Ball State University will welcome Jon Meacham, a presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, as part of the David Letterman Distinguished Lecture Series. Mr. Meacham will share his insights with students and the greater Muncie community at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, at Pruis Hall. The event is free and open to the public, but a general admission ticket is required for entry.
Free tickets will be available at the Emens Box Office (Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.) on the following dates:
- Feb. 2–6: students (with Ball State ID)
- Feb. 9-13: faculty, staff, and students (with Ball State ID)
- Feb. 16 until sold out: general public
“Jon Meacham is one of the nation’s most compelling interpreters of American public life, able to connect history to the questions we’re wrestling with right now,” said Dr. Kristen McCauliff, dean of Ball State’s College of Communication, Information, and Media. “We’re proud to welcome him to campus through the David Letterman Distinguished Lecture Series, and we invite students, faculty and staff, and community members alike to join us for an evening of thoughtful conversation.”
Mr. Meacham is one of America’s most prominent public intellectuals and a sought-after commentator who regularly appears on MSNBC, CNN, HBO, and other news outlets. He served as Newsweek’s managing editor from 1998 to 2006 and as editor from 2006 to 2010.
The author of multiple New York Times bestsellers, Mr. Meacham won a Pulitzer Prize for American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House. His recent works include And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle and The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels.
Mr. Meacham is a distinguished visiting professor at Vanderbilt University, where he holds the Rogers Chair in the American Presidency, and in 2024 he was awarded the National Humanities Medal.
The David Letterman Distinguished Lecture Series at Ball State aims to engage students and the broader community in meaningful discussions with influential voices. In 2007, David Letterman made a generous donation to the University, enabling the series to invite top leaders from the media, business, and academia. Since its inception, the series has featured executives from Fortune 500 companies, technological innovators, world-renowned journalists, and many others.