Public Affairs Lecture Series (PALS) 2026
Who: 10 compelling speakers on foreign and domestic public affairs
When: 10 Monday afternoons in Fall 2026, 2PM to 3:30PM
Where: Bickford Theatre, Morris Museum, Morristown, NJ
The Mission of PALS is to sponsor exceptional public speakers who are excellently credentialed to discourse on current and important topics of public affairs. For over three decades, PALS, the Public Affairs Lecture Series has presented distinguished professors from prominent universities, scholars from prominent think tanks, dignitaries and other governmental leaders. The subscription price for the 10 sessions is $120. See below for payment details.
PALS Topics and Speakers, Fall 2026
September 14
A Future Imagined: Europe Without the United States
Heather A. Conley, American Enterprise Institute – AEI
September 21
Jewish Holiday – No Lecture
September 28
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of AI
Richard Anderson , Director of Emerging Technologies, Rutgers University
October 5
Life After Lockup : What Really Happens Next?
Meghan Sacks, Associate Professor of Criminology FDU
October 12
TBD
October 19
What is Happening to Democracy in S. America
Susan Stokes, Tiffany and Margaret Blake, Distinguished Service Professor University of Chicago
October 26
Supreme Court – Major Decisions
Dr. Daniel Cassino, Prof. and Director of the Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll
November 2
The Trouble with History – History in Trouble: Who defines the National Narrative in Times of Partisan Polarization
Gary H Darden, Associate Professor of History, FDU
November 9
The Fertile Crescent
Robert S. Ford, Ambassador (ret)
November 16
The U.S. in Africa and Africans in the U.S.: 1960 – Today
Abosede George, Associate Professor of History and Africana Studies, History, Barnard College
November 23
What NJ and the US Can as a Result of the Nov. 2026 Congressional Elections?
Benjiman Dworkin, Director, Rowan Institute for Public Policy and Citizenship
Feel free to review our PALS Topics and Speakers Fall 2024 or PALS Topics and Speakers 2025
PALS 2026 Subscriptions
Time change and Location
The programs are held at the Bickford Theatre, in the Morris Museum, Morristown, NJ, each fall on Monday afternoons from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM.
General admission and mask section option
As we did last year, we have reserved a section of the theater for those who prefer to be seated in a “mask only” section. Otherwise, the remainder of the theater will be “masks optional.”
At each lecture, please claim your seat at least 15 minutes before each lecture begins. After that the available seats will be offered to qualified standbys, as well as to members. Please sit in the “Mask Required” section only if you are wearing a mask.
Your subscription payment
You can submit your application and $120 subscription payment electronically or by mail. Your receipt will be forwarded to you via your email.
Submit Electronic Payment Online
Secure online payment is available via Touchnet.
Once you have placed your order, you will immediately receive an email order receipt from misecommhelp@fdu.edu (check your spam file) that is your confirmation letter to the Lecture Series. Simply print out that confirmation page or take a photo of it on your smartphone and bring it with you to exchange at the door for your PALS lecture series ticket.
OR
Send Subscription Payment by Mail
If you prefer, you can print out the subscription application form and mail it with your $120 check payable to FDU to:
Donna L. Sadowski, MAS
School of Public and Global Affairs
Fairleigh Dickinson University
1000 River Road, H-DH2-13
Teaneck, NJ 07666
201-692-7171
Once your check and application is received we will email you a confirmation receipt. Simply print out the emailed confirmation receipt or take a photo of it on your smartphone and bring it with you to exchange at the door for your PALS lecture series ticket.
If you have not received your confirmation email (and have checked your email spam files) or if you have any questions please contact us at palsboard2025@gmail.com.
PALS Volunteer Board as of December 2026
- Jonathan Bannet
- Ray Caprio
- Marcia Geltman
- Jack Lynch
- Bob Martin
- Nan Moore
- Adapa Reddy
- Helen Saffer
- Wally Saffer
- Wendy Simons
- Dorrie Susser
- Dori Teich
Contact Us
Please use the PALS Reply Form to request to be added to our mailing list, or to send comments and questions about the PALS Lecture Series.