Tisch College Announces Spring 2025 events

Thought leaders across the political spectrum to appear on campus

The Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life will host events this semester with community leaders, authors, filmmakers, public servants, and scientists—including one focused on how to save the bees.

All events take place on Tufts’ Medford/Somerville campus unless otherwise noted. 

Visit https://tischcollege.tufts.edu/events for event details and to register.

Police Corruption & Racial Violence in Boston: The 1990s to Now 

Tuesday, February 4 | 4-6:30 p.m. | Barnum Hall LL008

Join a screening and discussion of Netflix’s Trial 4, a documentary about exoneree Sean Ellis’ fight to prove his innocence after being wrongfully incarcerated for 22 years for the murder of a Boston police officer. Following the screening, Ellis, now the director of the Exoneree Network, will be in conversation with his attorney, Massachusetts lawyer Rosemary Scapicchio. 

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Film Screening + Panel: Admissions Granted

Thursday, February 6 | 6-8:30 p.m. | Barnum Hall LL08

Join a special screening of the film Admissions Granted and a discussion with co-directors Miao Wang and Hao Wu, Tufts Dean of Undergraduate Admissions JT Duck, and Tufts undergraduate Anevay Ybanez. The conversation will be moderated by Natasha Warikoo, Tufts professor of sociology. 

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Democracy Now: A Panel Discussion

Tuesday, February 11 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington St, Boston

This panel is an opportunity to hear from humanists whose daily work considers and shapes the state of local and global democracies. 

Panelists include Dayna Cunningham, dean of Tisch College; Noorya Hayat, researcher at Tisch College’s Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement; Chawky Frenn, artist and associate professor at George Mason University; Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro, CEO and co-founder of the National Trust for Local News; and Sophia Hall, deputy litigation director at Lawyers for Civil Rights. The conversation will be moderated by WBUR reporter Simón Rios.

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Civic Life Lunch: The Power of Language With Kella Merlain-Moffatt 

Thursday, February 20 | noon-1 p.m. | Rabb Room, Barnum Hall

Join Tisch College for a Civic Life Lunch with Kella Merlain-Moffatt, associate director of the Africana Center. The Tufts alumna and former Tisch Scholar will share her transformative work in Ghana and the role of language in education and policymaking.

Drawing from her experiences, she will discuss the critical importance of linguistic accessibility in creating equitable educational opportunities and shaping effective public policies. Learn how language influences civic engagement, social equity, and community development, and explore the broader implications for global education and governance. Lunch will be provided.

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Civic Life Lunch: Lessons and Strategies From Community Organizing Around the World

Wednesday, February 26 | noon-1 p.m. | Barnum 104

How does an indigenous community on South Africa’s Wild Coast take on Shell Oi—and win? How have urban poor communities in the Philippines organized thousands of members to address the frontline impacts of climate change? Why do Barcelona residents build ‘democracy schools’ for poetry, debate, and the circus in neighborhoods across the city? Dive into these questions with Tufts Visiting Fellow Cameron Conner, a dynamic community organizer who has dedicated his life to empowering voices and driving social change. Through stories from the field and actionable insights, Conner will explore the legacies of people-power around the world and examine the innovations they offer for the rich tradition of community organizing in the United States.

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Civic Life Lunch: Ending Hunger in Our Communities With Project Bread

Wednesday, March 5 | noon-1 p.m.| Barnum 104

Join Tisch College for a Civic Life Lunch featuring Vice President of Engagement Catalina Lopez-Ospina and Director of Community Partnerships Adriana Mendes-Sheldon from Project Bread, a leading nonprofit working to end hunger in Massachusetts. They’ll discuss the multifaceted challenges of food insecurity, its intersections with health and equity, and innovative approaches to creating systemic change.

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Solomont Speaker Series: Mick Mulvaney

Tuesday, March 11 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Barnum Hall LL008

Join a conversation with Washington insider and conservative strategist Mick Mulvaney moderated by Eitan Hersh, Tufts political science professor. Mulvaney most recently served as White House chief of staff during the first Trump administration and as director of the Office of Management and Budget, where he also ran the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He later served as United States special envoy for Northern Ireland, where he focused on both the region’s economic opportunities and challenges from its troubled legacy.

Prior to his work in the first Trump White House, Mulvaney served in the United States House of Representatives, serving South Carolina’s 5th congressional district, where he was a founding member of the Freedom Caucus.

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Civic Life Lunch: Thinking About Community Knowledge and Research Partnerships With TCRC

Wednesday, March 12 | noon-1 p.m. | Barnum 104

Join Tisch College for a Civic Life Lunch featuring the Tufts Community Research Center (TCRC) as they discuss strategies for preparing students to engage in meaningful community-based work, with a special focus for students thinking about community research.

This session will explore best practices for building equitable partnerships, ensuring ethical research, and making a lasting impact in communities. Hear from TCRC staff members about real-world examples, key challenges, and considerations for students to contribute to civic life through research. Whether you’re planning your next community project or simply curious about community-engaged research, this conversation will provide valuable insights. Lunch will be provided.

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What Happened to American Capitalism? 

Tuesday, April 1 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Cabot Intercultural Center, Room 702

Join a conversation with economist, conservative thought leader and author Oren Cass. Cass is the founder and chief economist at American Compass, a conservative think tank whose mission is to restore an economic consensus that emphasizes the importance of family, community, and industry to the nation’s liberty and prosperity.

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Solomont Speaker Series: Ann Wolbert Burgess

Thursday, April 3 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Barnum Hall LL008

Meet Ann Wolbert Burgess, D.N.Sc., APRN, FAAN, the renowned forensic nurse who transformed the way the FBI profiles and catches serial killers and inspired the Hulu’s documentary “Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer” and the popular Netflix series “Mindhunter.” An internationally recognized pioneer in the assessment and treatment of victims of trauma and abuse, Burgess co-founded one of the first hospital-based crisis counseling programs at Boston City Hospital. Her work led to the groundbreaking study of young victims and the impact of trauma on their growth and development, their families and communities. Burgess’ expertise led to a collaboration with the FBI’s newly created Behavioral Sciences Unit to study violent serial offenders, and the links between child abuse, juvenile delinquency, and subsequent perpetration. Her book, A Killer by Design: Murderers, Mindhunters, and My Quest to Decipher the Criminal Mind, chronicles this work. 

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Noah Wilson-Rich on Bees, Sustainability, and Environmental Impact

Thursday, April 10 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | ASEAN Auditorium, Cabot Center

Join a conversation and special reception with Noah Wilson-Rich about his journey from Tufts student to environmental innovator, the vital role bees play in sustaining ecosystems, and how his work bridges science, business, and civic engagement. Wilson-Rich, AG11, is the founder and chief scientific officer of The Best Bees Company and the Urban Beekeeping Laboratory and Bee Sanctuary, a pioneering organization dedicated to supporting pollinator health through research-informed practice and promoting urban beekeeping as a critical tool in environmental conservation. His book, The Bee: A Natural History, was published in 2014.

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Civic Life Lunch: Inmates to Entrepreneurs 

Tuesday, April 15 | noon-1 p.m. | Rabb Room, Barnum Hall

Join a Civic Life Lunch conversation with Brian Hamilton and Lawrence Carpenter of Inmates to Entrepreneurs, an organization dedicated to reducing recidivism through entrepreneurship and education. The conversation will explore the intersection of criminal justice reform, business innovation, and civic responsibility. Attendees will gain insights into how entrepreneurial opportunities can empower individuals and strengthen communities. Lunch will be provided.

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