About

About The Office of Cultural & Special Programs

Elon University offers a rich and varied program of artistic cultural events that complement and support campus life and the thriving academic programs in art, dance, literature, music and theatre. Special lectures and presentations on timely topics support a broad range of learning. The Elon University Lyceum Series, the Baird Lecture, and the Elon Common Reading Program are anticipated each year. Significant occasions such as Convocations and Commencements are important traditions for the university. All of these events are planned and implemented through the Office of Cultural and Special Programs.

Previous campus speakers include two former Secretaries of State, Madeleine Albright and General Colin Powell, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, former president George H.W. Bush, Queen Noor of Jordan, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister (U.K.) David Cameron, former Prime Minister (AUS) Julia Gillard, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent and neurosurgeon Dr. Sanjay Gupta, actress and social activist Ashley Judd, Pulitzer Prize finalist Tommy Orange, attorneys for equality and human rights Anita Hill and Alan Dershowitz, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, pioneering astronauts John Glenn, Buzz Aldrin and Leland Melvin, poet and author Maya Angelou, violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman, astrophysicist and author Neil deGrasse Tyson, renowned conservationist Jane Goodall, award-winning journalists Walter Cronkite, George Will, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, Shannon Bream, Maureen Dowd, Bob Woodward, Thomas Friedman, soccer legend Carli Lloyd and Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young.

Please browse the cultural calendar listing for more information about upcoming performances. Information is also available through Today at Elon, the Elon University online news source, elon.edu/news.