[NEW ALBANY, OH] August 28, 2025 – The New Albany Community Foundation will present the 13th season of its New Albany Lecture Series, widely regarded as one of the premier series in America. Tickets for the 2025-2026 season are on sale now at newalbanyfoundation.org for a lineup that includes “Good Morning America” Co-Anchor Robin Roberts, award-winning actor Christian Slater, political icon James Carville, former White House Chief of Staff and RNC Chair Reince Priebus, and former Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Lt. General (Ret.) H.R. McMaster and 70th Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, among others.
“Since the Foundation launched its lecture series a dozen years ago, we’ve presented 70 influential thought leaders in keeping with our mission to advance lifelong learning and civil discourse,” said Craig Mohre, President of The New Albany Community Foundation. “The Foundation is committed to providing a platform for the open exchange of ideas and perspectives, and to stimulate community dialogue on timely issues.”
The 2025-2026 series launches October 9 with a focus on Health and Wellbeing, featuring Robin Roberts, Emmy Award-Winning Co-Anchor of “Good Morning America.” Roberts is a two-time cancer survivor, a bestselling author and Inductee of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. She received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for the strength and courage she has embodied throughout her life and career. She will be interviewed by Doug Ulman, Pelotonia Vice Chair and founder of Orli. The program will be opened by Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD, the recently appointed CEO of Ohio State’s James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.
In January, political icon James Carville and former White House Chief of Staff & RNC Chair Reince Priebus will come together for another program made possible by The New Albany Center for Civil Discourse and Debate, which was established six years ago by The Barbara and Philip Derrow Family Foundation to promote civil discussion. The program will be moderated by ABC News Anchor Linsey Davis and will cover public policy topics that range from domestic policy to international affairs.
In March, the national security program will feature former National Security Advisory Lt. General (Ret.) H.R. McMaster and 70th Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in conversation moderated by CNN Anchor and Chief National Security Analyst Jim Sciutto. Secretary Pompeo served as Secretary of State of the United States, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and was elected to four terms in Congress representing the Fourth District of Kansas. Lt. General (Ret.) H.R. McMaster returns to New Albany for his second appearance in the lecture series, lending his expertise in national security to the discussion. McMaster was the 25th Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General.
The season will conclude in May with a discussion with award-winning actor and mental health advocate Christian Slater. From Hell’s Kitchen to Broadway, from fan mail services and MTV Movie Awards to Peabody’s and Golden Globes, from studios to streamers, from Teen Beat to the New York Times, Christian Slater survived child stardom and teen idolatry, addiction and public collapse to forge cultural relevance in a new era. Now twenty years sober, Slater speaks openly about his recovery journey growing up in the limelight, his approach to maintaining a long and fulfilling career, and his experience as an actor across stage, tv, and film. Slater will be interviewed by Neda Ulaby, reporter of NPR’s Arts Desk.
The New Albany Lecture Series has presented more than 70 compelling speakers since the series debuted. It is widely recognized as one of the premier lecture series in the country, not only for the caliber of speakers and the topics covered, but also for the Student Lecture Series that has hosted 36,000+ students representing 50 Central Ohio schools.
Sponsors of the 2025-2026 New Albany Lecture Series include Special Program Underwriter: The Barbara W. & Philip R. Derrow Family Foundation; Season Sponsors: Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Amazon, American Electric Power Foundation, Battelle, CAS, Encova and George J. Igel & Co.; Speaker Sponsors: Anonymous Donors, Bath & Body Works, Microsoft, M/I Homes, The Ohio State Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital & Solove Research Institute; Premier Sponsors: American Electric Power Foundation, Bechtel, Meta, NAI Ohio Equities; The New Albany Lecture Series Endowment Fund Supporters: Donna & Nick Akins Fund, Archer Family Fund, Karen & Irving Dennis Family Fund, Ben W. Hale Jr. Memorial Fund, Linda Hondros and John Hondros, In Memoriam and the Hondros Family Foundation, Redgrave Family Fund, Ryan Family Fund, Lynne & Steve Smith Family Fund, Leslie H. Wexner New Albany Lecture Series Fund, Wolman Family Fund. (List as of 8/28/2025.)