Past Events
Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs
Colby’s hub for politics, policy, and the press.
2025-2026
Free Speech in America: Trump, Surveillance, and AI
Wednesday, April 28 | 6:00 PM | Page Commons
Jameel Jaffer is the inaugural director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, which defends the freedoms of speech and the press in the digital age through strategic litigation, research, and public education. He previously served in various leadership positions at the American Civil Liberties Union, ultimately overseeing the organization’s work on democracy, free speech, privacy, technology, national security, and international human rights. He has argued human rights and civil liberties cases in multiple appeals courts as well as the U.S. Supreme Court, and he has testified many times before the U.S. Congress.
Go to Church, Start a Family, Put Down Your Phone. A Conservative View of Modern Life.
Wednesday, April 22 | 6:00 PM | Page Commons
Ross Douthat joined The New York Times as an Opinion columnist in April 2009. His column appears every Wednesday and Sunday. He is also the host of the Opinion podcast “Interesting Times.” He is the author of seven books, most recently “Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious” (2025) and “The Deep Places: A Memoir of Illness and Discovery” (2021). He is the film critic for National Review.
Democracy Under Pressure: Law, Elections, and the Fight for 2026
Wednesday, April 15 | 6:00 PM | Page Commons
Bob Bauer is Professor of Practice and Distinguished Scholar in Residence at NYU School of Law, where he co-directs the Democracy Project. He served as White House Counsel to President Obama from 2009 to 2011 and has been appointed to two presidential commissions on election administration and the Supreme Court. He is the author of The Unraveling: Politics without Ethics and Democracy in Crisis (2024) and co-author with Jack Goldsmith of After Trump: Reconstructing the Presidency (2020).
Anita Dunn most recently served as Senior Advisor to President Joe Biden in the White House, advising on messaging, communications, and overall strategy. She previously served as White House Communications Director under President Obama and as a senior advisor to both the Obama and Biden presidential campaigns. Anita also helped found SKDK, one of the nation’s top public affairs and political consulting firms. She has served in a variety of senior roles for other key Democrats throughout her career, including Tom Daschle, Bill Bradley, and Evan Bayh.
Can Comedy Change Politics? Zohran Mamdani’s First Influencer on How Humor Shapes the Left
Wednesday, April 8 | 6:00 PM | Page Commons
Cassie Willson is a comedian and content creator based in New York City. She wrote a couple musicals before realizing she loves attention, so she pivoted to comedy. In December 2024, she was the first influencer to platform Zohran Mamdani, when he was still polling at 1%. With over 600k followers across platforms, her videos reach millions of people every week. Her content focuses on leftist politics and cultural commentary, all through a comedic lens.
Are Democrats Listening to the Wrong People?
Wednesday, April 1 | 6:00 PM | Page Commons
Matthew Yglesias writes the Slow Boring newsletter, co-hosts the Politix podcast, and is a contributing opinion writer at The New York Times. He’s the author of several books, including most recently One Billion Americans.
Who Guards Maine’s Health? Navigating the New Politics of Public Health
Wednesday, March 18 | 6:00 PM | Page Commons
Dr. Puthiery Va is the Department of Health and Human Services’ Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, where she oversees the state’s public health programs, policies, and initiatives, and leads a team of dedicated professionals who work to protect and improve the health of Maine residents. Her career spans medicine, public health, epidemiology, and program development and she is board certified in Internal Medicine.
A graduate of the University of Rochester, Dr. Va attended medical school at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, Maine. She completed her residency in internal medicine at the Jacobi Medical Center in New York, NY. Before joining the Maine CDC, she served as a physician and public health director with the Indian Health Service, serving the Navajo communities of Chinle, Arizona.
9/11: Reclaiming Ground Zero Film Screening
Monday, March 16 | 6:00 PM | Maine Film Center, 93 Main St., Waterville
9/11: Reclaiming Ground Zero revisits the 2002 AmericaSpeaks town hall that brought thousands of New Yorkers together to deliberate the future of Ground Zero following 9/11. Gathering over 5,000 representative New Yorkers into the largest town in United States history, the risky move became a prime example of the benefits of how structured public input, expert facilitation, and deliberation and feedback loops can result in the most positive outcome for all, especially during moments of crisis and long-term urban planning.
After the film, please join for a moderated discussion with Carolyn Lukensmeyer, a nationally recognized leader in democratic innovation and public engagement and the founder of AmericaSpeaks, a nationwide nonprofit focused on championing citizens’ voices.
Co-sponsored by the Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs and the Center for Small Town Jewish Life at Colby College. Free and open to all, ticket reservations required.
The Last Branch Standing: Can the Court Survive Our Polarized Moment?
