recordings page approximately 24-36 hours after the conclusion of the event. The recording will only be available for three weeks from the date of the lecture.

Productivity Hubs & Food Security: A New Model for Breaking the Cycle of Poverty in the Philippines
1:15 PM – Campanile Room, Memorial Union - This lecture is the keynote for the Alleviating Food Insecurity Summit, which runs from 12-4PM on May 1. The entire event is free and open to the public. More information about the entire conference schedule can be found here. 

Garden Grown
6:00 PM – Garden Room, Reiman Gardens - Since 2002, Reiman Gardens’ Internship Program has exemplified excellence in professional development and public engagement. Designed to cultivate the next generation of horticulturalists, educators, and public garden professionals, the program integrates hands-on learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community outreach with intensive pre-professional practice in the public garden industry.In this special presentation, hear from our 2025 interns about their experiences and special projects, as well as additional lessons learned about working for a non-profit.Note: This event will not be recorded.

Honeybees 101 and Beekeeping Basics
6:00 PM – Garden Room, Reiman Gardens - Learn the basics behind bees and beekeeping with beekeeper and Agriculture Specialist Zachary Koopman, ISU Research and Demonstration Farms. In 2023, Zack installed a unique group of honey bees near Sycamore Falls at Reiman Gardens, where they collect nectar and pollen, add to the local ecology, and produce honey.If you've been wondering about keeping bees on your property (or about bees in general), bring your questions and if you're up for it, stay for a short guided trip out to see the bees on site!Note: This event will not be recorded.