Pell Center announces fall 2026 event series

These programs are guided by Senator Pell's belief that politics is about translating ideas into action to improve people's lives and complement the education offered at Salve Regina University by fostering civic engagement and inspiring individuals to make a positive difference in their communities and beyond. 

Registration for each event opens one week before the event takes place. Visit our events page to register or learn more. There is a $10 admission fee for each event. Salve students, faculty and staff are admitted free of charge with a Salve ID card. 

The Power of the Vote: Exploring Voting Rights Through History, Community and Campus Involvement

Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 5:30 p.m. in O'Hare Academic Building - Bazarsky Lecture Hall

Featuring Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore, Shahidah Ali, community activist, Katie Sonder, associate director of the Pell Center, Elodie Chery '27, president of Salve Votes

Celebrate Constitution Day 2026 with a panel exploring the history of voting rights, the role of community organizations in expanding civic participation and how Salve is empowering informed and engaged voters. Join us for a conversation on the importance of protecting voting rights and strengthening democracy.

This event is presented in partnership with David and Carolyn Brodsky Chair in American Constitutional Democracy and Culture.

"Magnifica Humanitas" 

Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in O'Hare Academic Building - Bazarsky Lecture Hall

Featuring Dr. Thomas Arruda (Department of Chemistry), Dr. Craig Condella (Department of Philosophy), Dr. Claire Koen (Department of Religious and Theological Studies), Dr. Sean O'Callaghan (Department of Religious and Theological Studies), Dr. D. Matthew Ramsey (Department of English, Communications and Media)

"Magnifica Humanitas" is a call to fight for the human voice to be heard in a technocratic world. How should we use artificial intelligence in a way which benefits humanity? Can it even be done? What does Pope Leo XIV have to say about this topic which he has placed at the center of his early pontificate? Join with members of the Salve faculty as we consider what this document has to say about a technology that is increasingly pervasive in modern life.

This event is part of Mercy Week and is presented in partnership with the Salve Regina Office of Mission Integration.

War in Ukraine: Tragedy and Resilience with Ambassador Michael McFaul

Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 5:30 p.m. in O'Hare Academic Building - Bazarsky Lecture Hall

For nearly five years, Russia has waged open warfare against Ukraine. Casualty figures are staggering even as violence slips dangerously into NATO's Eastern periphery. Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul argues that the war in Ukraine is part of a bigger struggle between autocrats and democrats in which American power must be tied to the central tenets of American democracy. Join us for a conversation about Russia's war in Ukraine, the resilience of the Ukrainian people and a celebration of Ukrainian culture with a special performance of Ukrainian classical music by Suzanna Laramee.

What’s Next: The Mid-Term Elections and the Next Two Years

Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 5:30 p.m. in O'Hare Academic Building - Bazarsky Lecture Hall

Featuring Dr. Mary Anderson (Brodsky Chair in U.S. Constitutional Democracy and Culture, Salve Regina University), Ed Fitzpatrick (Boston Globe Rhode Island), Dr. Jim Ludes (Pell Center Executive Director and Vice President, Salve Regina University)

Democrats are banking on securing at least one chamber of commerce in the mid-term elections. Republicans are determined to protect their majorities. And the President of the United States uses those elections as an indicator of the popular success of his policies from his crackdown on undocumented immigration to his war against Iran. Join a seasoned panel of policy and political experts to make sense of the mid-term results and what they portend for the next two years.