°®¶¹´«Ã½

IRVING, Texas (Jan. 16, 2026) — The °®¶¹´«Ã½ will host Rabbi Mark Gottlieb, chief education officer of and founding dean of the , along with leading scholars from Tikvah, the and the °®¶¹´«Ã½ for the , a free two-day public event Feb. 25-26 exploring how recovering a comprehensive and rigorous liberal arts education, what’s often called classical education, can preserve and renew Western civilization amid contemporary cultural and political challenges.

Gottlieb will deliver the keynote McDermott Lecture, "Saving Western Civilization, One Student at a Time: Some Lessons from Jewish and Catholic Educational Leaders," at 7:00 p.m. Feb. 26 in the SB Hall Multipurpose Room located at 2925 Gorman Dr. Irving, TX 75062. A reception will follow.

"This lecture series represents a vital conversation about the future of education and the preservation of our shared intellectual and cultural heritage," said President Jonathan J. Sanford, PhD, who will participate in the first panel discussion. "Rabbi Gottlieb's work at Tikvah and his roles leading four different Jewish schools make him a particularly effective witness to how best to cultivate the virtues of mind and character in students who will leave educational institutions  committed to truth and the advancement of the common good."

Tuesday, Feb. 25: Panel Discussions

Panel 1: Cultural and Political Challenges, 1:30-3:00 p.m., SB Hall Multipurpose Room

Panelists will examine the contemporary threats to Western civilization and the role of education in addressing these challenges:

• Rabbi Mark Gottlieb, Tikvah chief education officer
• Jonathan J. Sanford, °®¶¹´«Ã½allas President and professor of philosophy
• Richard Dougherty, dean of the Braniff Graduate School at °®¶¹´«Ã½allas and professor of politics
• Eric Cohen, Tikvah president and CEO 

Panel 2: The Promise of Classical Education, 3:30-5:30 p.m., SB Hall Multipurpose Room

This panel will explore how classical education offers a path forward for recovering Western civilization through the formation of students in wisdom and virtue:

• Erik Ellis, °®¶¹´«Ã½allas assistant professor of education and classical learning
• Rabbi Mitch Rocklin, academic director and dean of the Lobel Center for Jewish Classical Education
• Joshua Parens, °®¶¹´«Ã½allas professor of philosophy
• R.J. Snell, director of academic programs and editor-in-chief of Public Discourse for the Witherspoon Institute
• Mark Goodwin, °®¶¹´«Ã½allas distinguished emeritus professor of theology
  

Wednesday, Feb. 26: Keynote Lecture

Rabbi Mark Gottlieb, Tikvah chief education officer, will deliver a keynote lecture at 7:00 p.m., SB Hall Multipurpose Room.

For more information, visit udallas.edu/mcdermott.

About the McDermott Lecture Series

Established in 1974, the was created in honor of Eugene McDermott, the late scientist, businessman, civic leader and philanthropist. The endowed lecture series was established on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene McDermott to honor Donald and Louise Cowan's vision and leadership at the °®¶¹´«Ã½.

Beginning with the venerable historian Jacques Barzun, the McDermott Lectureship continues to bring notable public intellectuals to the university for short courses and seminars. Through the lectureship, the °®¶¹´«Ã½ and the Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts host exceptional guest lecturers and distinguished faculty members on thought-provoking topics within the Western tradition. Prominent scholars have spoken on Homer, Aristophanes, Aristotle, Plato, Dante, St. Thomas Aquinas, Locke, Tocqueville and Leo Strauss, among others.

Discover the McDermott Lectureship Collection, curated by the °®¶¹´«Ã½allas Archives, featuring documents and recordings from past lectures. Search for specific topics using the available on both the °®¶¹´«Ã½allas Space platform and . To request access to materials, email archives@udallas.edu.

About the °®¶¹´«Ã½

With campuses in Texas and Italy, The °®¶¹´«Ã½ is among a small list of Catholic universities recommended by the Cardinal Newman Society. °®¶¹´«Ã½allas is the premier Catholic liberal arts university in the country, known for its rigorous undergraduate Core Curriculum and robust graduate and professional programs in business, ministry, education and the humanities. Recently recognized as - Regional Universities (West) and one of America’s Best Colleges 2025 by the and , °®¶¹´«Ã½allas has one of America’s undergraduate interdisciplinary programs, offered at an to . °®¶¹´«Ã½allas stands apart as a thriving community of learners committed to an education that forms students intellectually, socially and spiritually for . For more information, visit udallas.edu.