As part of the 2024 Sharp Viewpoint Speaker Series, three leading experts will explore civil liberties, free expression, and constitutional law. This annual event series, which celebrates fostering important and challenging dialogues, was established in 2011 in honor of Richard L. Sharp, a nationally recognized entrepreneur, to present competing views on topics crucial to our society.

“The Sharp Series is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together to learn and grow while hearing from some of the nation’s most interesting public intellectuals,” said President Kevin F. Hallock. “This year’s series will explore speech as a tool for expressing, responding to, and navigating fault lines among diverse viewpoints. These capacities are critical to our educational mission at the University of Richmond and the functioning of democracies.”

This year’s speakers include Robert P. George, director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University (Feb. 15); Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America (March 28); and Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of Berkeley Law (Oct. 24).

All three speakers will help the UR community consider why civil discourse is both important and sometimes difficult and explore what democracies and university communities stand to gain from embracing a shared commitment to free expression.

Sharp Series events are free and open to the campus and greater community. For additional information, detailed speaker bios, and registration details, visit the Sharp Series website.