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Department of American Studies

Columbian College of Arts & Sciences

Mergen-Palmer Distinguished Lecture

Since 2014, the annual Mergen-Palmer Distinguished Lecture in American Studies has brought visiting scholars to GW to share their expertise. Recent talks covered the Iraqi smallpox invasion of 2003, the national quest for food “freshness” and the history of religion in the Mississippi Delta.

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History

Phyllis Palmer, Melani McAlister and Barney Mergen at the inaugural Mergen-Palmer lecture

The lecture series was founded in 2014 in honor of Bernard Mergen and Phyllis Palmer, who were beloved emeriti professors of American Studies at the university. Palmer, who passed away in 2014, also taught women’s studies courses.

Both professors played a major role as scholars and teachers at the university and shared specific interests in sustainability, food studies and the environment.

Past Lectures

 

2024 and Earlier: