Lyceum Legacy

The first and oldest structure on our campus is the historic Lyceum. Its name comes from a Greek word meaning a hall for public lectures or discussions. The Isom Center works to continue the legacy of educating students and the community through public lectures that spark discussion on a range of topics including gender, sexuality, race/ethnicity, religion, and more. In addition to the Lucy Somerville Howorth Lecture, the Center hosts three additional lecture series: Queer Studies, Asexuality Studies, and Trans Studies.  

Queer Studies Lecture

The Queer Studies Lecture was established in 2014, connected with the development of the queer studies emphasis in the Gender Studies minor.

The Queer Studies Lecture is traditionally held in the fall.

Previous Queer Studies Lecturers

  • Joshua Whitehead

    2023

  • Karen Tongson

    2021

  • Robert Fieseler

    2020

  • Samantha Allen

    2019

  • Hilary Zaid

    2018

  • Charlie Jane Anders

    2017

  • Benjamin Kahan

    2015

  • T Cooper

    2014 (Fall)

  • Ernesto Martinez

    2014 (Spring)

Asexuality Studies Lecture

The ACE studies lecture was established in the spring of 2022 as part of the Glitterary Festival, a queer literary conference. We subsequently moved this lecture to the fall, to coincide with Asexuality Week at the end of October. 

Previous Asexuality
Studies Lecturers

  • KJ Cerankowski

    2023

  • Ianna Hawkins Owen

    2022 (Fall)

  • Angela Chen

    2022 (Spring)

Trans Studies Lecture

The Trans Studies lecture was established in 2021, growing out of a Trans Summit hosted by the Division of Diversity and the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies in 2019. 

Previous Trans Studies Lecturers

  • Kadji Amin

    2024

  • Jules Gill-Peterson

    2023

  • Tre Wentling

    2021