Established in 1971 with the personal blessing of President Harry S. Truman, the Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture Series reflects his deep belief in an informed public and the responsibility of citizens to engage thoughtfully with the world around them. In granting Avila University permission to create a permanent lecture series in his name, President Truman emphasized the importance of truth, freedom of thought, and learning grounded in knowledge rather than prejudice.
Since its founding, the series has welcomed distinguished voices who bring insight into national and global issues — continuing Truman’s conviction that education and open dialogue are essential to a healthy democracy. Today, the Truman Lecture Series stands as a lasting testament to his legacy and Avila’s commitment to thoughtful inquiry, public service, and the formation of engaged citizens.
On January 29, 2026, Avila University was honored to host a truly unique evening — a living conversation across generations of presidential history. A Dialogue with Descendants brought together Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of Harry S. Truman; Mary Jean Eisenhower, granddaughter of Dwight D. Eisenhower; and Merrill Eisenhower, great-grandson of President Eisenhower, for a candid and deeply personal reflection on leadership, legacy, and what it means to carry a family name shaped by history. Their conversation embodied everything the Truman Lecture Series was created to foster — open dialogue, thoughtful citizenship, and the belief that understanding our past is essential to navigating our future.
A Legacy of Distinguished Voices
Over more than five decades, the Truman Lecture Series has brought to our campus some of the most compelling and consequential figures of our time — historians, activists, journalists, scientists, public servants, and survivors whose lives and work embody the spirit of informed citizenship that President Truman championed.
Past speakers have included:
- David E. Bell – the inaugural lecturer and former administrative assistant to President Truman
- Margaret Mead – renowned cultural anthropologist
- Nancy Landon Kassebaum – first woman elected to the U.S. Senate in her own right
- William F. Buckley – author and commentator
- Coretta Scott King – civil rights icon
- Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ – author and tireless advocate for human dignity
- Clarence Kelly – former FBI Director
- Joseph Califano – former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare
- Louis Zamperini – World War II veteran whose extraordinary story of survival was captured in Unbroken
- Jonathon M. Katz – investigative journalist and author
- Sarah Collins Rudolph – survivor of the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham
- Reyna Grande – award-winning author
- William Kamkwamba – Malawian inventor and engineer
Each speaker has brought a unique perspective — and a shared belief in the power of knowledge, dialogue, and human dignity to shape a better world.
Details around our next session coming soon