UH Honors College Presents Ultimate Talk Show - 'The Great Conversation'

Annual Fundraiser Featuring Dinner Discussions with Scholars, Experts Set for March 26

"The Great Conversation" offers Houstonians a chance to chat with scholars over a gourmet meal. (Photo by Alexander's Fine Portrait Design)

No texting. No Tweets. No Skype. The University of Houston’s Honors College soon will engage community members with the ultimate communication tool … face-to-face dialogue.

For more than two decades the college has delivered insightful discussions and gourmet dinners to Houstonians during “The Great Conversation.” At the heart of this annual fundraiser are meaningful supper chats led by esteemed experts and noted scholars.

Envisioned by Honors College alumna Jane Cizik as a vehicle to connect the campus and community, “The Great Conversation” continues to grow.  This year, nearly 40 conversationalists will host table talks on a variety of topics including sports, fine wines and spirits, politics, economics, art, higher education and more.

The dialogue begins March 26 at the Houston Country Club (1 Potomac Dr.). Cocktails are served at 7 p.m., and dinner and conversations commence at 7:30 p.m.

Ben and Karie Bosco are the chairs for this event. For reservations and more details, visit the event’s website or contact Peter Hyland at 713-743-3220 or pbhyland@uh.edu. Proceeds from “The Great Conversation” support Honors College scholarships and programs.

Conversationalists and topics will include:

Detroit: Could It Happen Here? – Steven Craig, associate dean for faculty and research for the UH Department of Economics
Grandparenting and the Second Half of Life – Ted Estess, Jane Morin Cizik Chair and founding dean of the Honors College
Great Scotches Under 12 Years Old: Young, Feisty and Out of Control – John Harvey, director for UH Center for Creative Work
American Hustle from Benjamin Franklin to Christian Bale – William Monroe, dean of the Honors College
The Future of Big Time College Sports – Mack Rhoades, UH vice president for Intercollegiate Athletics.

A complete list of conversationalists and topics can be found here.

"The event is a combination seminar and dinner party with the best elements of both," Monroe said. “Each table is led by a faculty conversationalist, and there's no simple, correct answer to the questions posed.  At the same time, there is good food, good company, and table fellowship.  It's a great format, originally proposed by Jane Cizik, who still generously supports the event.”

The Honors College at UH is a hub of excellence that serves the needs of gifted undergraduates in more than 100 fields of study and reflects the rich diversity of the University of Houston in its courses, faculty and students. For over 50 years, the Honors College has offered students the best of both worlds: the advantages of a small college together with the comprehensive resources and rich diversity of a large university. For more information about the Honors College, visit http://TheHonorsCollege.com.

For a complete list of conversationalists and additional event details, click here

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