The Columns Weekly - Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026 From The Columns The Road to the White House Runs Through Mock Con At Mock Convention’s Parents and Family Weekend event, former White House press secretaries shared their experiences and spoke about the relationship between politics and the media. Read More W&L News on The Columns Employee Accolades Shaleigh Howells Completes Indigenous Cultural Landscape Research Fellowship The NAGPRA program coordinator supported Indigenous histories and stewardship in Shenandoah National Park. Mark Drumbl Examines Limits of International Criminal Justice in New Article The article argues for new approaches to accountability when international courts cannot bring accused war criminals to trial. Alexandra Klein Discusses Botched Tennessee Execution on BBC News Klein examines constitutional questions and potential reforms following a failed lethal injection. Want to be recognized for your work or do you have a colleague who should be recognized for their accomplishments? Simply use the employee accolade submission form. Meet a Colleague Meet a Colleague: Bob Stewart Bob Stewart is a professor of cognitive and behavioral science. Learn more about Bob in our "Meet a Colleague" feature series. Save These Dates on Your Calendar! The Office of Human Resources has several special events planned throughout the year for employees and they would love for you to join in the fun! These events are opportunities to connect with colleagues and celebrate our community. Save the dates now and more details will be shared about each event as the dates approach. Scene On Campus Executive Sous Chef Sam Wallace gives a cooking demonstration to Law and Literature participants in the Village Pavilion. View Photos Support the Generals! Lots of home action for the Generals across the next week. Featured Social Media Site Follow @generalswsoccer on Instagram for news and information about the second-ranked Generals women's soccer team. Make sure to follow all the university's social media channels for more information about happenings on our campus! Twitter/X - @wlunews | @wlulex | @wlulaw Facebook - Washington and Lee University | Working at W&L Instagram - @wlunews | @wlulex | @wlulaw Upcoming Events 150: A Collection Begins — Opening Reception 5:30 p.m. Northen Auditorium Dr. Janine Boldt, curator of American art at the Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State University, will discuss an exhibition of portraits from the foundational gift of Dr. William B. Mercer and the Landsdowne portrait of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart. A reception will follow at approximately 6:30 p.m. in the Leyburn Library Gallery on the main floor. The event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required. RSVP SonoKlect presents: Jeff Coffin and CPK Trio 8-10 p.m. Lenfest Center/Wilson Hall World-renowned musician Jeff Coffin will be joined in this performance by drummer Jordan Perlson and bassist Viktor Krauss, his partners in the CPK Trio, an adventurous collaboration that brings together three musicians with strikingly diverse careers. Free and open to the public. Tickets are not required. More Info Faculty Conversation: AI in Higher Education 4:10-5:10 p.m. Northen Auditorium We continue the conversation that began at the Fall Academy keynote by Ian Bogost. Sybil Prince Nelson, Jay Margalus and JT Torres will moderate the discussion. Guest Speaker: Monticello President Jane Kamensky 5:15 p.m. University Chapel Jane Kamensky, Jonathan Trumbull Professor of American History Emerita at Harvard University and president and CEO of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, will deliver a lecture titled “Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and the Lost Art of Civic Friendship,” discussing the personal themes of the friendship and rivalry between Jefferson and Adams. The event is free and open to the public. More Info National Theater Live: “The Playboy of the Western World” 7-11 p.m. Stackhouse Theater Nicola Coughlan joins Éanna Hardwicke and Siobhán McSweeney in John Millington Synge's riveting play of youth and self-discovery. Filmed live on stage at the National Theatre, Caitríona McLaughlin directs this darkly funny tale full to the brim with secrets. Tickets are required and available online or in person at the Lenfest Box Office. More Info Lenfest Colloquium 12-1:15 p.m. Payne Hall/Mason Taylor New Room Curious about your colleagues’ research or looking to collaborate with someone who has complementary scholarly interests? The Lenfest Faculty Research Colloquium showcases research and projects supported by summer Lenfest Grants for faculty. Register Endowed Professorship Lecture: Aliaa Bassiouny 5 p.m. Northen Auditorium Aliaa Bassiouny, the A. Stevens Miles Professor of Banking and Finance at Washington and Lee University, will deliver a public lecture celebrating her appointment to the endowed professorship. Bassiouny’s lecture, “There Is a Story Behind This Number: What Financial Market Frictions Teach Us About the World,” is free and open to the public. A reception will follow in the common area outside the auditorium. More Info Roosevelt Montás Kickoff Workshop on First-Year Seminars 11:40 a.m.-1:10 p.m. Leyburn 119 Participate in the 90-minute faculty workshop exploring approaches to developing, teaching and revising a shared list of humanities texts. The session will offer practical methods and perspectives for building a common intellectual experience for students. RSVP Basse Salon: Erin Gray 12:30-1:30 p.m. Leyburn 128 Erin Gray, associate professor of chemistry, will give a talk titled “From Reaction Flask to Publication: The People and Process Behind Undergraduate Research in Chemistry.” The talk is free and open to the public and light refreshments will be provided. Live Well W&L Cooking Class 4 p.m. Cannan Green Event Pavilion Join Campus Executive Chef Chris Vozzo for a flavorful demonstration on making fresh, delicious hummus from scratch. Learn simple tips and techniques you can use at home, then enjoy a tasting of the finished creation. RSVP Mudd Center Speaker: Sven Bernecker 5:15 p.m. Stackhouse Theater Sven Bernecker, Chancellor’s Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, Irvine, will deliver a lecture titled “Carrying the Blame: The Memory Conditions of Responsibility Over Time.” The lecture is free and open to the public. More Info Shannon Clark Lecture: Joseph Albernaz 6 p.m. Northen Auditorium Joseph Albernaz, associate professor of English at Columbia University, will give the annual Shannon-Clark Lecture in English with a talk titled “As on a Holiday: Poetic and Festival Time in the Age of Revolutions.” The lecture is free and open to the public. More Info Fall Choral Concert 8 p.m. Lenfest Center/Wilson Concert Hall The Department of Music will present the Fall Choral Concert featuring W&L’s University Singers, Glee Club and Cantatrici. The performance is free, but tickets are required and available online. More Info Faculty Recital: "Story Time" 3 p.m. Lenfest Center/Wilson Concert Hall The Department of Music will present a faculty recital by saxophonist Anthony Cincotta and pianists Anna Billias and Akiko Konishi titled “Story Time.” The performance is free and open to the public, and no tickets are required. More Info College Faculty Meeting 4:10 p.m. Northen Auditorium A College Faculty Meeting will be held on Monday, Oct. 26 at 4:10 p.m. in Northen Auditorium.

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