R. Lynn Sauls Endowed Lecture Series

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Lynn Sauls Lecture Series

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David French - A Nation Divided: Where do we go from here?

Join us for an important discussion with New York Times columnist David French, in conversation with LaTrice Currie, co-anchor of Local 3 News. Hosted by Southern's School of Journalism and Communication as part of the R. Lynn Sauls Lecture Series, this free event is open to the community. Registration is required for those without a Southern ID.

09/18/2025

The Art of Seeing Others Deeply: A Conversation with David Brooks

Iles P.E. Center

07:00 PM-

About the Speaker

David Brooks is a bestselling author, New York Times op‑ed columnist, and long‑time commentator for PBS NewsHour. Over the years, he has become one of America’s most recognizable public intellectuals, known for combining sharp cultural analysis with a tone that is warm, witty, and quietly profound. Whether on the page or on stage, Brooks invites audiences to consider who we are as individuals and as a society—and how we might live with more meaning.

Recognized especially for his recent bestseller, How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen, Brooks offers practical and hopeful guidance on building stronger relationships in a divided world. His earlier influential work, The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life, challenges readers to move beyond self‑interest and seek lives of service, purpose, and commitment. These themes echo throughout his career, alongside the insights found in earlier works such as The Road to Character, which reflect his deep interest in moral development and the cultivation of virtues.

With intellectual curiosity and emotional wisdom, Brooks underscores the value of community and the importance of nourishing both the inner self and the social self. His columns on politics, culture, and foreign affairs remain among the most widely read in the nation, not only for their clear analysis but for the compassion and humanity that shine through every sentence.

ABOUT THE MODERATOR

Alison Goldstein Lebovitz is a television host, speaker, author, and podcaster who believes we each have the power and responsibility to make this world a better place. Lebovitz is the host of The A List with Alison Lebovitz, a half-hour original interview series for WTCI/PBS, and serves as co-founder and president of One Clip at a Time, a nonprofit inspired by the Paper Clips Project and documentary.

As a professional speaker, she combines her penchant for humor with her unique gift for storytelling and has been honored to serve as a TedX speaker, coach, and emcee. She is also the author of Am I There Yet? a collection of her candid essays and life-inspired stories, and in her spare time she hosts a weekly podcast with her sister called, Sis & Tell.

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About the Lecture Series

This lectureship honors the vision, hard work, and dedication of Lynn Sauls, ’52, PhD, former chair of what is now the School of Journalism and Communication at Southern Adventist University. Serving as a professor and leader in the department in the 1980s and ’90s, Sauls helped establish this academic area as it exists today. He strengthened the journalism curriculum and grew the department, connecting with industry professionals and encouraging strong writing skills. Following his retirement in 1996, he stayed connected with his alma mater, serving as an adjunct instructor for a number of years. He recently passed away in 2023 at 90 years old.

This annual lecture series celebrates Sauls’ legacy by inviting prominent journalists and top communication professionals to campus to inspire a new generation of truth seekers, storytellers, and influencers.