News Release

FORT WAYNE — Contemporary themes and personal experiences will be highlighted during the 29th season of Purdue University Fort Wayne’s Omnibus Speaker Series. The 2024-25 schedule will include topics such as the thoughts of a New York Times political podcaster; a journey through grief; brand strategy and cultural behavior; and an award-winning chef’s insights about her cultural duality.

“We are so pleased to have such an outstanding lineup of speakers this season,” said Jerry Lewis, vice chancellor for communications and marketing at Purdue Fort Wayne. “The Omnibus Speaker Series has been a community treasure here in Fort Wayne for almost three decades, and our speakers this year are thought-leaders who will challenge us with a diversity of ideas, perceptions and experiences.”

The new season opens Thursday, Oct. 24, with Michael Barbaro, a New York Times political journalist and host of “The Daily” podcast, which is among the world’s most popular with 3 million listeners. Presented every weekday, the podcast takes an unfiltered and nonpartisan perspective on the biggest stories. Barbaro will talk about the increasing role of podcasting in society, lessons he’s learned and his coverage of the last three presidential elections. He pays special attention to the state of journalism today, including the impact of cable versus the rising popularity of podcasts, and the future of print journalism.

The son of longtime “Meet the Press” host Tim Russert, Luke Russert recently published “Look for Me There,” a book capturing the essence of his search for meaning while grieving his father who died in 2008. He’ll share his insights during “Grief Journey” on Tuesday, Nov. 19. Russert’s writing is not just a tale of travel and adventure but an exploration of grief, faith and self-discovery, along with a vision of the future. He’s known for connecting with his audiences through messages of hope, resilience and inspiration.

Marcus Collins comes to campus on Thursday, Feb. 27, to present “For the Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do and Who We Want to Be.” A leading cultural scholar, award-winning marketer and coach, Collins is a University of Michigan marketing professor who previously served as head of strategy for a New York City advertising agency. Recognized with several national marketing awards, Collins worked with such brands as Apple, Nike, Beyoncé, McDonald’s and Anheuser-Busch. During his career, he has developed culturally contagious ideas that inspire people to take action.

“An Evening with Pati Jinich” will complete the season. That spring semester date has yet to be finalized. Jinich hosts the PBS docuseries “La Frontera,” which shares stories from the U.S.-Mexico border, and hosts the Emmy-nominated PBS daytime show “Pati’s Mexican Table.” She’ll also debut a new prime-time series this spring. Besides a career focused on Mexican political institutions and relations at the border, Jinich is the author of three cookbooks with a fourth publishing soon. She has made it her life’s work to build understanding between her two countries.

The Omnibus Speaker Series is underwritten by a contribution from the English-Bonter-Mitchell Foundation, which has sponsored every season since the series was introduced in 1995.

All Omnibus appearances start at 7:30 p.m. in the Auer Performance Hall. Tickets are free on a first-come, first-served basis. They are typically made available two weeks before each show.

For more information on each of the speakers and the series itself, visit pfw.edu/omnibus.

For additional information, contact Blake Sebring at [email protected] or (260)-385-0092.