Upcoming Events

New York, NY

Thursday, November 7: The 40th Annual Awards Dinner
7:00-9:00 p.m. ET. The Aspen Institute is delighted to welcome friends and supporters to the 40th Annual Awards Dinner on Thursday, November 7 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. It is a joy to applaud the significant work of the Aspen Institute and celebrate the work of Henry Crown Leadership Award honoree, Alice L. Walton, and Arts Leadership Award honoree Ava DuVernay. The evening will also feature a special appearance from Aspen Institute artist-in-residence Hank Willis Thomas, and other soon-to-be-announced speakers.
Purchase tickets here.

Washington, D.C.

Wednesday, September 18: Aspen Cyber Summit
9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. ET. Join Aspen Digital, a program of the Aspen Institute, in Washington, DC, on September 18 for the 9th annual Aspen Cyber Summit. The 2024 Summit is coming to the REACH at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to put cybersecurity front and center for the government officials, business leaders, nonprofit advocates, future defenders, and everyday people who are crucial to creating a safer world, online and off.
Register here

Aspen, CO

Friday, July 26: Society of Fellows Salon, Financial Inclusion and Access – From Thought to Action
Open exclusively to members at President’s Society level and above. 
5:00 – 7:00 p.m. MT. Join the Aspen Global Leadership Network Fellows in Aspen for the Resnick Aspen Action Forum for an engaging dialogue with Institute leadership on their innovative professional ventures which seek to promote financial inclusion and equity. Discover the transformative power of the fellowship experience and gain insights from those at the forefront of these efforts as they discuss the challenges and opportunities in creating a more prosperous future for all.  Featuring Ailish Campell, Ambassador to the European Union, Government of Canada; Nick Talwar, Senior Partner, K50 Ventures, and Chris Varelas, Co-Founding Partner, Riverwood Capital.

This event is for members at the President’s Society level and above. Please email sof@aspeninstitute.org to upgrade or register.

Monday, July 29: Young Forever: The Secrets to Living Your Longest, Healthiest Life
Murdock Mind, Body, Spirit Series
SOF members-only reception with speakers | 5:00 – 5:45 pm
6:00 – 7:00 p.m. MT. Featuring Dr. Mark Hyman, senior advisor for the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine and founder and director of The UltraWellness Center, in conversation with Soledad Hurst, philanthropist and former on-air reporter/anchor for Bloomberg TV. Dr. Hyman will discuss his latest book, “Young Forever: The Secrets to Living Your Longest, Healthiest Life,” which explores the root causes of the effects of aging, what each of us can do to prevent them, and how we can take back control of our health for good.
Register here

Tuesday, July 30: From Sharecropper’s Daughter to Trailblazer, A Conversation with Ruth Simmons
McCloskey Speaker Series
SOF members-only reception with speakers | 5:00 – 5:45 p.m. MT.
6:00 – 7:00 p.m. MT. Featuring Ruth Simmons, former president of Smith College, Brown University, and Prairie View A&M University; and author, “Up Home: One Girl’s Journey;” with Dan Porterfield, president and CEO, the Aspen Institute.
Register here

Wednesday, July 31: Strengthening America’s Economic Dynamism
Hurst Lecture Series
In collaboration with the Aspen Economic Strategy Group.
SOF members-only reception with speakers | 2:30 – 3:15 p.m. MT.
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. MT. Featuring Lawrence H. Summers, Charles W. Eliot University Professor and President Emeritus at Harvard University and former United States Secretary of the Treasury; and Robert B. Zoellick, Chair of Temasek Americas and former United States Trade Representative; in conversation with Melissa S. Kearney, director of the Aspen Economic Strategy Group. Americans are facing an era of economic reconfiguration driven by rising global tensions, technological change, and a populist backlash to the economic status quo. What does this mean for America’s economic dynamism? What steps should US policy take to advance innovation/growth/economic prosperity?
Register here

Thursday, August 1: Leadership at the State Level: A Conversation with Democratic Governors
Hurst Lecture Series
SOF members-only reception with speakers | 5:00 – 5:45 p.m. MT.
6:00 – 7:00 p.m. MT. Featuring New York Gov. Kathy Hochul; with Elliot Gerson, executive vice president, Policy Programs and International Partners, the Aspen Institute. Additional governors to be announced.
This event is at capacity; please email sof@aspeninstitute.org to join the waitlist, which we will monitor closely and regularly.

