Compelling Perspectives

A Program that Tackles Issues of Societal Importance

Compelling Perspectives is a program that widens the aperture on issues of societal importance by encouraging open conversations and modeling respectful discourse on challenging topics.

2025-26 Topic: AI: Innovation, Responsibility and the Future We Shape

This year's theme, AI: Innovation, Responsibility and the Future We Shape, focused on the rapid advancement of AI and what the future holds in an AI-powered world. Discussions examined the opportunities AI presents while confronting challenges, from policy to ethical considerations.

Events and Registration

Announcements on the 2026-2027 topic and programming are forthcoming.

About Compelling Perspectives

Hosted by President Joseph J. Helble '82, and presented by Lehigh University, Compelling Perspectives aims to create a forum for fostering respectful discourse and engaging across differing perspectives on issues of critical and societal importance.

The exchange of diverse ideas about substantive topics and the consideration of alternative viewpoints helps to promote critical thinking, empathy and openness—all essential to helping individuals and communities address complex challenges. Such dialogue serves as a powerful tool to foster social cohesion, build trust and strengthen community bonds. At a time when echo chambers and surface-level sound bites threaten to replace healthy societal discourse, this forum is one way in which Lehigh seeks to foster principled dialogue, build understanding, and bridge divides.

President

Joseph

J.

Helble

82

President, Lehigh University

Universities and colleges are not just centers of teaching, learning and scholarly work. At their best, colleges and universities play an important role in modeling respectful public discourse and dialogue on complex issues.