Great Lives

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Missed our lecture on Jerry West? Author Jonathan Coleman's February 12th talk is now available to watch online!

Jerry West has been the Logo of the NBA since 1969, one of the greatest players and executives the game has ever known, the only person to be inducted three times into the Naismith Hall of Fame—as a player for the Los Angeles Lakers, as a member of the gold-medal-winning 1960 Olympic Team, and as the mastermind behind numerous championships.

Watch now: https://www.umw.edu/greatlives/lecture/jerry-west/

👀 We're curious...
What was your favorite lecture from 2026?

From powerful storytelling to unforgettable insights, each lecture brought history to life in a unique way. We want to hear from you. Share your favorite moment or speaker in the comments.

Let us know in the comments your pick!

Visit umw.edu/greatlives to watch back your favorites over the years!

Throughout history, individuals from all backgrounds have shaped our communities, culture, and understanding of the world. Pride Month is an opportunity to recognize the contributions, stories, and experiences of LGBTQ+ people, both past and present.

At Great Lives, we believe that exploring a wide range of lives and perspectives enriches our understanding of history and one another. The stories we study remind us that history is ultimately about people, their challenges, their achievements, and the impact they leave behind.

We wish everyone in our community a meaningful Pride Month.

umw.edu/greatlives

Recording now streaming 🎬

Missed our lecture on Robert Crumb? Author Dan Nadel's February 10th talk is now available to watch online!

Robert Crumb is often credited with single-handedly transforming the comics medium into a place for adult expression, in the process pioneering the underground comic book industry, and transforming the vernacular language of 20th-century America into an instantly recognizable and popular aesthetic.

Dan Nadel, delivers a “gripping and essential account” (The Boston Globe) of how this complicated artist survived childhood abuse, fame in his twenties, more fame, and came out the other side intact.

Watch now: https://www.umw.edu/greatlives/lecture/robert-crumb/

Recording now streaming 🎬

Missed our lecture on Judy Blume? Author Rachelle Bergstein's February 5th talk is now available to watch on.

Judy Blume's legacy continues to resonate amid today’s growing book-banning crisis, raising timeless questions about what belongs in children’s literature, and why her voice remains as vital as ever. Learn about one of the most profound cultural shifts in modern literature and what a figure who revolutionized what it means to be an author of youth literature.

Watch now: https://www.umw.edu/greatlives/lecture/judy-blume/

This Memorial Day, we remember and honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice shaped the freedoms we enjoy today and remains an enduring part of our nation’s story.

At Great Lives, we are continually reminded that history is made through courage, service, and sacrifice. Today, we pause to reflect on those who gave everything in defense of others.

We wish our Great Lives community a meaningful and reflective Memorial Day.

Recording now streaming. 🎬

Missed our lecture on Lorne Michaels? Author Susan Morrison's February 3rd talk is now available to watch on.

Over the fifty years that Lorne Michaels has been at the helm of Saturday Night Live, he has become a revered and inimitable presence in the entertainment world. He’s a tastemaker, a mogul, a withholding father figure, a genius spotter of talent, a shrewd businessman, a name-dropper, a raconteur, the inspiration for Dr. Evil, the winner of more than a hundred Emmys—and, essentially, a mystery.

Watch now: https://www.umw.edu/greatlives/lecture/lorne-michaels/

At Great Lives, history comes to life through engaging lectures, meaningful discussion, and opportunities to connect with speakers and ideas that continue to resonate today. These stories inform, inspire, and leave a lasting impression, just as the people behind them did.

Great Lives returns January 2027.

umw.edu/greatlives

Share Your Great Lives Suggestions!

We’re in the midst of planning the 2027 Season, and we want YOUR input!

Your ideas help keep this free, community-driven series engaging and inspiring

👉 Submit your suggestions or topic ideas at umw.edu/greatlives/contact

Recording now streaming. 🎬

Missed our lecture on Aimee Semple McPherson? Author Claire Hoffman's January 22nd talk is now available to watch on demand.

On a spring day in 1926, Aimee Semple McPherson wandered into the Pacific Ocean and vanished. Weeks later she reappeared in the desert, claiming to have been kidnapped. A national media frenzy and months of investigation ensued. Who was this woman?

Watch now: umw.edu/greatlives/lecture/aimee-semple-mcpherson/