Tuesday, August 6: Bauhaus Typography at 100: Exploring the Bauhaus Print Legacy and its Influence on Contemporary Typography
McCloskey Speaker Series
6:00 – 7:00 p.m. MT. Featuring Rob Saunders, executive director and curator of Letterform Archive, in conversation with Lissa Ballinger, executive director of the Bayer Center. They will discuss the new exhibition curated by Rob Saunders on display in the Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies, “Bauhaus Typography at 100.”
Register here

Thursday, August 8: “Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present”
McCloskey Speaker Series
SOF members-only reception with speakers | 5:00 – 5:45 p.m. MT.
6:00 – 7:00 p.m. MT. Featuring author Dr. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, professor of history and Italian studies, New York University, in conversation with Carolyne Heldman, producer and host of “Behind the Lens,” a weekly podcast for the non-profit news organization The Lens in New Orleans. Dr. Ben-Ghiat will explore the pathologies of strongman models of leadership and governance, and how we can learn from the appeal authoritarians have to reimagine democracy for the 21st century.
Register here

Monday, August 12: Democracy at a Crossroads, A Conversation with the Honorable J. Michael Luttig
Hurst Lecture Series
SOF members-only reception with speakers | 5:00 – 5:45 p.m. MT.
6:00 – 7:00 p.m. MT. Featuring the Honorable J. Michael Luttig, former judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and Aspen Institute trustee.
Register here

Tuesday, August 13: Leadership at the State Level: A Conversation with Republican Governors
McCloskey Speaker Series
SOF members-only reception with speakers | 3:30 – 4:15 p.m. MT.
4:30 – 5:30 p.m. MT. Speaker(s) to be announced; with Elliot Gerson, executive vice president, Policy Programs and International Partners, the Aspen Institute.
Register here

Wednesday, August 14: “The Washington Book: How to Read Politics and Politicians”
Hurst Lecture Series
SOF members-only reception with speakers | 5:00 – 5:45 p.m. MT.
6:00 – 7:00 p.m. MT. featuring Carlos Lozada, opinion columnist at the New York Times, co-host of the “Matter of Opinion” podcast, and author of “The Washington Book: How to Read Politics and Politicians” in conversation with Wendell L. Willkie II, adjunct professor of law at New York University and adjunct fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. Carlos will explore how people in power portray and reveal themselves in their writings and speeches, and how the stream of official documents, reports, and investigations helps explain our national political landscape.
Register here

Friday, September 6 – Saturday, September 7
Great Books Mini Symposium: Exploring Eudemonia
Join us for an intimate, in-person roundtable symposium devoted to exploring the essence of eudemonia—the ancient Greek concept of human flourishing. This seminar will explore happiness in its most holistic sense, inviting participants to bring their unique perspectives and expertise to the traditional Aspen Institute seminar format. Through carefully moderated, text-based discussions, this select group will dissect the multifaceted nature of eudemonia: its roots in philosophy, its manifestations in contemporary psychology, and its social and political implications for modern society. Moderated by Paul Andersen and Jon Peacock.
Register here

Thursday, September 12: Society of Fellows Salon, Local Philanthropy & Community Building
In collaboration with the Buddy Program.
5:00 – 7:00 p.m. MT. Featuring Greg Lewis, Emmy Award-winning journalist; and Leonard “Boogie” Weinglass, local philanthropist and development entrepreneur; with Frederick J. Riley, executive director, WEAVE: The Social Fabric Project, the Aspen Institute.
Register here

Virtual

Wednesday, July 24: Economic Opportunities Program: Tapping into Worker Voice to Improve Job Quality: Lessons from the Talent Pipeline Management Network
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. ET. This webinar hosts the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Foundation Workforce Center and the Kalamazoo Literacy Council for a discussion about how they have tapped into worker voice and worked with employers to drive job quality improvements.
Register here.

Wednesday, July 24: Education & Society: A Crisis of Student Belonging
12:00-1:00 p.m. ET. The Education & Society Program is releasing a new policy brief, A Crisis of Student Belonging. The brief reviews empirical evidence and highlights promising practices from the field. Join Education & Society for a webinar in conversation with Professor Francesca López about their work co-authoring the upcoming policy brief, A Crisis of Student Belonging.
Register here.

Friday, July 26: Food & Society:Conversations on Food Justice: The Work of Black Farmers
12:00-1:00 p.m. ET. This conversation will explore parallels between the past and today’s current struggle for black farmers. Speakers will dive into how community organizing, policy, advocacy and cross-sector collaboration can address the challenges faced by black farmers.
Register here.

Monday, September 23: SOF New Member Orientation: Fall 2024
7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. ET. This will be an opportunity for you to meet members of our team, meet other members who have recently joined, and become better acquainted with the Society of Fellows. This conversation will take place on Zoom, so that all attendees can participate face-to-face.
Register here

Thursday, January 9: SOF New Member Orientation: Winter 2025
7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. ET. This will be an opportunity for you to meet members of our team, meet other members who have recently joined, and become better acquainted with the Society of Fellows. This conversation will take place on Zoom, so that all attendees can participate face-to-face.
Register here

Tuesday, April 29: SOF New Member Orientation: Spring 2025
3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. ET. This will be an opportunity for you to meet members of our team, meet other members who have recently joined, and become better acquainted with the Society of Fellows. This conversation will take place on Zoom, so that all attendees can participate face-to-face.
Register here