Now celebrating its 28th season, OVF has been a trusted source offering audiences time with the world’s thought leaders – and the important insights that help them better understand the world’s key issues and make informed choices.
Fairfield University’s Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts is excited to announce four major speakers in this season’s roster of the Philip I. Eliasoph Open VISIONS Forum (OVF). These speakers run the gamut from media authorities who are household names to a national interfaith thinker and an international AI expert.
Only a sampling of the series’ fall offerings, this group of four speakers will all appear over
the course of just 11 days—from Wednesday, October 22, through Sunday, November 2. In
addition, this fall Quick Center audiences will enjoy authors and art experts in the more
intimate OVF: Espresso events, as well as “An Evening with Padma Lakshmi,” featuring the
Emmy-nominated producer, television host, and food expert.
Some of these inspiring speakers are also part of Fairfield University’s thought-provoking
America250: The Promise and Paradox initiative—a yearlong series of arts and cultural
programming to mark the U.S. semiquincentennial. Events include performances presented
by the Quick Center, as well as talks and productions sponsored by departments and
programs across campus.
Fall OVF Highlights
- A Conversation with Eboo Patel, PhD
Wednesday, October 22 | 7:30 p.m.
Eboo Patel, PhD, founder and president of Interfaith America, will discuss the necessity of understanding and accepting different religions in modern-day America. Named “one of America’s best leaders” by U.S. News and World Report, Dr. Patel served on President Obama’s Inaugural Faith Council, has written five books, and holds a doctorate in the sociology of religion from Oxford University. - A Conversation with Scott Jennings
Monday, October 27 | 7:30 p.m.
CNN commentator Scott Jennings, deputy director of political affairs under President George W. Bush, will use his trademark blend of humor and candor to deliver compelling arguments on today’s high-stakes political issues. Dubbed “The Black Sheep of CNN” by the Daily Mail, Jennings advised four presidential campaigns and taught at Harvard’s Kennedy School. - John Tasioulas: “The Human Rights Responsibilities of Business: The
Difference that AI Makes”
Wednesday, October 29 | 7:30 p.m.
University of Oxford Professor John Tasioulas, director of the Institute for Ethics in AI, will share an engaging and enlightening talk on the state of artificial intelligence. Tasioulas has written extensively on punishment, human rights, and international law and is the co-editor of The Philosophy of International Law and editor of The Cambridge Companion to the Philosophy of Law. - Kaitlan Collins: “Good Ethics for Bad News: The New Red Lines of Broadcast Journalism Today”
Sunday, November 2 | 3 p.m.
Anchor of “The Source with Kaitlan Collins,” CNN White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins has secured headline-worthy interviews with Secretary Hillary Clinton, Vice President-elect JD Vance, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Having covered both the Biden and Trump administrations, she will offer insights from the world stage.
The Quick is committed to our guests, ensuring prices are accessible to the whole
community. Many of our live performances and lecture tickets are only $35, and $25 for
Quick Members.
To purchase tickets, contact the Quick Center Box Office at 203-254-4010, Monday through Friday, from 10 to 5 p.m.
To learn more about performances or becoming a Quick Center Member, visit quickcenter.com.
