Oakland University’s Honors College is not just a place for rigorous academics, but also a hub for fostering intellectual curiosity through guest speakers. This semester, students have been exposed to an inspiring lineup of professionals, experts and thought leaders, each providing insights that complement the Honors College’s interdisciplinary approach.
“The speakers are usually very interesting to listen to,” Freshman Heather Czekai said. “We got to recently listen to a woman who was an expert on monarch butterflies tell us all about them, after there was a section in the book we are reading, ‘To Shake the Sleeping Self,’ by Jedidiah Jenkins, all about the butterflies.”
The Honors College regularly schedules guest speakers from various fields to provide diverse perspectives on the recent curriculum of the class.
“I remember the speakers being super professional,” Junior Anderson Strable said. “When I was in the class, we got to listen to a police officer who told us all about her cases, which related to the book we were reading. It was super insightful and actually really interesting to see her perspective on the cases.”
The mission of the Honors College is to not only challenge students academically, but to inspire them. These guest speakers give students a chance to see how ideas evolve beyond the classroom and into the world.
“It helps me see how what we’re learning now can actually be applied in the future,” Czekai said. “It’s really motivating to hear their stories and know that we could be doing similar impactful work one day. Hearing from people who are actively shaping their fields gives us a sense of what we can achieve beyond college.”
The guest speakers bring a whole new dimension to what students learn in class. It’s one thing to read about theories or case studies but hearing directly from people who are out there making a difference in the real world, whether in science, social activism or tech, it can make everything feel more relevant.
“It makes the concepts we’re studying so much more tangible and inspiring,” Strable said. “When someone who’s a leader in their field talks about the challenges they’ve faced and the breakthroughs they’ve made, it really pushes you to think bigger about what you can achieve in your own career.”
As the semester continues, students can expect more engaging talks, with upcoming guests from fields as varied as social activism and artificial intelligence.
“Each speaker brings their unique story and expertise, which helps us see the real-world applications of what we’re learning,” Strable said. “It’s one thing to read about climate change in textbooks but listening to someone who’s on the front lines of research makes the issues feel so much more immediate and important. It motivates me to get involved and make a difference.”
The initiative remains a hallmark of Oakland University’s Honors College, providing students with opportunities to engage with professionals who are shaping the future. For more information on future events or how to attend, visit the Honors College website.
