Pacific welcomes top thought leaders to the Stockton Campus to discuss key issues in education and society. Pacificans and members of the local community have the opportunity to engage with and learn from some of today’s most influential thinkers and writers.

 

Upcoming Speakers

Judy Woodruff
January 30, 2025
Judy Woodruff

Judy Woodruff is a senior correspondent for PBS NewsHour, after serving as anchor and managing editor for 11 years. Her career has spanned five decades, covering politics and 12 presidential elections at NBC, CNN and PBS. In 2022, Judy was honored with an Emmy for Lifetime Achievement in Television News.

Fall 2025
Dr. Cathy Davidson

Dr. Cathy Davidson is a leading expert on faculty-driven student success and the author of “The New Education: How to Revolutionize the University to Prepare Students for a World in Flux” and “The New College Classroom.” She will take part in a robust series of discussions and collaborations with Pacific faculty members during her time on campus.

Dr. Cathy Davidson

Watch the latest speaker: Mónica Guzmán

How it started

Throughout Pacific’s 100 years in Stockton, the university has welcomed influential speakers, politicians, musicians and other high-profile figures to campus. After his 2020 arrival at Pacific, President Christopher Callahan collaborated with the Pacific Alumni Association to create a virtual speaker series titled “Leading Voices.”

The in-person Presidential Speaker Series continues this tradition, providing an opportunity for campus dialogue about challenges and opportunities in higher education and American society more broadly. Additional speakers will be announced soon; two to three speakers will come to campus each semester. 

How to attend

Featured conversations will be held in the evenings in the historic Faye Spanos Concert Hall and will be open to the community. For specific times, please check the time posted on the specific event.

Missed a speaker?