Rev. Dr. Robert Lawrence Lecture

This year's lecture featured Nataly Kogan, CEO and founder of Happier. She has dedicated her career to helping individuals and organizations better understand and achieve happiness. There were two opportunities to hear her talk.

The Reverend Dr. Robert Lawrence Lecture is designed to promote civic engagement and community building. Speakers provide thought-provoking presentations about service and community that inspire the audience to be more engaged in their communities.

Previous Lectures

2019: Nataly Kogan

Nataly Kogan is the CEO and founder of Happier. Her presentation was a demonstration that happiness is not only a feeling, but a skill that can be learned and improved through practice.

2018: David Hogg and Jaclyn Corin

David Hogg and Jaclyn Corin are two survivors of the February 14, 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL that claimed 17 lives. Their talk, "Engaging Student Voices: A Focus on Voting, Gun Control, and Anti-Violence", focused on how young people can affect policy through voting.

2017: The Moth

The Moth is a program where true stories are told live and without notes. It celebrates that ability of stories to honor the diversity and commonality of human experience, and to satisfy the human need for connection. Three storytellers shared stories about their experiences related to civic engagement and service.

2016: Mitch Albom

Mitch Albom is the author of the best-seller Tuesdays with Morrie, as well as The Five People You Meet in Heaven, and most recently, The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto. He is a longtime journalist who regularly writes feature stories and sports colums for the Detroit Free Press. His talk, "Giving is Living", focused on the importance of active citizenship and living a meaningful life.