Berry to Host A Variety of Speakers During Fall Lectures

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Cecil B. Wright III Integrity in Leadership Lecture Series

On Oct. 29, SpaceX Astronaut Scott “Kidd” Poteet will speak at the Wright Integrity in Leadership Lecture in the Krannert Ballroom.

Kidd served his country for 20 years as a combat-proven warrior, USAF Thunderbird ambassador and Fighter Weapons School graduate. He excelled in his military career while fostering his passion for endurance sports by competing in 16 Ironman triathlons, including the World Championships in Hawaii. Kidd fulfilled his childhood dream as an astronaut aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket on a 5-day record-setting Earth orbit spaceflight.

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Life and Calling Lecture Series

Wrapping up the fall semester, author and New Testament scholar Zachary Wagner will speak at the annual Life and Calling Lecture on Nov. 9 in the Krannert Ballroom. Wagner holds degrees from Moody Bible Institute and Wheaton College and a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Oxford (England). He published his first book, “Non-Toxic Masculinity: Recovering Healthy Male Sexuality,” in 2023. His second book was recently published, “Men of Virtue: How the Fruit of the Spirit Forms Male Character in the Modern World.” He currently serves as the director of programs at the Center for Pastor Theologians.

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The Center for Personal and Professional Development

On Sept. 22, Berry presents “We All Row: Navigating Uncertain Waters from College to Career Together,” a Presidential Conversation about Preparing Students for Lifelong Success at 7 p.m. in the Krannert Ballroom.

Berry President Sandeep Mazumder will chat with Shawn VanDerziel, National Association of Colleges and Employers President, which is the foremost source of information on the transition from college to career. A former Chief Human Resources Officer, he is frequently featured as an industry expert in the media and is a sought-after speaker on internships, hiring, career readiness and workforce trends. From the ROI of internships and skills-based hiring to the impact of AI on early talent, VanDerziel is recognized as a pragmatic truth-teller and trusted interpreter of workforce data.

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Conson Wilson Lecture Series

The Conson Wilson Lecture on Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. welcomes culinary author Adrian Miller to Krannert Ballroom.

Miller is a two-time James Beard Award-winning author, certified barbecue judge and recovering attorney based in Denver, Colorado. From 1999 to 2001, he served as a special assistant to President Bill Clinton with the Initiative for One America – the first free-standing office in the White House to address issues of racial, religious and ethnic reconciliation. Miller has authored four acclaimed books examining soul food, barbecue history and the stories of chefs who shaped presidential cuisine.

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Lumen Lecture Series

The Lumen Lecture on Oct. 12 in Krannert Ballroom welcomes writer and literary scholar Grace Hamman. She is the author of “Ask of Old Paths: Medieval Virtues & Vices for a Whole & Holy Life”, the 2025 Christianity Today Book of the Year in Spiritual Formation, and a finalist for the Dallas Willard Book of the Year. Hamman received her doctorate in English, specializing in Middle English contemplative writing and poetry, from Duke University in 2019.

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Gloria Shatto Lecture Series

The Shatto Lecture on Oct. 15 will feature the director of “The Chosen”, a global drama series on Amazon Prime Video. Dallas Jenkins, who has been directing and producing films and television for over 25 years, was listed among The Hollywood Reporter’s 50 Most Powerful TV Producers and Variety’s 500 most influential leaders in media and entertainment.

Jenkins will speak at 7 p.m. in the Cage Center Arena. The two-hour event will include a pre-screening of episode 1, season 6 of “The Chosen”, which will premiere worldwide on Nov. 15. The event is open to all Berry students, staff, faculty and invited guests.