Wednesday, March 11 | 6:00 – 7:00 PM | Page Commons
Sarah Isgur is the Editor of SCOTUSblog, host of the “Advisory Opinions” podcast, and a legal analyst for ABC News. She has worked on multiple presidential campaigns and worked in all three branches of government. She is the author of the forthcoming Supreme Court book Last Branch Standing.
Sovereignty and Shared Humanity
Wednesday, March 4 | 6:00 – 7:00 PM | Page Commons
Maulian Bryant is Executive Director of the Wabanaki Alliance and a citizen of the Penobscot Nation. From 2017–2024, she served as the Penobscot Nation’s first Tribal Ambassador, representing the Nation and working with local, state, and federal leaders. Her work centers on Penobscot sovereignty, culture, natural resources, and the welfare of the Penobscot people. In 2022, Colby College awarded her an honorary doctorate for her leadership in equity and public policy.
The Military and the Presidency: War, Peace, and U.S. Power
WILLIAM S. COHEN
U.S. Secretary of Defense (1997-2001); U.S. Senator from Maine (1979-1997)
Wednesday, February 25 | 6:00 PM – 7:00PM | Page Commons
William S. Cohen served as U.S. Secretary of Defense (1997–2001), U.S. Senator from Maine (1979–1997), and U.S. Congressman (1973–1979). Over 31 years in public service, Cohen earned a reputation for integrity, results, and steady leadership at home and abroad. Early in his career, the House Judiciary Committee asked him to help build the public case during the Nixon impeachment proceedings, and he cast a pivotal vote to impeach. In 1997, President Bill Clinton tapped Cohen to lead the Department of Defense—making history by bringing a Republican elected official into a Democratic cabinet.
Lessons in Leadership from Maine to Washington
Senator Angus King
Senator I-ME
Wednesday, February 18 | 6:00 PM – 7:00PM | Page Commons
In January 2013, Angus King was sworn in as Maine’s first Independent United States Senator. A strong believer in greater bipartisan dialogue and relationship building, Senator King works to bring Republicans and Democrats together to find common-sense solutions for Maine and America. King serves on multiple Senate Committees including Armed Services, Intelligence, Energy and Natural Resources, and Veteran’s Affairs Committees. His priorities include expanding rural broadband, national security, opioids, veterans, and cleaner energy. Senator King also served as the 72nd Governor of Maine where he achieved significant reforms in education, mental health services, land conservation, environmental protection, and the delivery of state services.
What Happens When Science Gets Political?
ELISABETH MARNIK
Director of Science Education & Outreach, MDI Biological Laboratory
Wednesday, November 19 | 6:00 PM – 7:00PM | Page Commons
Funding for scientific research is being cut across the country. What does that mean for innovation, education, and public trust? For many STEM students, politics feels far away — but policy decisions impact our health and determine what gets funded, researched, and taught. Dr. Elisabeth Marnik joins In the News to explore what’s at stake for the next generation of scientists — and the risks, rewards, and responsibilities of science advocacy in a polarized world.
What Comes Next for Maine Politics: A Possible Right Turn for Our State?
MATT GAGNON
CEO, Maine Policy Institute & Host, WGAN Morning News
Wednesday, November 5 | 6:00 PM – 7:00PM | Page Commons
Six years of Democratic leadership have set the state’s agenda. Matthew Gagnon—Chief Executive of the free market Maine Policy Institute and host of the WGAN Morning News host—joins to assess the recent progressive era in Maine, and outline a right-of-center alternative across economic policy, aging demographics, education policy, and energy. Plus, we will talk about what it means to be “on the right” in modern politics, and how the political parties, and the voters, have shifted over time.
How Do You Process the News When the News Is Unimaginable?
Hala Alyan
Clinical Psychologist, NYU Professor & Award-Winning Novelist & Poet
Wednesday, October 29 | 6:00 PM – 7:00PM | Page Commons
We now see tragedy faster—and closer—than ever before. Every day brings a constant stream of headlines, videos, and images: war, disaster, displacement, grief. How do we process the unimaginable without becoming numb? How do we make space for joy and empathy in a world this heavy? Hala Alyan, clinical psychologist and award-winning Palestinian-American writer, joins us to talk about staying human when the world feels like too much. This is about grief, empathy, and what comes after you finish scrolling.
Lovejoy Award for Courage in Journalism
Honoring Bill Owens, Former Executive Producer, 60 Minutes
Friday, October 24 | 4:00 PM – 5:00PM | Gordon Center for the Creative and Performing Arts
Bill Owens, former executive producer of 60 Minutes and winner of multiple Emmy Awards, will receive the 2025 Lovejoy Award for Courage in Journalism from Colby College on October 24. The event includes the presentation of the award and a conversation with Amna Nawaz, co-anchor of PBS Newshour and a member of the selection committee. President Greene will offer remarks and present the award.
