2018–19 Public Events & Conferences

Parker offers free lectures for the general public, providing a forum for conversation on world perspectives featuring talks on current educational, artistic, social, political, psychological and scientific issues. Through the years, thought leaders from across the nation, as well as members of Parker’s faculty and administration, have delivered public lectures at the school.
Click here to be notified when additional public events are added to our schedule.

The Jeanne Harris Hansell Endowed Fund for Poetry

6th Annual Jeanne Harris Hansell 
Endowed Fund for Poetry presentation
Naomi Shihab Nye
Acclaimed Poet and Author 
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The Jeanne Harris Hansell Endowed Fund for Poetry ensures continued success of our “Poetry at Parker” series and allows the school to host renowned guest poets and speakers about poetry in years to come. Former Poet Laureate Billy Collins was Parker’s inaugural visiting poet in the 2012–13 academic year, followed by Nikky Finney, Louise Glück, Kevin Young, Joy Harjo, Naomi Shihab Nye, Natasha Trethewey, Elise Paschen ’77, Julian Randall ’11, Gabrielle Calvocoressi and Elizabeth Acevedo.

D’Rita and Robbie Robinson Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Speaker Series

Charles M. Blow
Author and New York Times Columnist
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The D’Rita and Robbie Robinson Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Speaker Series provides opportunities for all to share in insightful perspectives on vital issues facing our democratic society and global world. Prior speakers have included Charles M. Blow, Howard C. Stevenson, Dr. Tricia Rose and Jelani Cobb.

Administrators of Color in Independent Schools Conference

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12th Annual Robert A. Pritzker Visiting Scientist • Inventor • Engineer in Residence

Dr. Eve Van Cauter
Professor of medicine at the University of Chicago
Director of the Sleep, Metabolism and Health Center
“Sleep as a Pillar of Health and Wellness”
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The Robert A. Pritzker Visiting Scientist•Inventor•Engineer in Residence program was created by a gift to Parker in honor of engineer, industrialist and philanthropist Robert A. Pritzker ’44. This program aims to expand science education opportunities at Parker and foster an ongoing dialogue among students and teachers about current issues in science. Previous recipients include Dr. Leon M. Lederman, Dr. Paul Sereno, Dr. Russell Mittermeier and Christina Mittermeier, Dr. Edward “Rocky” Kolb, Dr. Ka Yee Lee, Dr. Don Hillebrand, Dr. Matthew Tirrell, Dr. Elizabeth Gerber, Dr. Sian Beilock, Dr. Wendy Freedman, Dr. Rick Stevens, Dr. Eve Van Cauter, Dr. Dinee Simpson, Dr. Farah Fahim and Dr. Jamal Moss, Dr. Katie Cronin, Dr. Seth Magle and Dr. Rama Ranganathan.

“Nightviews” presents

Michael S. Roth
President, Wesleyan University
“Why Liberal Arts Education Matters More Than Ever”
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“Nightviews” presents

Poetry at Parker
Celebrating Alumni Poets 
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Joan W. Harris Visiting Music Scholar in Residence

Music of the Baroque
with Conductor Stephen Alltop
“The Conductor and Leadership” 
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The Joan W. Harris Visiting Music Scholar in Residence program provides experiences for students find inspiration, learn, appreciate and understand the transformative power of classical music. Members of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center worked with the school as our inaugural visiting artists in 2017 followed by the Chicago Opera Theater, The Westerlies, Kontras Quartet and Chicago a cappella.

21st Annual Francine C. Rosenberg Memorial Lecture

Dr. Shauna Shapiro 
Speaker, Author and Professor of Psychology 
at Santa Clara University
“The Power of Mindfulness in Parenting and Teaching”
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The Francine C. Rosenberg Memorial Lecture Series was created to honor the memory of one of Parker’s most dedicated and effective volunteers, Francine C. Rosenberg. In Francine’s memory, the Lecture Series is dedicated to exposing Parker and the extended community to innovative views, philosophies and teachings relevant to the education of our children and how we live our lives. Previous guest lecturers include Judith Viorst; John Gottman, Ph.D.; Beverly Daniel Tatum; Maria Trozzi; Alvin Rosenfeld, M.D.; Edward Hallowell, M.D.; Wendy Mogel, Ph.D.; Robert Evans, Ed.D.; Michael J. Gelb; Ruth J. Simmons, Ph.D.; Sir Ken Robinson, Ph.D.; James P. Steyer; Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot; Michael Thompson, Ph.D.; Kenneth Ginsbugh, M.D., M.S. Ed.; Paul Tough; Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair; Dr. Bruce Perry; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Eric Liu; Dr. Shauna Shapiro, Rami Nashashibi, Michelle Gielan and Brian Levenson.

Young Men of Color Symposium

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330 West Webster Avenue | Chicago, Illinois 60614 | 773.353.3000
Francis W. Parker School educates students to think and act with empathy, courage and clarity as responsible citizens and leaders in a diverse democratic society and global community.