From the Cascadia earthquake to courts and constitutional rights to the history of the Black Power movement, University of Oregon faculty members will again bring their research and expertise to help frame current events at the next Wings: UO Presidential Speaker Series.

President Michael H. Schill will welcome guests into his Portland “living room” at the White Stag Block with an intimate evening of curated talks Thursday, Nov. 1. Guests will enjoy live music, appetizers and a hosted bar.

Schill will provide a short update on initiatives and priorities for the UO. David Rae, co-founder and president of 503 Media & Events, will host the talks. The program will feature:

• Curtis Austin, an associate professor of history. His research looks at the civil rights movement, national history of the Black Panther Party and the Black Power movement. He is the author of “Up Against the Wall: Violence in the Making and Unmaking of the Black Panther Party.”  
• Alison Gash, an associate professor of political science who specializes in U.S. courts, same-sex marriage, constitutional rights and public policy. She is the author of “Below the Radar: How Silence Can Save Civil Rights.”
• Doug Toomey, a professor and seismologist in the Department of Earth Sciences who specializes in the ocean bottom seismology to study and monitor  earthquakes and volcanos in the Northwest. He is part of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network and the lead investigator for the Oregon component of ShakeAlert, a federally funded earthquake early warning system.
• Sharon Paul, a professor of music and chair of vocal and choral studies, will lead members of the UO Chamber Choir in a performance. 

The event is at UO Portland, 70 NW Couch St. The cocktail reception starts at 5:30 p.m. and the program begins at 6:30 p.m. A dessert reception will follow at 8 p.m. Tickets are $50.

Speaker videos are available online from previous Wings event in January and June.