Edward Shapiro Lecture - Guest Speaker, Thomas Friedman

The 2026-27 Edward Shapiro Distinguished Lecture series welcomes bestselling author, New York Times Foreign Affairs Columnist, and Pulitzer Prize winner, Thomas Friedman. Thomas Friedman is the bestselling author of The World is Flat and a New York Times Foreign Affairs Columnist. He is renowned for his direct reporting and accessible analysis of complex issues shaping the world. According to Foreign Policy magazine, "Friedman doesn't just report on events; he helps shape them." The winner of three Pulitzer Prizes, he has covered monumental stories from around the globe for The New York Times since 1981. With clear and compelling language, Friedman discusses the opportunities and challenges that "accelerations," including technology and connectivity, present. He also explores solutions - on a local and global level - to ensure the future of work, skills, income, and prosperity. Friedman has written seven books since 1989 that have sold 10 million copies in 40 different languages. They include From Beirut to Jerusalem , The Lexus and the Olive Tree , The World is Flat and, most recently, his latest bestseller, Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist's Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations , in which Friedman offers a blueprint for overcoming the stresses and challenges of a world being transformed by technology, globalization, and climate change. Accessibility - Interpreters for the deaf and live captioning will be available at this event. Admission - Free RSV