Journalist and Author Osita Nwanevu to Discuss the Future of American Democracy in Election Year Speaker Series
Whitworth’s Election Year Speaker Series will welcome Osita Nwanevu, journalist, author and political commentator, for a public conversation titled “The Case for a New American Founding” on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026, at 4 p.m. in Weyerhaeuser Hall’s Robinson Teaching Theatre.
Nwanevu is a journalist, author and political commentator whose work examines democracy, political institutions, economic power and the future of American governance. He’s a contributing editor at The New Republic and a columnist at The Guardian. You can also find his writings in The New Yorker, Slate, The New York Times and Harper’s Magazine.
Nwanevu will sit down for a conversation with Bert Emerson, Ph.D., professor of English, director of the George F. Whitworth Honors Program, and co-director of the Democracy Lab. Together, they’ll explore the challenges facing American democracy and the responsibilities of citizenship in a rapidly changing political landscape.
“There’s never been a more critical time to think seriously about the future of American democracy,” Emerson says. “At a moment when many people are questioning the health of our institutions, Nwanevu brings a thoughtful and challenging perspective to some of the most important questions facing our nation. We’re excited to welcome him to campus and invite our community into this conversation.”
The event is free and will invite students, faculty and community members to reflect on the enduring question of whether the American experiment is working as intended.
About Whitworth University:
Since 1890, Whitworth University has provided an education worth seeking. Whitworth is a private, residential, Christ-centered liberal arts institution in Spokane, Wash. We carry out our mission to provide an education of mind and heart through rigorous intellectual inquiry guided by Christian scholars committed to excellent teaching and to the integration of faith and learning.
Recognized as one of the top colleges and universities in the West, Whitworth has an enrollment of about 2,500 students and offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Contacts:
Trisha Coder, associate director of media relations, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4703 or tcoder@whitworth.edu.
