Office of the Provost
Wilson Hall, Suite 3000
371 Wilson Boulevard
Rochester,
MI
48309-4486
(location map)
(248) 370-2190

Varner Vitality Lecture Series
The Varner Vitality Lecture Series is named in honor of Oakland’s first chancellor, Durward “Woody” Varner. The series aims to energize and sustain the highest academic and scholarly aspirations of the University community. This lecture is sponsored by the Division of Academic Affairs. Previous speakers include Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former president of India; Dr. Madeleine Albright, the first female U.S. Secretary of State; Dr. Jane Goodall, world-renowned primatologist; Bill Nye, scientist, author and TV host; Doris Kearns Goodwin, presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author; and most recently, Lech Walesa, former President of Poland. The event is free and open to the public. For more information on the series, please call (248) 370-2190.
2022 Varner Vitality Speaker TBD
Year | Speaker |
---|---|
2003 | J. Craig Venter |
2006 | Susan Love |
2008 | Madeline Albright |
2009 | A.P.J. Abdul Kalam |
2011 | Thomas Friedman |
2012 | Steven Pinker |
2013 | Jane Goodall |
2014 | Daniel J. Levitin |
2015 | Morten Lauridsen |
2016 | Bill Nye |
2017 | Doris Kearns Goodwin |
2019 | Alan Weisman |
2019 | Lech Walesa |