MACON, Ga. — The Phi Beta Kappa Society’s Zeta Chapter of Georgia at Mercer University will host the eighth annual Malcolm Lester Phi Beta Kappa Lectures on Liberal Arts and Public Life on March 30-31 in the Presidents Dining Room on the Macon campus.
Phi Beta Kappa Society CEO Frederick Lawrence will present three lectures on the theme “The Brilliant Arc of America’s Most Treasured Resource: Higher Education and American Democracy.”
At Phi Beta Kappa, Lawrence has focused on advocacy for the arts, humanities and sciences, championing free expression, free inquiry and academic freedom, and invigorating the Society’s more than 290 chapters and nearly 50 alumni associations.
“It is an enormous honor to be asked to deliver the 2026 Malcolm Lester lectures,” Lawrence said. “Dr. Lester had a great vision that a Phi Beta Kappa chapter at Mercer University would be the venue for annual lectures exploring themes that are most relevant to the liberal arts and sciences. Since the establishment of the Zeta of Georgia chapter in 2016, this vision has been fulfilled at the highest level. It has never been more important to articulate the mission and value of the liberal arts and sciences, and it is my privilege to be asked to do so in this year’s Lester Lectures.”
An accomplished scholar, teacher and attorney, Lawrence is one of the nation’s leading experts on higher education law, civil rights, free expression and bias crimes. He has published widely and lectured internationally.
“This year marks the 250th anniversary of the Phi Beta Kappa Society’s founding, which aligns the organization with the foundation of the United States of America,” said Dr. David A. Davis, chair of the Malcolm Lester Lectures committee. “Since 1776, the values of critical thinking, free inquiry and education for civic engagement have been fundamental to the growth and success of the nation. These are the core values of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, and Mercer is thrilled to host Frederick Lawrence to explain why America’s commitment to higher education is critical now more than ever.”
Lawrence has testified before Congress concerning free expression on campus and on federal hate crime legislation, was the keynote speaker at the meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on bias-motivated violence, was a Senior Research Fellow at University College London, and was the recipient of a Ford Foundation grant to study bias-motivated violence in the United Kingdom.
A Distinguished Lecturer at the Georgetown Law Center, Lawrence has previously served as president of Brandeis University, dean of the George Washington University Law School and visiting professor and senior research scholar at Yale Law School. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 2018 and the American Law Institute in 1999. Lawrence is the recipient of the 2019 Ernest L. Boyer Award from the New American Colleges and Universities and the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences’ Arts & Sciences Advocacy Award in 2018. He holds honorary doctorate degrees from Skidmore College and Hebrew Union College.
Lecture Schedule:
“How Did We Get Here? The Fundamental Developments in American Higher Education and the Challenges of Our Moment”
Monday, March 30, 10:10 a.m., Presidents Dining Room
“Higher Education’s Promise to Our Students and Graduates”
Tuesday, March 31, 11:15 a.m., Presidents Dining Room
“Higher Education’s Promise to Our Communities and Our National Society”
Tuesday, March 31, 6:00 p.m., Presidents Dining Room
