Written by Kari Borne
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will host free lectures in Whitewater and Janesville this fall, highlighting pivotal movements and events in our nation’s history.
Lectures will be held September through November and are open to all. Free parking is available at both locations and registration is not required.
Historians, political scientists, and other experts from both the Whitewater and Rock County campuses will share their expertise in engaging discussions that encourage lifelong learning for all.
Lectures in the series, titled “Making of America: Historical Events, Modern Implications,” will reflect on the United States’ foundational history and explore the country’s enduring impact on modern society.
“Our nation remains a work in progress, and the social, economic, and political struggles we face today are deeply rooted in our past,” said Matt Vick, dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education. “This series of lectures will help our community engage with faculty and examine together our shared American experiences.”
Lectures in the Fairhaven Lecture Series are held in Olm Fellowship Hall at Fairhaven Senior Services, 435 West Starin Road, Whitewater. Visit uww.edu/ce/fairhaven for more information and descriptions of each lecture.
Public lectures held in the Cedar Crest Lecture Series will take place at the Independent Apartments at Cedar Crest, Inc., 1702 South River Road, Janesville. Visit uww.edu/ce/cedar-crest for lecture descriptions and updates.
Patrons needing accommodations should contact UW-Whitewater Continuing Education (at least two weeks before the date of the lecture). Requests are confidential. UW-Whitewater provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX and ADA.
Please contact Kari Borne at bornek@uww.edu or 262-472-1003 for further information.
UW-Whitewater’s Continuing Education has hosted lectures in the Fairhaven Lecture Series in Whitewater since 1983. The Cedar Crest Lecture Series in Janesville was established in 2020.
Lectures scheduled for Mondays at 3 p.m. at Fairhaven Senior Services in Whitewater:
September 14
“There is Nothing Complicated About Ordinary Equality:” The Long Fight for Women’s Suffrage in the United States
Presented by Ashley Barnes-Gilbert, Assistant Professor, Women’s and Gender Studies
September 21
Who Picks Our Elected Leaders? The Evolution of the American Vote
Presented by Eric Loepp, Associate Professor, Politics, Government, and Law
October 5
The Founding of America and the Words that Inspired a New Nation
Presented by Richard Haven, Professor Emeritus, Communication
October 12
Women’s Trade Union League: An Alliance across Class Lines
Presented by Elizabeth Jozwiak, Associate Professor, History
October 19
Beyond the Ballot: Making Sense of the 2026 Midterm Elections
Presented by Eric Loepp, Associate Professor, Politics, Government, and Law
October 26
Lincoln, Slavery, and the Jeffersonian Dilemma
Presented by David McKay, Senior Lecturer, History
November 2
Route 66 at 100! America’s “Mother Road” as an Enduring Symbol of Freedom, Mobility, and Adventure
Presented by Anna Hajdik, Senior Lecturer, Literature, Writing and Film
Lectures scheduled for Tuesdays at 2 p.m., unless otherwise noted, at Cedar Crest Retirement Community in Janesville:
September 15
The Founding of America and the Words that Inspired a New Nation
Richard Haven, Professor Emeritus, Communication
September 22
A Population History of the Midwest: Mass Migration, America First, and Demographic Winter in the Heartland
Jonathan Burkham, Associate Professor, Geography, Geology & Environmental Science
October 6
Populists, Progressives, and the Making of American Democracy
Micah Wright, Assistant Professor, History
October 13
Women’s Trade Union League: An Alliance across Class Lines
Elizabeth Jozwiak, Associate Professor, History
Thursday, October 22
Lincoln, Slavery, and the Jeffersonian Dilemma
David McKay, Senior Lecturer, History
About Continuing Education
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Department of Continuing Education is committed to meeting lifelong learning needs by offering a variety of classes, workshops and trainings that respond to the evolving personal and professional interests of adult learners. Working closely with UW-Whitewater’s School of Graduate Studies and Department of Camps and Conferences, we connect talented faculty, staff, and students from the university with residents of the region for hands-on, high-level engagement on relevant topics.
