The 2025 Rhodes Lecture will be announced soon!
John J. Rhodes Lecture
History of the Lecture
The Honorable John J. Rhodes represented Arizona in the United States House of Representatives for 30 years, from 1952 -1982. During his distinguished career, Rhodes served as the Minority Leader of the House from 1973 - 1981. Congressman Rhodes exemplified the values of personal integrity, fiscal responsibility, respect for persons of all political beliefs, and international foresight.
Upon his retirement, John Rhodes’ family and many of his friends wanted to establish an enduring tribute to his leadership. Because John and his wife, Betty, had long been supporters of higher education, the family chose an endowment for the John J. Rhodes Chair in Public Policy and American Institutions and selected Barrett, the Honors College at ASU to become the Chair’s “home.” The Rhodes Chair reflects John Rhodes’ commitment to public service and higher education. The Chair is dedicated to discussion and dialogue about the most challenging issues facing our society, now and in the future. Holders of the Rhodes Chair are individuals whose work embodies John Rhodes’ commitment to the betterment of our nation through inspired and fair-minded leadership and devotion to service. An archive of John Rhodes’ congressional papers is available in the Special Collections at Hayden Library on the ASU Tempe campus.
History of Barrett
Barrett, The Honors College was founded in 1988 by an act of the Arizona Board of Regents and was given an endowment in 2000 by Craig and Barbara Barrett, noted leaders in industry, education, and public service. Since its inception 30 years ago, fueled by the Barrett endowment and ASU’s commitment to excellence in honors education, Barrett has become a pre-eminent four-year residential honors college. Barrett routinely attracts intellectually outstanding students locally, nationally and internationally to all four campuses of ASU.
Barrett is among the top 10 institutions for attracting National Scholars. Its living and learning community provides a perfect synergy for students to exercise and challenge their intellects while pursuing outstanding educational opportunities.
Barrett students regularly receive record numbers of nationally competed scholarships such as Fulbright, Boren, Goldwater, Truman, and Udall awards. Since 2000, only Harvard and Yale have named more students to the USA Today All-USA College Academic Teams. In 2005, Reader’s Digest named Barrett “Best in America” in university honors education. In 2015, the New York Times called Barrett “the gold standard” among honors colleges in the nation.
Past presenters
Year | Presenter | Title |
---|---|---|
2024 | Bill Nye | “Climate Change and You” |
2023 | Diane Guerrero | "A Discussion With Author and Actress Diane Guerrero" |
2021 | NASA Astronaut Dr. Shannon Walker & Ambassador Barbara Barrett | "Expanded Space Exploration" |
2020 | General Mattis | "Thwarting Threats and Nurturing Allies in Today's Global Affairs" |
2019 | John Brennan | "The State of Political Discourse in America" |
2018 | Jeff Flake and Jon Kyl | "Arizona Politics: The Past, Present, and Future" |
2017 | Jeffrey Toobin | "The Supreme Court in the Post Obama Age" |
2016 | Mara Liasson | "A Citizen's Guide to the 2016 Election" |
2015 | Mary Frances Berry | "Achieving Justice and Opportunity in the 21st Century: Now is the Time" |
2014 | Jay Kopelman | "From Baghdad to America: Life After War" |
2013 | Leroy Chiao | "Warp Speed: How Technology is Accelerating and the Importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)" |
2012 | Jessica Jackley | "Alleviating Poverty through Social Justice, Social Entrepreneurship, and Social Finance" |
2011 | David Kessler | “Public Health Policy in America: Who Wins, Who Loses” |
2010 | Guy Dauncey | "The Challenge of Tackling the Global Warming Crisis" |
2009 | Jonathan Alter | "The New Defining Moment: Perspectives on the Presidency and Democracy" |
2008 | Eric Schlosser | "Fast Food Nation: What the All American Meal Means to Your Health and Well Being" |
2007 | Aaron Brown | "Journalism in Our Times" |
2006 | Sylvia Ann Hewlett | "Gender and Policy: Domestic and International Perspectives" |
2005 | Hal Harvey | "Policies for a Clean Energy Future" |
2004 | David Levy | "Space Policy and America's Future: Igniting the Imagination" |
2003 | Jean Strouse | "JP Morgan and Corporate Integrity: From Railroads to Enron" |
2002 | Donald Fixico | "American Indian Leadership throughout History" |
2001 | Jonathan Weiner | "The New Biology: Three Dreams and Three Nightmares" |
2000 | Senator Alan Simpson | "An Overview of Congress: Where You Stand Depends on Where You Sit" |
1998 | Henry Kissinger | "Inaugural Rhodes Lecture" |
1989 | Carlos Fuentes | "The Culture of Crisis in Latin America" |