Why Universities Are the New Frontline in American Politics
Doug Belkin
Reporter, Wall Street Journal
Wednesday, October 22 | 6:00 PM – 7:00PM | Page Commons
You’re in college at an unprecedented moment. From the fight over research dollars to clashes over campus speech, American universities are under pressure like never before. Doug Belkin, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal and Colby alum, has spent years reporting on these shifts—he’ll unpack what’s happening, why it matters, and how students like you are on the front lines of these changes.
Can Conservatives Win Gen Z?
HART LECTURE:
Kristen Soltis Anderson
Founding Partner, Echelon Insights & Contributing Opinion Writer, New York Times
Wednesday, October 15 | 6:00 PM – 7:00PM | Page Commons
Gen Z isn’t just “moving left” or “moving right”—they’re questioning the whole system. Pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson unpacks how Republicans can actually compete for young voters—and what both parties keep missing about this generation’s priorities.
Politics, Censorship, and AI: Who’s Making the Rules Online?
Sam Cole
Journalist & Co-founder, 404 Media
Wednesday, October 8 | 6:00 PM – 7:00PM | Page Commons
The internet isn’t neutral—it’s political. From porn bans to shadow bans, someone is deciding what we get to see, say, and share. That someone might be a Silicon Valley executive—or a state legislator. Sam Cole, co-founder of 404 Media, joins us to talk about power, censorship, and what it all means for speech and public life online.
Manufacturing, War & AI: These Global Shifts Will Define Your Future (and your job)
Farah Stockman
Editorial Board, New York Times
Wednesday, October 1 | 6:00 PM – 7:00PM | Page Commons
You’ve grown up watching factories close, America’s wars drag on, and our foreign policy drifts. What’s next? Farah Stockman, Pulitzer-winning New York Times journalist, has reported from factories across the country and frontlines across the globe. From AI to foreign policy, she’ll explain how war, work, and technology are converging to define your future.
Why you should talk politics with someone who thinks you’re wrong about everything
Mónica Guzmán
CEO and Founder, Reclaim Curiosity
Wednesday, September 24 | 6:00 PM – 7:00PM | Page Commons
Mónica Guzmán doesn’t vote the same way as her parents—but they still talk. She’s built a career on asking better questions and finding common ground with people who see the world completely differently. This isn’t about changing minds. It’s about being curious, being brave, and rethinking what we assume about “the other side.” Mónica joins us to talk about how curiosity can unlock the hardest conversations—in the dining hall, in the classroom, and with your parents.
Who’s running Washington — Congress or the White House?
Philip Wallach
Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
Wednesday, September 17 | 6:00 PM – 7:00PM | Page Commons
Congress was meant to check the presidency — so why does it look like lawmakers are handing their power to the White House? In an era of hyperpartisanship, too many members seem more focused on getting headlines than governing. Philip Wallach, conservative constitutional scholar and senior fellow at AEI, has spent his career studying the separation of powers. He’ll join us to examine how Congress lost its footing as a coequal branch — and what it would take to get back on track.
Democrats Are Losing. Bernie’s 2020 Campaign Manager Has a Plan to Win.
Faiz Shakir
Senior Advisor, Bernie Sanders & CEO, More Perfect Union
Wednesday, September 10 | 6:00 PM – 7:00PM | Page Commons
Faiz Shakir wants to win. Democrats keep losing. What new ideas are Democrats putting on the table to turn things around? As Bernie Sanders’s 2020 campaign manager, Faiz is focused on winning back working people. He joins us to talk about affordability, unions, and the bold ideas he thinks Democrats need now.
Linda Cotter Speaker Series
Invisible Workers: Global Food Systems and Human Migration
Kourtney Collum, Ph.D.
Provost and Partridge Chair in Food and Sustainable Agriculture Systems, College of the Atlantic
Wednesday, August 13 | 5:00 PM – 8:00PM | Schair-Swenson-Watson Alumni Center
Global food systems are dependent on migrant labor. Over the last century, nation states have created a set of push and pull factors that have resulted in a system of global agricultural migration. War, famine, poverty, trade relations, and natural disasters are a few of the conditions that drive agricultural workers from their home countries. These workers then migrate to other nations, taking dangerous jobs with few legal protections. From lowbush blueberry fields in Maine to strawberries fields in Spain, we see this pattern repeated around the globe. In this talk I will illuminate the factors that have resulted in this system of global agricultural migration, discuss the labor conditions invisible workers experience, and highlight case studies of collective action that are leading to better policies and working conditions for the folks who feed us.
This talk is co-sponsored by the Goldfarb Center and the Mid-Maine Global Forum, and will be moderated by Ben Scharadin, Assistant Professor of Economics, whose research focuses on the intersection of public policy, poverty, and inequality, with an emphasis on food security.