Shannon Jackson, PhD (Image provided)
Shannon Jackson, Cyrus and Michelle Hadidi Professor of the Arts & Humanities at UC Berkeley and chair of their history of art department, will give the 2026 Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) Lecture on Monday, April 13. The lecture is hosted by Geneseo’s PBK chapter, Alpha Delta of New York.
The lecture, “The Arts, Democracy, and Public Life,” is free and open to the public. It will take place in Milne Library’s Multipurpose Room A on Monday, April 13, from 3 to 4 p.m.
Jackson’s talk will examine how the arts function within public life to support and sustain democracy. She will explore how citizens from various eras and world regions have addressed the role of art in democracy. According to Jackson, the arts are essential in advancing free assembly and free expression, contributing to social movements and forming civic identity. Jackson will highlight a range of socially engaged art practices and investigate how the arts shape and challenge our sense of community. By drawing on historical and contemporary examples, the lecture will encourage the audience to reflect on how public art can inspire new understandings of democracy.
Founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa celebrates its 250th anniversary this year. It is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious undergraduate honors society, with chapters at 290+ colleges and universities nationwide. Geneseo is the only SUNY comprehensive with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter.
Author
Monique Patenaude, PhD
Executive Director of Content Strategy & Media Relations