Manchester University offers more than a dozen presentations in its Values, Ideas and the Arts (VIA) series for Fall 2025. Presentations are at 11 a.m. on Mondays in Wine Recital Hall at the North Manchester campus unless otherwise noted. They are free and open to the public.
- Sept. 1: Aaron Cook, a 2009 graduate and medical editor, shares a personal and intellectual journey about navigating the challenges of college and starting a career.
- Sept. 8: Brian Cashdollar, director of cross country and track & field at MU, discusses his coaching philosophy, which has demonstrated remarkable success by setting achievable expectations with his athletes, with applications to the larger campus community.
- Sept. 15: A discussion of the state of American democracy in celebration of Constitution Day, sponsored by Manchester’s political science program.
- Sept. 22: Markus Gilliar, an internationally renowned sports photographer, shares insights from four decades behind the lens at Olympic Games, FIFA World Cups, US Open and Wimbledon, Formula 1 races, the Tour de France, and more.
- Sept. 29: Irene Miller, social psychologist and Holocaust survivor, tells her story of survival as a child during World War II. Held in Cordier Auditorium.
- Oct. 6: Ella Brown, researcher at the University of Michigan, shares the results of her NSF-funded research with wild male mountain gorillas. Her findings bring us closer to understanding our shared evolutionary lineage.
- Oct. 20: Dr. Lizbette Ocasio-Russe, professor of creative writing at Southern New Hampshire University, explores the power of comics and graphic novels and how her webcomic “Xcommunicada” celebrates humanity and embraces diverse beliefs.
- Oct. 27: Dr. Stacy Erickson-Pesetski, professor of English and associate dean of academic affairs at MU, shares her experiences reading Shakespeare with incarcerated adults and juveniles in Indiana prisons and jails for the past 12 years.
- Oct. 28: In conjunction with the Oct. 27 program, a showing of the 2024 film Sing Sing, followed by a discussion with Dr. Stacy Erickson-Pesetski. 6:30-9 p.m.
- Nov. 3: Clarke Staton, chaplain at Ascension St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis, shares insights from his experience in healthcare chaplaincy.
- Nov. 10: Darrell Edmonds, former alternative dispute resolution deployable field advisor for FEMA, discusses the complexities of resolving conflict and explains key principles of effective conflict engagement.
- Nov. 17: MU seniors Carmen Reno and Payton Elsrod share their distinctive ways of making the most of their college experience and becoming their best selves.
- Nov. 24: Becky Landes, regional value chain professional at Farmwise Indiana and former school food service director, shares insights from her 23 years of experience in child nutrition—including efforts to bring local farm produce into Manchester Junior-Senior High School.
- Dec. 1: Heidi Lovett, youth services senior manager at St. Joe County Public Library, explores how she turned her passion for art into a series of innovative library projects that bring stories to life in unexpected ways.
Manchester’s VIA programming broadens students’ cultural experiences, enriches students intellectually and aesthetically, provides opportunities to experience the arts, promotes dialogue about ideas and values, and embodies in its presentations the values expressed in the University Mission. VIA features speakers, musicians and dramatic performers from the University community, across the country and around the globe.
For the media
Manchester University, in North Manchester and Fort Wayne, Ind., offers vibrant and transformative student experiences. Learn more at www.manchester.edu/about-manchester.
Manchester University respects the infinite worth of every individual and graduates persons of ability and conviction who draw upon their education and faith to lead principled, productive, and compassionate lives that improve the human condition.
