24th Omnibus Lecture Season Covers Cybersecurity, Creativity, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Wildlife Conservation
(August 21, 2018) — The 24th season of the Omnibus Lecture Series at Purdue University Fort Wayne features four engaging and thought-provoking speakers.
This year’s line-up includes: Frank Abagnale Jr. will be appearing at Purdue University Fort Wayne on September 13, 2018, as part of the Omnibus Lecture Series. Photo by Jeffrey Langlois/Palm Beach Daily News. Frank Abagnale
“Catch Me If You Can: An Evening with Frank Abagnale” Thursday, September 13, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets available at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, August 27th
Over the last 50 years, Frank Abagnale went from one of the world’s most famous con men to one of its most respected authorities on forgery, embezzlement, and secure documents.
His riveting story provided the inspiration for both Steven Spielberg’s 2002 film, Catch Me If You Can, and the Tony-Award winning musical, Catch Me If You Can.
Abagnale conducted more than 3,000 seminars on identity theft, fraud, and cybercrime, and advised hundreds of government agencies, financial institutions, and corporations. More than 14,000 organizations use his fraud prevention programs.
He has been associated with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for over 40 years and lectures extensively at the FBI Academy and field offices. Abagnale refuses to accept payment for any of his government work.
Amy Tan will be appearing at Purdue University Fort Wayne on November 14, 2018, as part of the Omnibus Lecture Series. Courtesy photo. Amy Tan
“An Evening with Amy Tan” Wednesday, November 14, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets available at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, October 29
Born in the U.S. to immigrant parents from China, Amy Tan rejected her mother’s expectations that she become a doctor and concert pianist, choosing to write fiction instead. Six of her novels, including The Joy Luck Club and The Kitchen God’s Wife, became New York Times bestsellers.
Her other works include a memoir, two children’s books, and numerous articles for The New Yorker, Harper’s Bazaar, National Geographic, and other magazines. Her writing appears in 35 languages around the world.
Tan has lectured internationally at universities, delivered a TED talk, spoken at the White House, appeared on Sesame Street, and played in a literary garage band with Stephen King, Dave Barry, and Scott Turow to raise money for literacy programs.
Jim Lucas will be appearing at Purdue University Fort Wayne on February 19, 2019, as part of the Omnibus Lecture Series. Courtesy photo. Jim Lucas
“REFLECTIONS: The Life and Times of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., presented by Jim Lucas” Tuesday, February 19, 2019, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets available at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, February 4
In August 1983, Jim Lucas attended the 20th Anniversary of the March on Washington. That event inspired him to learn and later recite the works of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in a dramatic one-man show.
Since then, Lucas received critical acclaim across the nation for his stirring recitations and interpretive readings depicting the life and times Dr. King.
His resemblance to and interpretation of Dr. King has been called remarkable, awe inspiring, uncanny, and soulful. Former President Bill Clinton praised him as “the most authentic and exhilarating King I have ever seen.”
As a student of Dr. King’s teachings, Lucas is an advocate of Dr. King’s philosophy of non-violent civil action to effect social change.
Jeff Corwin will be appearing at Purdue University Fort Wayne on April 17, 2019, as part of the Omnibus Lecture Series. Courtesy photo. Jeff Corwin
“Tales from the Field with Jeff Corwin” Wednesday, April 17, 2019, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets available at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, April 1
As the host of the Emmy Award-winning ABC wildlife adventure series Ocean Mysteries, Jeff Corwin educates and entertains audiences with his knowledge and deep sense of caring about the natural world, empowering audiences to join the movement to save our natural world for future generations.
His work on CNN’s critically-acclaimed Planet in Peril with Anderson Cooper and as a special science and environment correspondent for NBC News solidified his place as one of the world’s leading environmental journalists.
With a focus on awareness and education, Corwin draws on his world travels to enlighten with insights on the current state of environmental conservation efforts, emphasizing that the key to our own survival is the survival of the world’s creatures and ecosystems.
The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is co-sponsoring this lecture.
Omnibus Lecture Series Information
The Omnibus Lecture Series is dedicated to sharing diverse ideas through educated, respected, insightful, and entertaining speakers for the campus community and people throughout northeast Indiana.
The English, Bonter, Mitchell Foundation has been the Omnibus Lecture Series sponsor since 1995. Media sponsors for the 2018-19 series are WANE-TV NewsChannel 15, and 89.1 WBOI News and Diverse Music. Omnibus Lecture Series Tickets
All lectures are held in the Auer Performance Hall at the Rhinehart Music Center and require free tickets. There are three options to obtain tickets:
Pick up tickets in person at the Larson Ticket Office in the Gates Athletics Center between 12:30 and 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Reserve tickets online. Go to the Box Office website to purchase tickets. Tickets are free, but a convenience fee of $1 per ticket will be charged.
Tickets reserved online can be mailed for an additional fee of $1 or picked up at Will Call in the lobby of the Rhinehart Music Center beginning one hour before the lecture. Unclaimed tickets will be offered to other guests 15 minutes before the program begins.
Doors open one hour before each lecture. Free parking is available in parking garage 3, located in the Fine Arts Plaza.
For more information about the lecture series, speakers, tickets, or the campus map, visit the Omnibus Lecture Series website.
About Purdue University Fort Wayne
Established in 1964 as Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and officially becoming Purdue University Fort Wayne in 2018. it is the largest university in northeast Indiana. As a Metropolitan University, it is uniquely positioned to serve the region as a crossroads of intellectual, social, economic, and cultural advancement and to continue expanding its global reach through research, scholarship, and creative expression. Challenging academics are combined with a focus on student success across many prestigious degree programs, taught by 350 full-time faculty. More than 8,300 degree-seeking students of diverse ages, ethnicities, and nationalities pursue their education on the nearly 700-acre campus. Half of the students are first-generation college students, 15% are from underrepresented populations, and 73% of students receive some form of financial assistance to achieve their academic and career goals. A majority of the growing alumni network of 60,700 live and work in northeast Indiana, contributing to the region’s economy, vitality, and intellectual strength.
