Don R. Elliott Distinguished Presidential Lectures

Don R. Elliott, Courtesy of Vanderbilt University

The Don R. Elliott Distinguished Presidential Lecture Series is designed to expose the Lipscomb University campus and the surrounding community to persons of influence in one or more issues of contemporary debate or discussion, with a preference for issues related to economics or political science. An endowment established at Lipscomb by the Don R. Elliott Foundation provides primary funding for the Elliott Distinguished Presidential Lecture. The lecture series is named in memory of Don R. Elliott, a native of Kerr, Arkansas, who was a Professor of Economics and Political Science at Little Rock University, Randolph-Macon College and Vanderbilt University. He founded Don Elliott and Associates, a fundraising consulting firm that directed campaigns for Lipscomb University and a host of other universities, colleges and private schools.

Coming Soon! 2025 Distinguished Guest

An Evening with Special Guest

Thursday, November 13, 2025 / George Shinn Center

3:00-4:30 pm // Student Symposium and Q&A with Dan Heath

This portion is open to all Lipscomb University students
George Shinn Ballroom

5:00-5:50 pm // Reception

George Shinn Lobby
Hosted by the College of Leadership & Public Service

6:00-8:00 pm // An Evening with Special Guest - Lecture and Interview

George Shinn Ballroom
Lecture followed by Q&A portion

Contact

Previous Elliott Distinguished Lecturers

Dan Heath at Lipscomb University 2024 presenting Reset at the Elliott Lecture Series

Dan Heath, 2024

Dan Heath debuted his early 2025 release, Reset: How to Change What's Not Working, at the 2024 lecture. He is the #1 NYT Bestselling Author of business books: Switch, Made to Stick, Decisive, The Power of Moments, and Upstream.

Daniel Pink speaking Lipscomb Elliott Lecture 2023

Daniel Pink, 2023

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author of When, To Sell is Human, Drive, and A Whole New Mind, Daniel Pink, shared the power of regret in 2023.

David Gergen on stage speaking at the 2022 Don R. Elliott Presidential Lecture

David Gergen, 2022

David Gergen spent decades as a White House advisor to four presidents. Gergen spoke at the 2022 event, with a focus on how great leaders are made. From his experience, he has learned to navigate the divide in media, politics, and generations. Gergen shared with each generation the role they play in leadership and how events in their lifetime play into affect of their leadership style.

Doris Kearns Goodwin and Kimberly McCall on stage at the 2021 Elliott Presidential Lectures

Doris Kearns Goodwin, 2021

Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin presented "Leadership in Turbulent Times" as our 2021 distinguished speaker. By sharing her deep understanding of the ambition, resolution and resilience of some of our nation’s most revered presidents, Goodwin explained how past setbacks and triumphs shed light on the cultural, economic and political transformations that define today’s turbulent times.

Four_Leading_Through_Covid_panelists_on_stools

Leading Through Covid, 2020

Dr. Alex Jahangir, Dr. James Hildreth, Commissioner Mike Krause, and Commissioner Mark Ezell shared their wisdom on leading through the novel coronavirus health crisis at the Tennessee state and local level in a panel discussion hosted by WKRN-TV's Nikki Burdine.

Jonathan Haidt, 2019

Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist with New York Times bestsellers, "The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion" and "The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure."

Thomas Friedman, 2018

We were pleased to welcome Thomas Friedman, New York Times foreign affairs columnist and bestselling author as our speaker for 2018.

Nina Totenberg, 2017

National Public Radio’s award-winning legal affairs correspondent and U.S. Supreme Court reporter was our distinguished speaker for 2017.

Captain Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger, 2016

Captain Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger, Miracle on the Hudson pilot, aviation safety expert and accident investigator, author, speaker, columnist, joined us in 2016.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, 2015

The former Secretary General of NATO, Prime Minister of Denmark, Danish Minister of Economic Affairs spoke at our event in 2015.

Alex S. Jones, 2013

Alex S. Jones, Pulitzer Prize recipient and former director of the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, is one of our past speakers.

James P. Pinkerton, 2012

Our lecturer for 2012 was James P. Pinkerton, domestic policy adviser for Presidents Ronald Reagan and G.H.W. Bush; columnist and Fox News contributor.

Dr. Elaine Kamarck, 2010

Dr. Elaine Kamarck, lecturer in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and founding director of the Center for Effective Public Management at Brookings Institute, joined us as a distinguished speaker in 2010.