DECATUR, Ill. – Millikin University is pleased to welcome New York Times-bestselling author and award-winning psychologist Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum for the Spring 2025 Thomas W. Ewing Lecture on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at 7 p.m. in the Albert Taylor Theatre.
Made possible by the Thomas W. Ewing Lecture Fund, Tatum is the author of the New York Times best-selling book, “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? and Other Conversations About Race” as well as “Can We Talk About Race? and Other Conversations in an Era of School Resegregation.” Tatum’s presentation will be titled “Closing the Gap: Embracing Cross-Racial Dialogue."
This event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Tickets can be obtained at the Kirkland Fine Arts Ticket Office, Tuesday-Friday, 12 p.m.-4:30 p.m. and on kirklandfinearts.com.
An award-winning psychologist widely known for her expertise on race relations and as a thought leader in higher education, Tatum is President Emerita of Spelman College. Her 13 years as the President of Spelman College (2002-2015) were marked by innovation and growth, and her visionary leadership was recognized in 2013 with the Carnegie Academic Leadership Award.
In 2017, Tatum was the Mimi and Peter E. Haas Distinguished Visitor at Stanford University. Most recently, she served as interim president at Mount Holyoke College during the 2022-23 academic year.
The combination of Tatum’s expertise and engaging conversational style has made her a sought-after speaker on higher education leadership, strategies for creating inclusive campus and work environments, and the impact of race in the classroom.
Dr. Tatum holds a B.A. degree in Psychology from Wesleyan University, an M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical psychology from the University of Michigan, and an M.A. in Religious Studies from Hartford International University (formerly Hartford Seminary). She was the 2014 recipient of the American Psychological Association Award for Outstanding Lifetime Contributions to Psychology.
About the Thomas W. Ewing Lectureship
The Thomas W. Ewing Lectureship was created by Millikin and Congressman Ewing’s colleagues in recognition of his many years of public service. Ewing, a 1957 Millikin graduate, retired in 2001 after serving nine years in the U.S. House of Representatives from the 15th District of Illinois. The lectures focus on public policy and service, and visiting lecturers are selected based on their prominence in those fields and ability to inspire others to serve.
