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James P. ’60 and Mary C. Sczepaniak Lecture Series

The legacy of Jim and Mary Clare Sczepaniak lives on at Â鶹´«Ã½ through scholarships, enhancements and a history lecture series. The lectures began in October 2016 and have brought scholarly speakers on a variety of topics. The inaugural event featured Dr. Robert Sterling in his presentation, “Bars and Stripes: The Old Joliet Prison.” These Fall and Spring lectures are free and open to the public.

Dennis H. Cremin, History Department Chair, said, “I knew Jim and Fran, his second wife, and their consistent commitment to education is a model. Their scholarships are transforming lives. The lecture series was inspired by Jim’s appreciation of public historical programs. They also funded the sculpture installation, located on the west entrance of the Arts and Sciences building, which is a special tribute to the De La Salle Christian Brothers to mark the 55th anniversary of their dedicated sponsorship of Â鶹´«Ã½.

The Sczepaniaks have found various ways to support history. Reflecting on his time at Lewis University, Jim noted, “Lewis was a great school and my classmates were good, too. We had the same goal – to get out there and make a change in the world, big or small.”

Most Recent lecture

Past Lectures

Fall 2020

No lecture.

Spring 2020

Chicago Women and the Vote: Curating Women’s Activism (canceled due to COVID-19)

Presented by: Dr. Elizabeth Fratterigo, Loyola University Chicago.

Fall 2019

The Activist Museum: Museums, Communities, and Social Justice

Presented by: Jennifer Scott, director and chief curator of the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum.

VIDEO NOT AVAILABLE.

Spring 2019

Allied Collapse and American Intervention: How Hyphenated Americans Won WWI

Presented by: Dr. Geoffrey Wawro, University of North Texas.

Fall 2018

At Home in Illinois: the View from Historic Houses

Presented by: Presented by: Kelly Kloubucher, Scott Mchaffey, and Donna Sack.

Spring 2018

To Make the World Safe: Woodrow Wilson and the Impact of the United States on World War I

Presented by: Ross A. Kennedy, Illinois State University.