Spring 2026 Lectures
Darby Vickers, PhD, Assistant Professor of Philosophy
Who’s Afraid of Intelligent Tools: Cognitive Offloading, Technological Enhancement, and How To Live Well With AI
Friday, February 27th
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Degheri Alumni Center Room 120
AI tools are becoming ubiquitous. Businesses are incorporating them into every aspect of life and social media is full of AI generated content. One of the big questions is how AI impacts our cognitive functioning and ability to learn new skills and information. This talk will look at the difference between using AI tools to do our thinking for us versus when we collaborate with AI tools to improve our ability to tackle difficult challenges that would be harder to do on our own. It will also zoom out to consider how we can live well in the age of AI.
Marni LaFleur, PhD, Associate Professor of Anthropology
Anthropology in Action: From Chasing Lemurs in Madagascar to Humanitarian Forensics in Southern California and Beyond
Monday, March 16th
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Degheri Alumni Center Room 120
Join Dr. Marni LaFleur for a heartfelt and thought-provoking journey through twenty years of anthropological discovery. From beloved wild lemurs to meaningful nonprofit work in Madagascar and advocacy for Southern California’s missing and unidentified, she shares how these experiences—and her own familial and colonial histories—shape a lifelong commitment to understanding, compassion, and justice in our shared human story.
Andrea Flynn, PhD, Professor of Marketing and Marketing Honors Faculty Liaison
The Art of Influence on Modern Society
Monday, April 20th
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Degheri Alumni Center Room 120
Discover the fascinating world of persuasion and advocacy as we explore how industries from energy to technology use strategic marketing campaigns to shape public opinion and influence regulatory decisions. Delve into real-world examples of how businesses try to convince the public to take their side on controversial issues as they navigate the complex landscape of politics, public opinion, and policy.
David Miller, PhD, Distinguished Teaching Professor of History, CEE Liaison, and CEE Advisory Board Member
More than a Beach Town: San Diego as National and Global History
Monday, May 4th
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Degheri Alumni Center Room 120
Dr. David Miller will connect the dots between local history and broader national and international contexts. San Diego has connections to many of the biggest events of the past 500 years. From the Spanish arrival to the American Revolution, the opening of the Panama Canal, World Wars, sports, and technology, San Diego’s history is very much a national and global story.