CANTON, Mo. — 91ֱ�� will host sociologist Dr. John Schmalzbauer for the annual Robison Lecture on Tuesday, March 24, at 7 p.m. in the Meaders Lounge in the Gladys Crown Student Center. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Schmalzbauer will present, “We Have Been Here Before: Pandemic and Religion in 1918 Missouri,” examining how religious communities across Missouri responded to the challenges of the 1918 influenza pandemic and what those historical responses can teach us about the relationship among faith, public life, and crisis.

Schmalzbauer teaches in the Missouri State University Department of Languages, Cultures, and Religion, where he holds the Blanche Gorman Strong Chair in Protestant Studies. His research and teaching focus on campus religious life, religion and health, and religion in popular culture.

For more than two decades, Schmalzbauer’s courses have explored the diverse religious traditions found throughout Missouri, including local congregations and American religious history. From 2008 to 2011, he contributed to the Christian Science Monitor and the PBS NewsHour Patchwork Nation Project, documenting the intersection of religion and politics in the Ozarks community of Nixa, Missouri.

He is the author of “People of Faith: Religious Conviction in American Journalism and Higher Education” (Cornell University Press, 2003) and co-author of “The Resilience of Religion in American Higher Education” (Baylor University Press, 2018). Schmalzbauer currently serves as principal investigator for the Landscape Study of Chaplaincy and Campus Ministry in the U.S.

The Robison Lecture Series was established by Dr. Georgia Robison Beale in honor of her father, Dr. Henry Barton Robison. The lecture series is dedicated to fostering dialogue and understanding on critical global issues, and each year, the initiative brings leading experts to campus to engage with audiences on topics ranging from politics and economics to culture and society.

“91ֱ�� is honored to have Dr. Robert Cornwall visit our campus to share his
perspective as an author and theologian,” stated Dr. Lauren Schellenberger, C-SC president.
“His experiences will further enrich the student experience here at the college by providing
valuable insights and awareness of societal concerns.”

The Rev. Dr. Robert D. Cornwall lives in Troy, Michigan, and holds an M.Div. and a Ph.D.
(Historical Theology) from Fuller Theological Seminary. He is active in community and church
life, serving as a chaplain for the Troy Police Department, along with serving as board chair for
the Christian Unity and Interfaith Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the
United States and Canada, co-chair of the Disciples of Christ/Evangelical Lutheran Church of
America Bilateral Dialog, and as a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Discipline.
“In a time of increased violence in the Middle East and the threat of a larger conflict, many
Christian Americans turn to the Bible as a guide for understanding current events, but they often
draw wildly divergent conclusions,” stated Professor of Religion & Philosophy Dr. Andy Walsh.
“Mainline Protestant leaders, including biblical scholars from the Disciples of Christ tradition,
often avoid these debates. We are delighted to bring Dr. Cornwall to campus to help us delve
more deeply into this controversial topic.”

He has also led ecumenical and interfaith efforts in California and Michigan. He is the author or
editor of more than twenty books, Second Thoughts about the Second Coming: Understanding
the End Times, Our Future, and Christian Hope, with Ronald J. Allen (Westminster John Knox
Press, 2023), Called to Bless: Finding Hope by Reclaiming Our Spiritual Roots (Cascade
Books, 2021), Unfettered Spirit: Spiritual Gifts for the New Great Awakening, 2nd edition
(Energion Publications, 2021), and Freedom in Covenant: Reflections on the Distinctive Values
and Practices of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), (Wipf and Stock, 2015).

The Robison Lecture Series is dedicated to fostering dialogue and understanding on critical
global issues. Each year, the series brings together leading experts and thought leaders to
engage with audiences on topics ranging from politics and economics to culture and society.

For more information about the event, please contact Provost and Vice-President for Academic
Affairs Dr. Kimberly A. Gaither at 573-288-6325 or via email at kgaither@culver.edu. Visit
culver.edu for updates and additional details.

ABOUT CULVER-STOCKTON COLLEGE
91ֱ��, situated on 140 acres in Canton, Missouri, atop The Hill
overlooking the Mississippi River was founded in 1853 by members of the
Disciples of Christ Church. Today, more than 1,000 students from around the
world shape their futures in academic excellence with opportunities in 80 majors
and minors, five graduate programs, 19 NAIA inter-collegiate athletics, 35 diverse
student organizations, and many campus-life events.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict stands as one of the most enduring and contentious disputes in modern history, deeply rooted in historical, religious, and political factors. Using the expertise he first developed through his doctoral dissertation, Dr. Walsh will examine this conflict through the lens of just war theory and provide attendees with a detailed understanding of the ethical dimensions at play.

“We are honored to have Dr. Walsh present this timely and insightful lecture,” stated C-SC President Dr. Lauren Schellenberger. “With tensions in the region persisting, it is crucial to engage in thoughtful discourse that considers the moral complexities of the conflict.”

The Robison Lecture Series is dedicated to fostering dialogue and understanding on critical global issues. Each year, the series brings together leading experts and thought leaders to engage with audiences on topics ranging from politics and economics to culture and society.

For more information about the event, please contact Provost and Vice-President for Academic Affairs Dr. Kimberly A. Gaither at 573-288-6325 or via email at kgaither@culver.edu. Visit culver.edu for updates and additional details.