Community & Culture

2025 Henderson Lecturer Matteo Luisi, Assistant Professor of Physics & Planetarium Director, presents, "A New Model of Galactic Ionized Gas." This lecture will focus on Luisi’s investigation of the diffuse gas and dust found between stars—or the “interstellar medium”—in the galaxy, culminating in the creation of a new galaxy-wide model of diffuse ionized gas.

The Henderson Lecture was founded by the late Dr. Joseph R. Henderson and his wife, Elizabeth, to encourage and recognize original and continuing research and scholarship among Westminster College faculty, and to afford the opportunity for faculty to share their learning with the academic community. Dr. Henderson was a professor of education emeritus at Westminster, having served as chair of the Department of Education and as director of the Graduate Program. Each year, Westminster faculty members may nominate themselves or others to receive the lectureship, which includes a stipend to support a specific research project. A faculty committee chooses the winner.

This event is free and open to the public.

Alumnus Ben Nelson (2006) will be speaking on how he has used his liberal arts degree, and more specifically his history humanities major, at his financial job at Moody's. Ben was a double major in business and history, and his success shows the power of a liberal arts degree. His talk will describe ways that he uses the humanities skills he has acquired in his career. 

Open to all students.

The Department of Modern Languages is proud to open the doors to our second film in this year's Jake Erhardt International Film Series. Ni chaînes, ni maîtres (No Chains, No Masters) transports viewers to an eighteenth-century French sugar plantation in Mauritius, a small island off the coast of Madagascar. There, Massamba, enslaved by plantation owner Eugène Larcenet, has convinced his daughter Mati to forget her dreams of freedom—until, one night, she disappears into the jungle. Knowing what punishment awaits those who dare to run, Massamba escapes, too, hoping to find Mati before the Larcenets' hired bountyhunters do. Released in 2024, No Chains, No Masters tells the weighty but riveting story of a father's love against the backdrop of a rarely-portrayed chapter in French history.

Free and open to the public.

Join Westminster humanities faculty members to discuss how a major or minor in a humanities discipline can help you after graduation.

Free and open to the public.

Visual Art majors will lead a gallery talk on the current art exhibition, “Yoko Ono: Passages and Wishes.” The exhibition closes Friday, Oct. 24.

Free and open to the public.

Creative writing workshop led by senior English majors Olivia Plummer ’26 and Max Smith ’26 and facilitated by Dr. David Swerdlow, professor of English, in 210 Patterson Hall.

Free and open to the public.

Student writers will present fiction and poetry alongside winners of the recent high school creative writing contest. Sponsored by the Department of English.

Free and open to the public.

Meet Apollo Aurora, host of the Planetarium Channel’s universally loved gravity news source, Defying Gravity: It IS Rocket Science! With special robot correspondents Apple 1-6-8-6 and EGR-1, Apollo and her team will explore rocket power, gravity on other planets, monstrous black holes, and even what keeps us grounded on Earth! Tune into this brand new Planetarium program and uncover the mysteries of gravity.

This show is recommended for grades 3+ (ages 8+).

Reserve your seats here!

Meet Apollo Aurora, host of the Planetarium Channel’s universally loved gravity news source, Defying Gravity: It IS Rocket Science! With special robot correspondents Apple 1-6-8-6 and EGR-1, Apollo and her team will explore rocket power, gravity on other planets, monstrous black holes, and even what keeps us grounded on Earth! Tune into this brand new Planetarium program and uncover the mysteries of gravity.

This show is recommended for grades 3+ (ages 8+).

Take your visitors on a tour of winter’s evening sky and then join jolly ol’ Santa and concerned alien, Mr. Freep, as they explore the solar system’s planets and meet the Christmas Eve needs of their fictitious inhabitants.

This show is recommended for grades 1+ (ages 5+).

Reserve your seats here!

Take your visitors on a tour of winter’s evening sky and then join jolly ol’ Santa and concerned alien, Mr. Freep, as they explore the solar system’s planets and meet the Christmas Eve needs of their fictitious inhabitants.

This show is recommended for grades 1+ (ages 5+).

Reserve your seats here!

Hand-picked by Billy Joel to star in the hit Broadway musical Movin’ Out, Michael Cavanaugh combines modern Christmas songs like “Last Christmas” and “Wonderful Christmastime” with classic holiday hits like “Jingle Bell Rock”, “Winter Wonderland” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” to create a fun, rockin’ musical show for the yuletide season. Sprinkle in a selection of classic pop and rock songs by Billy Joel, Elton John, and more. Don’t miss the “New Piano Man,” (Broadway World) as he rings in this Holiday Season!

To purchase tickets visit westminster.edu/celebrity

“How Sweet It Is”, “Country Road”, “Shower The People”, “Anticipation”, “You’re So Vain”, “Mockingbird”, “I Feel the Earth Move”, “It’s Too Late”, and “You’ve Got A Friend”. These are just a few of the fantastic songs from “Three American Troubadours” -- a production that celebrates the lives and careers of 6-time Grammy winner James Taylor, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Carly Simon with 13 top 40 hits, and Carole King who wrote or co-wrote 118 Billboard Hot 100 pop hits-- 3 iconic American singer/songwriters whose personal lives and careers have intertwined throughout the years, and whose memorable hit songs continue to offer ageless inspiration.

To purchase tickets visit westminster.edu/celebrity

A musical voyage that will leave you awe-inspired and craving for more!

Journey back to the glory days of the late 60s and early 70s with Commotion – the most electrifying and authentic Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute band on the planet!

Experience the unforgettable hits including “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” “Green River,” “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “Travelin Band,” “Up Around the Bend,” and more!

To purchase tickets visit westminster.edu/celebrity