Auburn University to host scholars Cornel West and Robert P. George for America 250 Series this fall

AUBURN, Ala. — As part of Auburn University’s Democracy in Dialogue Signature Speaker Series commemorating the nation’s semiquincentennial, the institution will welcome distinguished scholars and thought leaders Cornel West and Robert George to campus on September 30, 2026, at 5 p.m. CST in the Gogue Performing Arts Center for a moderated conversation on civic engagement and the ideals of American democracy.

The visit marks nearly a decade since West and George last appeared together at Auburn in 2017, engaging faculty, staff and students in a wide-ranging discussion on civil discourse and the role of universities in fostering thoughtful debate. As part of Auburn’s America 250 initiative, their visit encourages the Auburn community to reflect on the nation’s founding principles and the future of democratic life in the United States.

“We are fortunate to welcome back Cornel West and Robert George, two leading voices who will bring ideas-driven debate and discourse to Auburn as part of our America 250 initiative,” President Christopher B. Roberts said. “Their visit this fall builds on the momentum created by the many events, programs, and conversations already underway across our campus that are challenging our academic community to think deeply about the principles, responsibilities, and future of democratic life.”

West is the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Chair at Union Theological Seminary and a prominent public philosopher whose scholarship spans philosophy, politics, religion and culture. He previously served as Professor of the Practice of Public Philosophy at Harvard University and is Professor Emeritus at Princeton University. West earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and received his master’s and doctoral degrees in philosophy from Princeton, where in 1980 he became the first Black scholar to earn a Ph.D. in philosophy.

A prominent author and scholar, West has written more than 20 books, including Race Matters and Democracy Matters, and is widely known for advancing conversations about justice, truth and democratic responsibility. In 2024, West was an Independent Presidential Candidate, and in the same year he delivered the Gifford Lecture 2023/2024, titled A Jazz-soaked Philosophy for Our Catastrophic Times: From Socrates to Coltrane, at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.

George is the McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University and director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. A leading scholar of philosophy of law, moral and political philosophy, constitutional law, and civil liberties, George has also served in numerous public roles, including as chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and as a member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and the U.S. President’s Council on Bioethics.

He is the author of several influential works on law and political philosophy, including Making Men Moral, In Defense of Natural Law and The Clash of Orthodoxies. His writing has appeared in leading academic journals as well as national publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.

Despite often approaching issues from different philosophical and political perspectives, West and George have demonstrated the power of civil engagement through their collaborative work, including their book Truth Matters: A Dialogue on Fruitful Disagreement in an Age of Division.

The event follows the series’ opening conversation, featuring the 66th U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, and political moderator and author Margaret Hoover. Held on March 30, 2026, their discussion reflects Auburn’s commitment to fostering dialogue on the ideas, traditions and debates that have shaped American democracy while highlighting the role universities play in encouraging open inquiry and respectful debate.

Tickets are required for entry. Reservations will open to the Auburn campus community on August 24, 2026 (Auburn login required) and to the broader community on September 7, 2026.

The America 250 at Auburn University initiative commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence through programs that explore the nation’s history, democratic ideals and civic responsibilities while encouraging dialogue about the future of American democracy.

For more information, please contact au250@auburn.edu.

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