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Northwestern University

Conversations with the Dean

Faculty Speaker Series

Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences’s “Conversations with the Dean” is a faculty speaker series designed to deliver insights into the cutting-edge research and teaching from faculty experts around the College. The series is offered live to Weinberg College leadership society donors with a real-time Q&A. Learn more about the leadership giving society here. The series is available to all Weinberg College alumni in the days following the event.

Explore recent "Conversations with the Dean" videos and podcasts below:

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Daniel Immerwahr

Professor Daniel Immerwahr and Dean Adrian Randolph discuss a variety of subjects including why the teaching of history is essential and his upcoming book on fire history in the United States. 

 

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Chris Abani

Professor of English Chris Abani and Dean Adrian Randolph discuss “ubuntu,” a concept that recognizes our interconnectedness, the importance of an English major in today’s world, and the Program in African Studies, which holds the largest collection of African and Africana books and artifacts outside of Africa. 

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shana Kelley

Professor of Chemistry Shana Kelley and Dean Adrian Randolph discuss creating new tools to diagnose and treat diseases, the importance of interdisciplinary and translational research at Weinberg College, and the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub: a new and cutting edge collaboration between Northwestern, UChicago, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

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susie-philips-168x210.jpgSusie Phillips

Professor of English Susie Phillips and Dean Adrian Randolph discuss why teaching matters, how asking bold questions can open entire worlds of “speculative possibility” in scholarship, and the power of gossip.


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GERRY CADAVAGerry Cadava

Professor and Director of the Latina and Latino Studies Program, Gerry Cadava and Dean Adrian Randolph discuss the meaning of diversity in the United States through the lens of Latino identity, as our nation approaches its 250th anniversary. 

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Thomas McDadeThomas McDade

Professor Thomas McDade and Dean Adrian Randolph discuss an interdisciplinary, community-based approach to understanding the spread of COVID-19, as well as vaccine hesitancy and factors contributing to herd immunity.

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Sera YoungSera Young

Professor Sera Young and Dean Adrian Randolph discuss the challenges of household water insecurity around the globe, how we are starting to measure it, and why UNESCO is paying attention to the work at Northwestern.

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Alvin B. Tillery, Jr.Alvin B. Tillery, Jr.

Alvin B. Tillery, Jr., professor of Political Science and director of the Center for the Study of Diversity and Democracy, and Dean Adrian Randolph discuss the way in which democracy, diversity, and politics interact in the United States and around the globe.

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Adrian RandolphDean Adrian Randolph

Dean Adrian Randolph shares insights from his fall quarter class, Introduction to European Art.

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Marina HenkeMarina Henke

Professor Marina Henke and Dean Adrian Randolph discuss the future of NATO, the impact of Brexit, and Great Power politics.

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Omar K. FarhaOmar K. Farha

Professor Omar K. Farha, of the Department of Chemistry and associate editor for ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, and Dean Adrian Randolph discuss Professor Farha’s research effort to combat COVID-19 (as well as other Nerve Agents) with smart and programmable sponges.

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Andrew PapachristosAndrew V. Papachristos

Professor Andrew V. Papachristos and Dean Adrian Randolph discuss Northwestern Neighborhood Network Initiative (N3), an incubator where students, faculty, and experts look at key problems facing Chicago and its surrounding communities. 

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Aida BentonAdia Benton

Professor Adia Benton, of the Department of Anthropology, and Dean Adrian Randolph share reflections on COVID-19, the United States’ reaction to the virus, and other nations’ reactions to it. They also discuss how COVID-19 compares to the nature of the Ebola and HIV outbreaks, two viruses that Professor Benton has previously studied.

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Martin Eichenbaum

Martin Eichenbaum

Professor Martin Eichenbaum, of the Department of Economics and co-director of Northwestern’s Center for International Economics and Development, and Dean Adrian Randolph discuss pandemic economics, the tradeoffs between the severity of the recession we face, the health consequences of the pandemic, and “smart containment.”

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Listen to more WEINBERG IN THE WORLD PODCASTs