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2026 JWJI Distinguished Lecture
On Thursday, April 16, 2026, Political scientist Rogers M. Smith delivered the 2026 Distinguished Lecture. His lecture, titled "The Declaration of Independence and American Dream,"took place at 4:00 PM in the Atwood Chemistry Building, Room 360, at Emory University (1515 Dickey Dr, Atlanta, GA 30322).
Dr. Smith is the Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author or co-author of many articles and nine books, most recently America’s New Racial Battle Lines: Protect versus Repair (2024) with Desmond King. His book Civic Ideals: Conflicting Visions of Citizenship in U.S. History, was a Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society, and a former president of the American Political Science Association.