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Compelling Perspectives

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.

Register for the Senator Dave McCormick Event

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.

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

This year’s theme, AI: Innovation, Responsibility and the Future We Shape, focuses on the rapid advancement of AI and what the future holds in an AI-powered world. Discussions will examine the opportunities AI presents while confronting the challenges that arise when profit and progress move faster than policy and ethical considerations.
Dave McCormick

Senator Dave McCormick (R-Pa.)

Sen. Dave McCormick advocates for Pennsylvania as a leader in AI, innovation and energy. He hosted the inaugural Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit in 2025, during which he announced $90+ billion in investments in Pennsylvania’s data centers, energy-generating assets and workforce development.

Learn about Senator Dave McCormick
Steve Wozniak

Steve Wozniak

A Silicon Valley icon, technology entrepreneur and philanthropist for more than 40 years, Steve Wozniak has helped shape the computing industry with his design of Apple’s first line of products, which were integral in launching the personal computer industry. In 1976, Wozniak and Steve Jobs founded Apple Computer Inc. with Wozniak’s Apple I personal computer.

Learn about Steve Wozniak
The goal of Compelling Perspectives is to provide a forum presenting a range of views on a selected topic.

Events and Registration

Advance registration is required for attendance at Compelling Perspectives programs.

Registration is open for the December 4 event featuring Senator Dave McCormick.

Register for the Event

Registration for the January 2026 event featuring Steve Wozniak will be announced closer to the date.

No recording devices are permitted at Compelling Perspectives events.

Compelling Perspectives Stories

Ariana Huffington seated on stage, conversing with President Joseph Helble in a lit auditorium.

Arianna Huffington Discusses How AI Can Improve Health at Compelling Perspectives

Lehigh University presents Compelling Perspectives featuring V Spehar

Digital Journalist and Award-Winning Podcaster V Spehar Discusses Navigating Nontraditional Media, TikTok Ban at Compelling Perspectives

The host of @underthedesknews and the podcast “V Interesting” spoke about their experience breaking into nontraditional media and what it means to be a journalist.
Marty Baron

Marty Baron Announced as Second Speaker in Lehigh’s Compelling Perspectives Series

The former editor of The Washington Post, The Boston Globe and Miami Herald, and former senior editor at The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times, will speak about the role of media in contemporary society.
See all Compelling Perspectives news
President Helble

"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."

-PRESIDENT JOSEPH J. HELBLE '82