2026 Shapiro Lecture with Thomas Friedman, NY Times Columnist and Author

Thomas Friedman, an author and Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The New York Times, will be the featured speaker at the 2026 Edward Shapiro Distinguished Lecture Series hosted by the Judith Herb College of Arts, Social Sciences and Education at The University of Toledo.

The free, public lecture titled, “The Big Trends Shaping the World Today: Economics, Technology, and Geopolitics,” begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, in the College of Engineering’s Nitschke Auditorium. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Event parking is free only in Area 20.

Friedman is renowned for his accessible analysis of foreign affairs, globalization, technology and other complex issues shaping the world. He has covered monumental stories around the world as a journalist for The New York Times since 1981, with his work as a foreign correspondent winning Pulitzer Prizes for international reporting in 1983, when he was based in Lebanon, and in 1988, when he was based in Israel. He became the newspaper's foreign affairs columnist in 1995, after which he won a third Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 2002.

Friedman is also an author of seven books including From Beirut to Jerusalem, his National Book Award-winning account of a decade reporting from the Middle East; The World is Flat, an exploration of globalization at the dawn of the 21st century; and, most recently, Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist's Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations, in which he offers a blueprint for overcoming the stresses and challenges of a world being transformed by technology, globalization and climate change.

“Years as a foreign correspondent and student of the world help to shape the insightful analysis of foreign affairs, globalization and technology that Thomas Friedman shares in his book and columns for The New York Times,” said Dr. Melissa Gregory, dean of the Judith Herb College of Arts, Social Sciences and Education. “I’m pleased to welcome him to share some of his insights with our campus and broader community for the 2026 Edward Shapiro Distinguished Lecture Series.”

Friedman will be available to sign copies of his books following the Shapiro Lecture, with a limited number available for purchase onsite on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Edward Shapiro Distinguished Lecture Series is named in honor of the late Dr. Edward Shapiro, an alumnus and professor emeritus of economics who endowed funds to support an annual lecture series that brings world-renowned speakers to Toledo. Past Shapiro Lecture Series speakers have included Lauren Groff, Dr. Temple Grandin, the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, Tony Kushner, Toni Morrison and Elie Wiesel.

For more information or to RSVP, go to the Edward Shapiro Distinguished Lecture Series website.