Lectures, Debates, and Conferences

The Chase Center provides ongoing programming to the university and public on civic thought, free speech, and civil discourse. (Register for updates.)

Salmon P. Chase Lecture Series

The Salmon P. Chase Lecture Series advances our understanding of citizenship well lived and pays tribute to Salmon P. Chase’s legacy and impact. After an 11-year run at Georgetown University’s Center for the Constitution, the lecture series moved to The Ohio State University in 2025. The inaugural lecture at Ohio State featured bestselling author Walter Stahr, whose 2022 biography Salmon P. Chase: Lincoln’s Vital Rival recounts Chase’s integral role fighting for the civil rights of all Americans as a pro-freedom attorney, as Ohio governor and U.S. senator, Lincoln’s secretary of the treasury, and as chief justice of the United States. 

Chase Signature Debate Series

The Chase Signature Debate Series creates opportunities to bring renowned experts together to cultivate open dialogue and civil debate on a variety of topics related to our shared civic tradition and current events. These dialogues explore the values of free speech and civil discourse and expand the intellectual diversity of the university’s academic community; create opportunities for free, open, and rigorous inquiry; and help students and others reach their own informed conclusions on matters of social and political importance. 

Ohio Civics Centers Symposium

The Ohio Civics Centers Symposium brings together centers at Ohio universities that are dedicated to civic education. The symposium serves as a platform for these centers to collaborate, share research, and develop innovative approaches to fostering informed and engaged citizens. 

Conference on Civic Thought and Leadership

The Conference on Civic Thought and Leadership is a national annual scholarly conference on civic thought in higher education. This conference brings together scholars from multiple disciplines and across the nation to present their research on citizenship. The event features keynote addresses, plenary sessions, and concurrent panels, offering a dynamic platform for dialogue and collaboration across disciplines.

Constitution Day Lecture

The Constitution Day Lecture is the center’s annual homage to the document that is at the heart of our civic tradition. The lecture features a leading scholar sharing insights on the Constitution’s meaning for Americans today. 

Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture is the center’s tribute to a great American leader through events highlighting civic leadership. This lecture features civic leaders both past and present, discusses the qualities of such statesmen, and inspires Americans today to become civic leaders.