The 2015-16 academic year represents the 15th year in which Syracuse University will host the University Lectures Series. This year’s series features a total of seven difference lectures, four in the fall semester and three in the spring. All lectures take place in Hendricks Chapel and are free and open to the public. Here’s a look at the 2015-16 University Lectures lineup:

Who: Leon Fleisher

Profession: Pianist

Topic: “An Evening with Leon Fleisher”

Sponsored in cooperation with: College of Visual and Performing Arts

When: Sept. 29

Leon Fleisher is a legendary pianist who was the subject of the 2006 Oscar- and Emmy-nominated documentary, “Two Hands.” During his lecture, Fleisher will perform a selection or two from his repertoire and then take part in a moderated conversation with Ralph Zito, chair of the Department of Drama.

Who: Cheryl Strayed

Profession: Author

Topic: “A Wild Life”

Sponsored in cooperation with: College of Arts and Sciences

When: Oct. 7

Class of 2002 SU alumna Cheryl Strayed is a best-selling author, most known for “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail,” which recounts her 1,100-mile solo hike, at age 22, from Southern California to Washington State following the death of her mother from cancer and the end of her own young marriage. The book became the basis for the feature film “Wild,” which earned two 2015 Academy Award nominations, including on for Reese Witherspoon. Strayed will talk at SU about her writings and her memoir.

Who: Charles Blow and Ross Douthat

Profession: Columnists for The New York Times

Topic: “Social Inequality: the How, Why and What to Do?”

Sponsored in cooperation with: S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, LGBT Resource Center, University College, the Intergroup Dialogue Program, School of Education and Syracuse Symposium

When: Oct. 13

Charles Blow is the visual op-ed columnist for The New York Times and writes from a liberal perspective and a regular contributor to CNN. Ross Douthat is the youngest op-ed columnist in the history of The New York Times and writes from a conservative perspective. At SU, the two will discuss social inequality in a discussion moderated by current SU College of Law student Jesse Feitel.

Who: Naomi Klein

Profession: Author, social activist

Topic: “This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate”

Sponsored in cooperation with: LGBT Resource Center, Syracuse Symposium

When: Nov. 3

Naomi Klein is the author of the 2007 New York Times bestseller “The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism” and her most recent book, “This Changes Everything” argues that climate change isn’t just another issue to be filed between taxes and health care. Klein will discuss climate change during her talk at SU.

Who: Dacher Keltner

Profession: Professor

Topic: “Survival of the Kindest: Toward a Compassionate Society”

Sponsored in cooperation with: Intergroup Dialogue Program, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics

When: March 8, 2016

Keltner is director of the Social Interaction Lab at the University of California at Berkeley and faculty director of the Berkeley Greater Good Science Center. In his lecture at SU, Keltner will discuss the evolution and neurophysiology of compassion and kindness, and focus on five practices that elevate compassion.

Who: Mary Roach

Profession: Author

Topic: “Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal”

Sponsored in cooperation with: College of Visual and Performing Arts, College of Engineering and Computer Science.

When: March 29, 2016

Author Mary Roach has written four New York Times bestsellers, including “Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal,” which came out in 2013. Her books are grounded in science, but fascinate in discussing things readers might find disgusting and horrifying. For her lecture, Roach will share the stage with SU biology professor Sandra Hewett for an informal conversational dialogue.

Who: Sarah Koenig and Julie Snyder

Profession: Investigative journalists

Topic: “Binge-Worthy Journalism: Backstage with the Creators of ‘Serial’”

Sponsored in cooperation with: S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, LGBT Resource Center, College of Visual and Performing Arts, Criminal Law Society of the College of Law, College of Engineering and Computer Science

When: April 12, 2016

Sarah Koenig and Julie Snyder co-created the hit-podcast “Serial”, which became the fastest podcast in iTunes history to reach five million downloads. It now has more than 75 million downloads and Koenig was named one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2015. At SU, the duo will offer personal behind-the-scenes stories, explain how they constructed certain episodes of the podcast and walk the audience through creating a new form of modern journalism.

Published on April 28, 2015 at 7:30 am

Contact Justin: jmatting@syr.edu | @jmattingly306