Professors and community members often converse, but it is not every day they participate in Great Conversations.
The opportunity will come April 10 during the Great Conversations dinner event when University of Memphis faculty members will lead discussions for attendees.
“The event is a great way to bring the community into The University community and to hear about the various research of our faculty,” said Jennifer Wagner-Lawlor, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Held by the College of Arts and Sciences at the Kemmons Wilson Ballroom, discussion topics will range from “Social Capital in Memphis Neighborhoods,” led by Phyllis Betts from the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy, to “Writing the Self,” led by Shara McCallum from the Department of English. The dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m.
This year marks the second time The U of M has held the event, which began with a visit to Texas A&M University. The school has a similar but larger event, and U of M officials brought the idea home.
“It’s a great idea that is being handed down from university to university,” Wagner-Lawlor said.
The response from last year’s 110 guests was unanimously enthusiastic, she said.
“Everyone agreed it was a good way to get out the message that The U of M has a lot of cutting edge research going on as well as research on Memphis.”
U of M faculty members are active in the community, researching local topics from Latinos in Memphis, local gangs, and problem gambling in the Mid-South, all of which are featured topics at Great Conversations.
“We want to show Memphis what faculty we have and their interests internationally, nationally and locally,” Wagner-Lawlor said. “If we can get that message out with Great Conversations, we will have fulfilled its purpose.”
Most of last year’s guests were alumni of The University or people otherwise affiliated. This year, organizers have focused on members of the larger Memphis community, sending out more than 1,000 invitations to business people and government figures. Diana Threadgill was one of last year’s organizers and attendees.
“The event was such a huge success last year because it is such a unique idea,” Threadgill said. “It gives the person attending the opportunity to learn more about the topic they choose and to learn about The U of M and its professors.”
The number of tables has almost doubled this year, with 21 faculty members each discussing a different topic at different tables.
“It’s one thing to have a dinner for a fundraising event and another to come away having learned something,” Threadgill said.
While primarily an outreach event, funds raised from the dinner will go to faculty support and college outreach programs.
Tickets for the event are $65 from the College of Arts and Sciences.
