Saturday, April 5

Sudler Recital Hall in William L. Harkness Hall
100 Wall Street, New Haven

As part of marking the occasion of Maurie McInnis’ inauguration as Yale’s 24th president, two symposia have been organized to exemplify the breadth of scholarship among Yale’s faculty and highlight two core pillars of the university’s mission: promoting knowledge and applying knowledge. These symposia are designed to bridge disciplines and transcend traditional divisions between humanities, sciences, and social sciences. The goal of these discussions is to stimulate thoughtful dialogue among a broad audience on the purpose, values, and goals for the future of higher education in today’s rapidly changing world.  

These symposia will be complemented by a presidential panel that will bring together university leaders with President McInnis to discuss the changing landscape and mission of higher education in the 21st century. 

Symposium I: Promoting Knowledge  

11:00 a.m. 

This symposium explores the multifaceted challenges and opportunities in contemporary higher education. It delves into creating effective teaching and learning environments while nurturing critical thinking and fostering respectful exchanges of diverse viewpoints. The panel will examine the balance between academic freedom and the responsibility to combat misinformation, all while pursuing the fundamental goal of truth-seeking in academic settings.  

Moderator: 

Megan L. Ranney, Dean of Yale School of Public Health; C.-E. A. Winslow Professor of Public Health (Health Policy); and Professor of Emergency Medicine  

Panelists:

Ned Blackhawk, Howard R. Lamar Professor of History 

Heidi Brooks, Senior Lecturer in Organizational Behavior

Enrique De La Cruz, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry; Head of Branford College 

Daniel Esty, Hillhouse Professor of Environmental Law and Policy; Clinical Professor of Environmental Law and Policy; Director of the Center for Environmental Law and Policy 

Symposium II: Applying Knowledge  

3:00 p.m. 

This symposium examines the crucial interface between academic research and societal impact. It explores how knowledge generated within university walls can be effectively translated to address current and future global challenges. The discussion will focus on concrete examples of knowledge application, highlighting the evolving roles of academic institutions in shaping policy, driving innovation, and fostering positive societal change. 

Moderator: 

Jim Levinsohn, Dean of the Jackson School of Global Affairs; Charles W. Goodyear Professor of Global Affairs; Professor of Economics and Management

Panelists:

Marcus Gardley, Co-Chair of Playwriting, David Geffen School of Drama at Yale

Anjelica Gonzalez, Faculty Director of Tsai CITY; Head of Davenport College; Professor of Biomedical Engineering 

Akiko Iwasaki, Sterling Professor of Immunobiology; Professor of Dermatology, and of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, and of Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases); Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Director of the Center for Infection and Immunity, Yale School of Medicine

Hélène Landemore, Professor of Political Science and Faculty Fellow at Institution for Social and Policy Studies