The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean’s Lecture Series highlights faculty excellence in learning, discovery, and engagement in Iowa State’s largest college. The dean invites LAS faculty of distinction to present lectures from their own areas of expertise on topics of interest to the general public, designed to stimulate high-quality, intellectual discussion among faculty, staff, students, and community members.
Lectures are held during the fall and spring semesters during the academic year.
Spring 2023 Dean’s Lecture
Thursday, April 20, 2023, 6:00 PM, Great Hall, Memorial Union
Scott Feinstein, assistant professor of political science
“Russia, Ukraine and the U.S.: Monsters and myths
William Gutowski, professor of geological and atmospheric sciences
“Climate Change in Iowa: How We Got Here, How We Can Choose a Better Future Together”
Fall 2021 Dean’s Lecture
Amy Rutenberg, associate professor and social studies education program co-coordinator in the department of history
“Uncle Sam Wants Who? Women, Men and the Meaning of American Selective Service”
Don Sakaguchi, Morrill Professor
“Stem Cells and Bioengineering for Brain Repair Strategies”
Novotny Lawrence, associate professor of communications
“White Mansions, Black Bodies: Jordan Peele’s Get Out and the New Age Slave Plantation”
Fall 2019 Dean’s Lecture
Kelly Winfrey, assistant professor of journalism
“Gender and Communication on the Campaign Trail”
Spring 2019 Dean’s Lecture
Borzoo Bonakdarpour, assistant professor of computer science
“Designing Secure Fleets of Drones: Possibilities, Challenges, and Limitations”
Fall 2018 Dean’s Lecture
Robbyn Anand, assistant professor of chemistry
“Divide and Conquer: Stopping Cancer One Cell at a Time”
Spring 2018 Lecture
Eric William Davis, Department of Computer Science
“Is Your Data Safe? Corruption, Money Laundering, and the Malicious Side of Data”
Fall 2017 Lecture
Matt DeLisi, Department of Sociology
“Severe 5%: Understanding the Criminal Justice System
Spring 2017 Lecture
Robyn Lutz, Department of Computer Science
“Programming Molecules in the Age of Nanotechnology”
Spring 2016 Lecture
Michael Christopher Low, Department of History
“ISIS, Jihadist Violence, and the Quest for an Idealized Islamic State”
Fall 2015 Lecture
Alison Phillips, Department of Psychology
“Health-Related Habits…Scientifically Speaking”
Spring 2015 Lecture
Mayly Sanchez, Department of Physics and Astronomy
“Measuring the Elusive: How to Catch Neutrinos and What They Tell Us About the Universe”