January Series Expands

Calvin University is excited to announce the speaker lineup for its 2025 January Series. Now in its 39th year, the award-winning January Series is expanding into a year-round format as it continues to offer the public unique opportunities to engage in free, high-caliber, liberal-arts talks from thought leaders and inspiring voices from around the globe. What was once 15 lectures in January will now include 10 lectures during the traditional January period, supplemented by additional events in the spring and fall.

“The year-round January Series will allow us to try new projects and adjust to making it the best we can,” said Michael Wildschut, January Series director. “This allows us to innovate, expand, and highlight new stories that we couldn’t have done in the same way before.”

Wildschut added that the COVID-19 pandemic, changes to Calvin’s academic calendar, and greater competition factored into the decision. “Because the market has changed, how we deliver these things has needed to change too,” he explained. 

During the pandemic, in-person attendance at the series dropped dramatically, while online viewership skyrocketed. Those trends have continued. And when the university switched from having a January “interim” to having just two semesters for its academic year, that also affected physical attendance at the series. 

“In the past we had a guaranteed audience,” said Wildschut. “It was easy to get students to come. Now they are in the midst of classes.” 

He added that offering lectures throughout the year also opens up new opportunities. The series wants to draw the best speakers possible. Competition for these speakers has increased, and offering a year-long program allows Calvin to work with speaker schedules to find the best dates for everyone. 

“I think of it as expansion,” said Wildshut. “In addition to the 10 events we are providing in January, we are partnering on three spring events, some of which will be off campus and in various West Michigan locations. They will all be available to our remote audiences. We will also offer our July series again and some fall events as well.”

Approximately 17 events are currently planned for 2025. For now, Calvin is inviting everyone to attend 10 events in January to listen, learn, and discern as they explore topics ranging from global security and social justice to personal resilience and innovation. Attendees can experience the series in person at the Calvin Fine Arts Center, via simulcast, or digitally on-demand. Lectures will take place Monday through Friday at 12:30 p.m. (EST) Jan. 20-31, and additional remote viewing sites will be available across the continent.

Featured speakers for 2025:

• Jonathan Eig (Monday, Jan. 20): Pulitzer Prize-winning author of King: A Life, Eig will explore Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy as a leader, thinker, and strategist, drawing parallels to contemporary social-justice issues.
• Todd Komarnicki (Tuesday, Jan. 21): Screenwriter of Sully (2016) and producer/director of Bonhoeffer (Nov. 2024), Komarnicki will share stories of bravery and moral complexity from his films, including Elf and Sully.
• John Inazu (Wednesday, Jan. 22): First Amendment scholar and founder of The Carver Project, Inazu will lead a conversation on learning to disagree while fostering empathy and understanding respectfully.
• Heather Templeton Dill (Thursday, Jan. 23): President of the John Templeton Foundation, Dill will discuss how philanthropy affects communities and individuals, focusing on cultivating intellectual humility.
• Kristjan Prikk (Friday, Jan. 24): Estonian ambassador to the United States,  Prikk will offer an Estonian and European perspective on the global security challenges facing our world, focusing on the situation involving Russia and Ukraine.
• Peter Sagal (Monday, Jan. 27): Host of NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me, Sagal will take a humorous look at his 25-year career and share stories of interviews with notable figures.
• Alastair Humphreys (Tuesday, Jan. 28): National Geographic's Adventurer of the Year (2012), Humphreys will encourage audiences to pursue everyday adventures in their own neighborhoods.
• Reshma Saujani (Wednesday, Jan. 29): Founder of Girls Who Code and author of the book Pay Up: The Future of Women and Work, Saujani will discuss the future of work for women and advocate for cultural changes in corporate leadership.
• Michaela O’Donnell (Thursday, Jan. 30): Executive director of Fuller Theological Seminary's Max De Pree Center for Leadership, O’Donnell will offer practical advice for navigating life's uncertainties with grace and faith.
• Hunter Woodhall (Friday, Jan. 31): 2024 Paralympics gold medalist and first double amputee to earn an NCAA Division I scholarship, Woodhall will share his resilience journey, culminating in his gold-medal win.

Learn more at calvin.edu/January.