Purdue University Northwest Sinai Forum Season Opens September 9, 2018

Purdue University Northwest Sinai Forum Season Opens September 9, 2018

Former FBI Director James Comey opens the Purdue University Northwest (PNW) Sinai Forum’s 65th season Sunday, Sept. 9. The Forum announced four other notable speakers joining this fall’s schedule, including a legendary college football coach, a national non-profit leader, an internationally known photographer and a national political reporter.

“This year’s series will be exciting, compelling and engaging,” said Sinai Forum Executive Director Leslie Plesac. “We are grateful for the generosity of our sponsors to help us bring a wonderfully diverse and dynamic lineup of speakers to northwest Indiana.”

Hosting prominent speakers has been the cornerstone of the Sinai Forum’s renowned history. Plesac said the Forum is designed to give audiences a unique opportunity to hear noted speakers and pose questions in a town-hall style format.

The season runs from September through December, leading off with Comey at Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa in Michigan City, Indiana. The remaining programs are in the James B. Dworkin Student Services and Activities Complex on the PNW Westville Campus, 1401 S. U.S. 421, Westville. All programs will begin at 4 p.m., with doors opening at 3 p.m.

The 2018 Sinai Forum season speakers are:

James Comey — Sunday, Sept. 9 at 4 p.m. (CDT) “The Ethical Leader” James Comey led the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2013 to 2017, appointed to the post by President Barack Obama. His tenure was tested by new forces within and outside America’s borders.

In his talk, “The Ethical Leader,” Comey will provide a rare respite from partisan politics. His story is one of great leadership, misguided leadership, patriotism and the vital importance of shaping a culture that puts the truth first.

Platon — Sunday, Oct. 7 at 4 p.m. (CDT) “Powerful Portraits: An Intimate Look at Humanity and Leadership” Platon is an internationally known photographer whose portraits capture the personalities behind the public faces of the world’s most powerful decision makers. A communicator and storyteller, his work has been exhibited in galleries and museums both domestically and abroad.

Platon has shot portraits for a range of international publications including Rolling Stone, The New York Times magazine, Vanity Fair, Esquire and GQ. He developed a special relationship with TIME magazine, producing more than 20 covers for them. In addition, he founded a non-profit foundation named The People’s Portfolio. The foundation aspires to create a visual language that breaks barriers, expands dignity, fights discrimination, and enlists the public to support human rights around the world.

Reshma Saujani — Sunday, Oct. 28 at 4 p.m. (CDT) “Women, Technology and Leadership” Reshma Saujani is the founder and CEO of Girls Who Code, a national non-profit organization working to close the gender gap in technology. Started in 2012, the organization has grown to reach 40,000 girls, running 80 Summer Immersion Programs and 1,500 Clubs across the US. Through its summer immersion programs and clubs, Girls Who Code is leading the movement to inspire, educate, and equip young women with the computing skills to pursue 21st century opportunities.

Saujani’s TED Talk, “Teach girls bravery, not perfection,” has more than 3 million views and sparked a national conversation about how we’re raising our girls. She is the author of two books, “Girls Who Code: Learn to Code and Change the World,” the first in a 13-book series about girls and coding, and “Women Who Don’t Wait In Line,” in which she advocates for a new model of female leadership focused on embracing risk and failure, promoting mentorship and sponsorship, and boldly charting one’s own course — personally and professionally.

Robert Costa — Sunday, Nov. 11 at 4 p.m. (CST) “Inside 2018: Understanding the Midterm Elections” Robert Costa is a national political reporter for The Washington Post, where he covers the White House, Congress and campaigns. He is also the moderator of PBS’ Washington Week, an award-winning news discussion program, and a political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC.

Costa’s in-depth reporting on President Donald Trump, which has included dozens of interviews and feature stories, has been widely circulated. He previously was National Review’s Washington editor, a CNBC political analyst and a fellow at The Wall Street Journal. The New Republic called him “the most important reporter in the country” during the 2013 government shutdown.

Lou Holtz ― Sunday, Dec. 2 at 4 p.m. (CST) “An Afternoon with Legendary Coach Lou Holtz: Game Plan for Success” For many years, Lou Holtz has been considered among the greatest speaking legends in America today. He speaks on overcoming seemingly impossible challenges by setting goals and working to achieve them.

Holtz established himself as one of the most successful college football coaches of all time. Twenty-six seasons as a collegiate head coach earned him a sterling reputation for turning pretenders into contenders. He is known for taking football programs and elevating them to the top 20; but nowhere has he done this as impressively than at the University of Notre Dame where he led the “Fighting Irish” to a national championship in 1988.

Purchasing Tickets Tickets are sold as a season series for all programs. A limited number of single program tickets will be offered only for Comey.

Regular season series tickets with general seating for all five programs are $150 each. Patron season series tickets, including reserved seating and an exclusive reception with speakers before each program, are $275 each. Single program tickets for Comey are $100 each. Admission for all programs is free for high school and college students with a valid student ID card.

Tickets can be purchased by credit card online at www.pnw.edu/sinai-forum or by cash or check at the Bursars’ Office on either Purdue University Northwest campus, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Bursars’ Office is located in Room 130 of the Charles H. Lawshe Hall on the Hammond Campus at 7141 Woodmar Ave., and in Room 127 of the Robert F. Schwarz Hall on the Westville Campus at 1401 S. U.S. 421.

Sponsors The season sponsors are Urschel Laboratories, Inc., The Times Media Company, Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa and The Bankoff Family.

Additional sponsors are John W. Anderson Foundation, Horizon Bank, “The Herald-Argus” and “The News Disptach.”

Patron-level ticket holders are welcome to attend all pre-program speaker receptions. The receptions are sponsored by Leonard J. and Irene Brown Foundation, Harbour Trust Investment Management Company, La Porte Hospital and Friedman & Associates.

Additional information about the Purdue Northwest Sinai Forum is available at www.pnw.edu/sinai-forum.

Purdue University Northwest Sinai Forum Purdue University Northwest Sinai Forum has brought world-renowned scholars, leaders, dignitaries, artists and personalities to Northwest Indiana since 1953. Founded by Sylvia and Dr. Milton Bankoff with a mission to enlighten, inspire and entertain, the revered speakers’ series came under the stewardship of PNW in 2006.

Purdue University Northwest Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is a student-centered university that values academic excellence, supports growth and celebrates diversity. Located in Northwest Indiana, near Chicago, PNW fosters a vibrant academic community through high quality and engaging undergraduate and graduate education. For more information about PNW, visit www.pnw.edu.