Annual Ethics & Culture Lecture Featuring NYT Bestselling Author Joseph Loconte, Ph.D.

The Honors College is thrilled to host the Annual Ethics & Culture Lecture, featuring Joseph Loconte, Ph.D., a New York Times bestselling author, educator, and filmmaker. Sponsored with gratitude by the late Dr. Donald (1939-2025) and Judy Schmeltekopf, the lecture series explores publicly relevant questions at the intersection of ethics and culture, engaging the arts, politics, religion, and shared cultural life from a distinctly Christian perspective.

This year’s lecture, “War, Friendship, and Imagination: J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and the Fight for Civilization,” will examine how two of the twentieth century’s most influential writers responded to the moral and cultural crises of their time. Drawing from his recent scholarship, Loconte will explore the role of imagination, friendship, and moral conviction in shaping cultural resilience during periods of profound conflict.