RICHARD GELWICK ENDOWED LECTURE SERIES
Cultural historian and media scholar Siva Vaidhyanathan will deliver the 2026 Richard Gelwick Endowed Lecture at 4 p.m. on Feb. 5 in the Rockwell Pavilion at M.D. Anderson Library.
Vaidhyanathan will examine the impact of social media and AI on democracy, as well as the role of technology in recent elections and the broader political landscape. He will delve into how popular social media platforms have deviated from their original missions, analyzing their societal implications and contributions to the erosion of democracy. Vaidhyanathan argues the rise of technology has fostered security threats and propaganda, undermined journalism, eroded social trust and fostered doubts about science. His campus visit is part of the "Rebooting Our Relationship with Tech" lecture series hosted by the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Center on Ethics and Leadership.
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About the Speaker
Siva Vaidhyanathan is the Robertson Professor of Media Studies and director of the
Center for Media and Citizenship at the University of Virginia. He is the author of
"Antisocial Media: How Facebook Disconnects Us and Undermines Democracy," "Intellectual
Property: A Very Short Introduction," and "The Googlization of Everything: (And Why
We Should Worry)." After five years as a professional journalist, he earned a Ph.D.
in American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a fellow at the
New York Institute for the Humanities and a faculty associate of the Berkman Center
for Internet and Society at Harvard University. He was born and raised in Buffalo,
New York, and resides in Charlottesville, Virginia.
About the Richard Gelwick Endowed Lecture Series
The Richard Gelwick Endowed Lecture Series was created to honor the memory of Dr.
Richard Gelwick. Gelwick encouraged the exploration and discovery of how science,
faith and reason can help improve solutions to challenging public policy issues. An
ordained minister and scholar, Dr. Gelwick addressed the dilemma of combining modern
medical science with religious values and human needs in his life work. The Gelwick
Endowed Lecture Series brings nationally prominent speakers annually to the University
of Houston to discuss the importance and meaning of ethics in society.
Gelwick Family Donates $100,000 to Expand Ethics in Society Lecture Series
The Elizabeth D. Rockwell Center on Ethics and Leadership at the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs has received a generous donation for the Richard Gelwick Endowed Lecture Series. Allen Gelwick, son of Rev. Dr. Richard Gelwick, has given $100,000 to further the purpose and reach of the important lecture series. The Gelwick gift will be matched by the Hobby School of Public Affairs for a total contribution of $200,000. Read more.
Sue Collins with the Gelwick Family and Jim Granato