The Presidential Signature Series unites a variety of special opportunities and some of the nation's leading experts under one series to elevate scholarly conversations and illuminate significant work in the pursuit of flourishing!
We hope you will make plans to join us throughout the season as often as you can. Learn more about the 2025-26 Presidential Signature Series season below.
Oct. 1: Illuminate: Working With Purpose
Speakers: Mark Whitacre, vice president of Culture & Care, Coca-Cola Consolidated
Mark Whitacre brings two decades of leadership in the faith and work movement. He currently serves as vice president of Culture & Care and executive director of the t-factor initiative at Coca-Cola Consolidated Inc. In these roles at Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc., a publicly traded company with a faith-forward culture, Whitacre champions initiatives that integrate values, purpose and workplace excellence. He previously served in leadership roles at CBMC, Cypress Systems and major corporations including Archer Daniels Midland, where he was the youngest divisional president in company history. Whitacre holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Cornell University and has worked in global markets across the U.S. and Germany.
Russell Moore, editor-in-chief, Christianity Today, and Haslam Endowed Professor of Faith & Reason, Lipscomb University
In addition to his work at Christianity Today, Moore serves as host of "The Russell Moore Show," and is co-host of The Bulletin. He is also the author of several books including "Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America." Moore previously served as president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention and as provost and dean of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. A senior fellow with the Trinity Forum and board member of Becket Law, Moore brings a unique blend of theology, ethics and cultural insight to the conference.
Oct. 13-17, 2025: Fashion Week - The Process: A Journey Through Nashville Fashion
The Process: A Journey Through Nashville Fashion invites you to explore the journey of a garment through the lens of Nashville’s growing fashion industry. From concept and design to production and retail, this exhibition highlights the local talent, innovation, and infrastructure driving fashion forward in Music City.
Nov. 13, 2025: Don R. Elliott Distinguished Presidential Lecture
Speaker: Liz Wiseman, author of New York Times bestseller Multipliers; CEO, of The Wiseman Group
Liz Wiseman is a researcher and executive advisor who teaches leadership to executives around the world. She is the author of New York Times bestseller "Multipliers" and Wall Street Journal bestsellers "Rookie Smarts" and "Impact Players." Liz is the CEO of The Wiseman Group, a leadership research and development firm headquartered in Silicon Valley, California. Some of her recent clients include: Apple, AT&T, Coca-Cola, Disney, Emirates, Google, Lilly, Meta, Microsoft, Netflix, Nike, Salesforce, Tesla and X. Liz writes for Harvard Business Review, Fortune and a variety of other business and leadership journals. She is a former executive at Oracle Corporation, where she worked as the Vice President of Oracle University and as the Global Leader for Human Resource Development. Liz holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in organizational behavior, each from Brigham Young University. She is a frequent guest lecturer at Brigham Young University and Stanford University. Liz has received the top achievement award for leadership from Thinkers50 and has consistently been named one of the world’s top 50 management thinkers.
Nov. 20, 2025: Presidential Lectureship on Art
Speaker: Michael Shane Neal, internationally acclaimed portrait artist; Fine Arts Ambassador, Lipscomb University
Michael Shane Neal's portfolio includes more than 500 commissioned portraits of distinguished figures such as Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and President George H.W. Bush, as well as civil rights leaders John Lewis and Dr. Fred D. Gray, which are displayed in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. He will play a key role in advancing the George Shinn College of Entertainment & the Arts and Lipscomb’s School of Art & Design. As Fine Arts Ambassador, Neal will help shape the university’s vision for fine arts education, mentor students, and promote Lipscomb’s fine arts programs on a national level.
Feb. 5, 2026: McClure Lecture on Faith and Science
Speaker: Dr. Charmaine Royal, Research Professor of Global Health, Duke Global Health Institute
Dr. Charmaine Royal is the Robert O. Keohane Professor of African & African American Studies, Biology, Global Health, and Family Medicine & Community Health at Duke University. Dr. Royal’s research, scholarship and teaching focus on ethical, social, scientific and clinical implications of human genetics and genomics. Her interests and primary areas of work include genetics and genomics in African and African Diaspora populations; sickle cell disease and trait; genetic ancestry inference; and genotype-environment interplay.
Feb. 12, 2026: Landiss Lecture
Speaker: Malcolm Guite, English poet and singer-songwriter
Malcolm Guite is a poet, a musician and a life fellow of Girton College, Cambridge. He has penned five volumes of poetry, several books on Christian faith and theology, and a highly acclaimed biography of Samuel Taylor Coleridge entitled Mariner. Guite has also lectured widely on the fantasy writings of JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis is currently undertaking his own epic retelling of the legends of King Arthur. In 2023 he was awarded the Archbishop Lanfranc Medal for Education and Scholarship by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
March 31, 2026: Fred Gray Lectureship
Speaker announcement coming soon!
Spring Semester 2026: Shane and Mattie Ree Neal Art Exhibit
This father and daughter exhibition will showcase 30 years of their artwork and will feature two artist talks and an opening reception.