Sinai Forum at Purdue Northwest 2026 season to feature Jon Meacham, Pat Hughes and more
The Sinai Forum at Purdue University Northwest (PNW) announced the lineup of five notable speakers who will join its 2026 season.
“As Purdue University Northwest joins the nation in commemorating America’s 250th anniversary, the Sinai Forum invites our community to be part of conversations that offer perspective, inspire thoughtful reflection and help us better understand both the challenges of our time and the values that continue to bring us together,” said Leslie Plesac, executive director of the Sinai Forum at Purdue Northwest.
Audiences can expect engaging programs with five knowledgeable, nationally recognized voices exploring American democracy, the future of the Supreme Court, medical innovation, personal resilience and the enduring traditions that bring communities together.
Jon Meacham, a Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian, opens the 2026 season on Sept. 13. His program, “Hope Through History: How to Survive Turbulent Times,” draws from his latest book to examine the tension between America’s ideals and its divisions. Meacham reminds audiences that history is both a record of the past and a valuable guide for the future.
Pat Hughes, who will speak on Dec. 6, is a beloved and respected sports broadcaster and a recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. For over four decades he has connected generations of fans through storytelling in sports, helping create memories, tradition and the enduring power of shared experiences.
As Purdue University Northwest joins the nation in commemorating America's 250th anniversary, the Sinai Forum invites our community to be part of conversations that offer perspective, inspire thoughtful reflection and help us better understand both the challenges of our time and the values that continue to bring us together.
Leslie Plesac, executive director of the Sinai Forum at Purdue Northwest
The 2026 season will also feature an illuminating conversation with award-winning attorney and former Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal on decisions and constitutional questions raised by the U.S. Supreme Court; a look at innovation and hope in medicine with Dr. David Fajgenbaum, a physician-scientist who has devoted his career to helping discover life-saving treatments worldwide; and John O’Leary’s inspiring personal story of adversity and resilience while recovering from a severe childhood accident.
Program tickets, as well as dates, times, full program descriptions, speaker biographies and sponsor information are available at pnw.edu/sinai-forum. College and high school students can attend programs for free by registering on the Sinai Forum at Purdue Northwest website and presenting their student IDs at the program check-in.
All 2026 Sinai Forum at Purdue Northwest programs will be hosted at the James B. Dworkin Student Services and Activities Complex (DSAC) on the PNW Westville campus, 1401 S. U.S. 421, Westville, Ind. Programs begin promptly at 4 p.m. CDT, with doors opening to all ticketholders at 3 p.m.
Since 1953, over 350 speakers have engaged and inspired audiences through the forum.
The 2026 Sinai Forum at Purdue Northwest Speaker Series
The 2026 Sinai Forum at Purdue Northwest speakers are:
Photo by Heidi Ross
Jon Meacham — Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026
“Hope Through History: How to Survive Turbulent Times”
Jon Meacham is a Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian and one of America’s most prominent public intellectuals. He returns to the Sinai Forum to present “Hope Through History: How to Survive Turbulent Times” — drawn from his critically acclaimed History Channel podcast of the same name.
Meacham is the author of multiple New York Times bestsellers, including his latest, “American Struggle: Democracy, Dissent and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union,” a sweeping anthology tracing the American story from 1619 to the present. A distinguished visiting professor at Vanderbilt University, where he holds the Rogers Chair in the American Presidency, Meacham is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a fellow of the Society of American Historians.
He was awarded the National Humanities Medal in 2024.
Neal Katyal — Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026
“The Future of the Supreme Court”
Neal Katyal brings unparalleled insight to one of the most pressing conversations in American public life: the future of the Supreme Court. As a former Acting Solicitor General who has argued before the Court more than nearly any attorney of his generation, Katyal offers a rare insider’s perspective on how the institution works — and where it is headed.
He examines the forces reshaping the Court, from shifting judicial philosophies to debates over ethics reform and institutional legitimacy, helping audiences understand what is at stake for the rule of law and the American system of government. Katyal runs one of the world’s largest Supreme Court practices and is a tenured professor at Georgetown University Law Center.
Recipient of the Edmund Randolph Award, named one of GQ’s Men of the Year and a graduate of Yale Law School and Dartmouth College.
Dr. David Fajgenbaum — Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026
“Chasing Cures: One Doctor’s Race to Save His Own Life – and Others”
David Fajgenbaum is a physician-scientist at the University of Pennsylvania and co-founder of Every Cure, a nonprofit dedicated to identifying new uses for existing drugs to accelerate treatments for rare diseases. After nearly dying from Castleman disease while in medical school, Dr. Fajgenbaum helped identify a treatment that put his own disease into remission—fueling his mission to expand access to life-saving therapies for patients around the world.
Named to Time 100 Most Influential People, Dr. Fajgenbaum shares a deeply personal story of resilience, hope, innovation and medical discovery that is transforming the future of medicine.
Photo by Seth Farmer
John O’Leary — Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026
“Live Inspired: Resilience, Gratitude, and the Strength to Overcome”
John O’Leary is an internationally recognized speaker, bestselling author and host of the “Live Inspired” podcast. At age nine, O’Leary was severely burned in a home accident that left him with burns on 100 percent of his body and less than a one percent chance of survival.
After enduring months in the hospital, multiple surgeries and years of painful rehabilitation, he was profoundly shaped by the encouragement of legendary sports announcer Jack Buck, whose friendship helped inspire O’Leary’s lifelong message of resilience, purpose and gratitude.
His bestselling books “On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life” and “In Awe: Rediscover Your Childlike Wonder to Unleash Inspiration, Meaning and Joy”—along with the feature film “Soul on Fire”—share his extraordinary story of perseverance and hope.
Photo by Matt Dirksen
Pat Hughes — Sunday, Dec. 6, 2026
“The Soundtrack of Summer: Baseball, Broadcasting, and the Stories that Connect Us”
Pat Hughes is one of Major League Baseball’s most respected voices and a recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Over a broadcasting career spanning more than four decades, Hughes has called unforgettable moments alongside legendary figures, including Bob Uecker and Ron Santo, culminating in the Chicago Cubs’ historic 2016 World Series victory.
Known for his warmth and storytelling, Hughes reflects on how baseball connects generations through shared memories, traditions and the soundtrack of summer.