Eckerd College is pleased to present lectures and presentations, as well as art exhibitions and athletic events, for the enjoyment and enlightenment of our community.
Events are free and open to the public unless otherwise specified.
If you require disability-related accommodations, please contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at news@eckerd.edu preferably two weeks in advance of the event. A good faith effort will be made to accommodate all requests, including late requests.
Presidential Event Series, Fall 2025 through Spring 2026
Beloved Beasts: Fighting for Life in an Age of Extinction: An Evening with Michelle Nijhuis
Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 7 p.m.
Location: Fox Hall, Eckerd College campus
Join us for the kickoff event in our “Science, Stories and Truth” College Program Series with award-winning author Michelle Nijhuis. This powerful presentation and discussion will center on key moments in the history of the conservation movement in the U.S. and the personal stories of activists who championed the survival of selected endangered species. Weaving together the personal narratives of the professional and amateur scientists who shaped the modern conservation movement, Nijhuis will demonstrate how history, politics and human foibles complicate scientific endeavors.
Sponsored by the Eckerd College Class of 1968 Distinguished Visiting Scholar Endowment and the Office of the President.
Rising: Surviving the Surge Screening and Panel Discussion
Wednesday, October 22, 2025, 7 p.m.
Location: Miller Auditorium, Eckerd College campus
Rising: Surviving the Surge is a compelling documentary from WGCU Public Media that traces how Hurricane Ian reshaped Southwest Florida and how the region continues to endure and adapt in the face of increasingly powerful storms. Featuring dramatic storm footage; firsthand survivor accounts; and insights from scientists, first responders and community leaders—the film offers a sobering look at the realities of storm surge and resilience.
Stick around after the movie for a panel discussion featuring archaeologist Dr. Uzi Baram, historian Dr. Evan Bennett, environmental communications expert Dr. Jo Huxster and Eckerd students as they explore Florida’s long and complex relationship with hurricanes.
This event is open to the public. Registration is encouraged.
Sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities, Florida Humanities, the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County
The Last Slave Ship: The Clotilda, Her Descendants and an Extraordinary Reckoning
Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 7 p.m.
Location: Fox Hall, Eckerd College campus
In this public lecture, author and filmmaker Ben Raines will share his startling discovery of a piece of hidden American history. Fifty years after the Atlantic slave trade had been outlawed, the Clotilda became the last ship in history to bring enslaved Africans to the United States. The ship was scuttled and burned on arrival, so the wealthy perpetrators could hide from prosecution. Despite people’s numerous efforts to find the sunken wreck, Clotilda remained hidden for the next 160 years. But in 2019, Raines made international news when he successfully concluded his obsessive quest through the Alabama swamps to uncover one of our nation’s most important historical artifacts.
Sponsored by the Eckerd College Gulf Scholars Program
