The 11th Richard M. Fairbanks Symposium: Civility & Civic Leadership in the Circle City
The 11th Annual Richard M. Fairbanks Symposium
Civility & Civic Leadership in the Circle City
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 | 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
University of Indianapolis | Schwitzer Student Center, UIndy Hall
To register, visit: bit.ly/Fairbanks2026
For UIndy Students, this event is LP credit approved.
The University of Indianapolis and Indiana Humanities invites you to the 2026 Richard M. Fairbanks Symposium with a focus on Civility and Civic Leadership in the Circle City.
Building off the last decade of Fairbanks experiences, the 2026 symposium focuses on the ways in which civility can help create conversations, foster community, and enable civic leaders to find new approaches to challenging problems.
The Fairbanks Symposium, which began in 2013, brings together local and national leaders to discuss and analyze vital issues facing our communities, linking the historical legacy of past leaders to current and future trends. Previous keynotes have included Senator Richard Lugar and then-South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg.
Event Details:
9:30 AM | Registration and Networking
10 AM | Opening Remarks
Dr. Tanuja Singh, President, University of Indianapolis
Dr. Edward Frantz, Chair of the Department of History and Political Science, University of Indianapolis
10:15 AM | Civility in Theory & History
Dr. Alex Richardson, Associate of Content Strategy and Engagement, Prindle Institute for Ethics, DePauw University
Dr. Deborah Mower, Director of the Center for Practical Ethics, University of Mississippi
11:30 AM Lunch
Noon | Keynote: INconversation – A Civic Renaissance in Indianapolis
Moderator: Dr. Laura Merrifield Wilson, Professor of Political Science, University of Indianapolis
Panelists:
Jeff Worrell, Carmel City Councilman, and Founder & CEO of the Carmel Civility Foundation, Inc.
Alexandra Hudson, Author of The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves, and Founder of Civic Renaissance
1:30 PM | Panel 2: Indiana’s New Civic Health Index and Implications for the Future
Dr. Ellen Szarleta, J.D. Director, Center for Urban and Regional Excellence, Indiana University Northwest
2:30 PM | Closing Remarks
Dr. Edward Frantz, Chair of the Department of History and Political Science, University of Indianapolis
Event Links
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/3452408-0
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3452408-2
