January 27, 2026 — Marist launches its spring lecture series tomorrow, welcoming award-winning actor and comedian Aasif Mandvi to campus. A dynamic lineup of events is planned throughout the semester that will bring distinguished voices in global affairs, media, and the arts for thought-provoking conversations and insights into timely issues and speakers’ personal career journeys.

Other confirmed speakers including Brookings Institution senior fellow and foreign policy expert Dr. Fiona Hill and a live taping of the podcast The Back Room with Andy Ostroy. Here is lineup for the spring lecture series with new additions expected throughout the semester:

 

Actor, comedian, and author Aasif Mandvi will speak Jan. 28 in Fusco Recital Hall.

Opening Event: An Evening with Aasif Mandvi
When: Wednesday, Jan. 28, 7 p.m.
Where: Fusco Recital Hall, Murray Student Center
Free and open to the public.

The series begins tomorrow, Jan. 28, with An Evening with Aasif Mandvi in the Fusco Recital Hall. Mandvi—an award‑winning actor, comedian, and author—will share stories from his journey across theatre, television, film, and memoir, offering a humorous and personal look at identity, representation, and creative expression. His multi‑decade career includes acclaimed work on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, the OBIE‑winning Sakina’s Restaurant, and the memoir No Land’s Man.

 

Dr. Fiona Hill will speak Feb. 2 in Nelly Goletti Theatre.

Next Week: Dr. Fiona Hill on Global Affairs
When: Monday, Feb. 2, 7 p.m.
Where: Nelly Goletti Theatre, Murray Student Center
Free and open to the public.

On Feb. 2, the University welcomes Dr. Fiona Hill for an in‑depth conversation moderated by President Kevin Weinman and Dr. Juris Pupcenoks in the Nelly Goletti Theatre. A senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and Chancellor of Durham University in the United Kingdom, Hill is one of the world’s leading experts on Russia, Europe, and U.S. foreign policy. She will offer insight into today’s geopolitical landscape, drawing from her bestselling memoir There Is Nothing for You Here and her extensive service on the National Security Council.

 

Ebony Stewart will present the First‑Year Seminar Common Read Lecture on Feb. 4.

Ebony Stewart
When: Wednesday, February 4, 12:30 p.m.
Where: McCann Center Arena
Students taking First Year Seminar are required to attend, but all Marist faculty, staff, and students are welcome.

Ebony Stewart, an award‑winning poet, author, and international touring artist, will present the First‑Year Seminar Common Read Lecture on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 12:30 p.m. in the McCann Center Arena. Required for First‑Year Seminar students and open to all faculty, staff, and students, her talk draws on her work as a social justice artivist and contributor to Ab(solutely) Normal: Short Stories That Smash Mental Health Stereotypes, the University’s 2025–26 common read.

 

Professor Sean Carroll will present ‘Find Yourself in a Large Universe’ on Feb. 10.

Sean Carroll
When: Tuesday, February 10, 5:00 p.m.
Where: O’Shea Lecture Hall, Dyson 1008
Free and open to the public.

The series continues on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 5 p.m. in O’Shea Lecture Hall (Dyson 1008) with Sean Carroll, Homewood Professor of Natural Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University, who will present Find Yourself in a Large Universe as the 2026 recipient of the Apostolos P. Stefanopoulos Prize in Philosophy. Free and open to the public, Carroll’s lecture will examine questions at the intersection of physics, cosmology, and philosophy, drawing on his work as a leading theoretical physicist and acclaimed science communicator.

 

Podcaster Andy Ostroy will welcome political commentator S.E. Cupp as a special guest during a live taping of his podcast on March 23 in the Dyson Center.

A Live Taping of The Back Room with Andy Ostroy and S.E. Cupp
When: Monday, March 23, 6:30 p.m.
Where: O’Shea Lecture Hall, Dyson 1008
Free and open to the public.

On Monday, March 23, check out a live taping of The Back Room with Andy Ostroy in the Ulrich Room, 1008 Dyson Center. Known for its candid, witty conversations about politics and culture, the show will bring together host Andy Ostroy, co‑producers Matty Rosenberg and Jen Hammoud, and special guest S.E. Cupp, the nationally syndicated columnist and commentator.

“This year, we worked to curate a lecture series that is timely and engaging for faculty, staff, students, and the broader community,” said Dr. Jacqueline Reich, Professor of Film, Television, and Media Arts. “After welcoming renowned neurosurgeon and author Dr. Theodore Schwartz last semester, this spring’s lineup shifts focus to the creative industries, political science, philosophy, and poetry.”

The evolving series is made possible through collaboration and support from across campus, including Student Affairs; the Office of Special Events; The Media Center and Information Technology; Campus Safety; First‑Year Seminars; the Honors College; the Deans’ Circle; the Student Government Association; and the Offices of the President and Provost.

Explore the full series lineup here.