Two Groundbreaking Researchers to Headline Fall Murphy Institute Lectures
The Murphy Institute is proud to welcome two distinguished speakers to its premier Fall 2025 events: Dr. Mona Hanna for the Mary C. Parker Yates Lecture and Dr. Carl Hart for the Center for Ethics Public Lecture.
Each semester, The Murphy Institute promotes thought-provoking dialogue on contemporary issues of current concern, drawing renowned experts and an engaged audience from Tulane and beyond. We’re honored to welcome Dr. Hanna and Dr. Hart, two trailblazing voices in public health, as we commence the academic year with these back-to-back events.
Mary C. Parker Yates Lecture: Dr. Mona Hanna
Created to foster university-wide discussion and endowed in 1996 by Murphy Institute alumna Rebecca Yates ('89) Velander in memory of her mother, the Mary C. Parker Yates Lecture is The Murphy Institute’s premier academic event. This year’s lecture, titled “Championing the Cause of Children in Flint and Beyond”, will be held on Tuesday, September 30th at 4:00 PM in the Qatar Ballroom of the Lavin-Bernick Center.
Dr. Mona Hanna, Associate Dean for Public Health and C. S. Mott Endowed Professor of Public Health at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, will discuss her newest initiative to reimagine how society can come together to eliminate infant poverty through the Rx Kids program.
A pediatrician, scientist, activist, and author, Dr. Hanna gained national recognition for her role in uncovering the Flint water crisis and leading recovery efforts. She has testified multiple times before the United States Congress, lectures at dozens of colleges and universities, and frequently contributes to national media outlets. Her widely acclaimed book, What the Eyes Don't See: A Story of Crisis, Resistance, and Hope in an American City, was a New York Times 100 Most Notable Books of 2018.
Center for Ethics Public Lecture: Dr. Carl Hart
Following shortly after the Yates Lecture, The Murphy Institute will host Dr. Carl Hart for the first installment of the 2025-2026 Center for Ethics Public Lecture Series. The anticipated event, “Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Where the Liberty, Policy and Science Collide,” will take place on Thursday, October 9th at 4:00 PM in the Kendall Cram Lecture Hall of the Lavin-Bernick Center. This event is co-sponsored by the Tulane School of Medicine.
Dr. Hart is the Mamie Phipps Clark Professor of Psychology (in Psychiatry) and Chair of the Department of Psychology at Columbia University. A leading neuroscientist and psychologist, his research explores the behavioral and neuropharmacological effects of psychoactive substances in humans. His work challenges conventional narratives around addiction and advocates for evidence-based drug policy reform.
He is the author of High Price and Drug Use for Grown-Ups, and co-author of the widely used textbook Drugs, Society and Human Behavior. Dr. Hart has published over 100 scientific and popular articles and was awarded the 2022 Abraham L. Halpern Humanitarian Award for his contributions to human rights and drug policy.
We’re honored to host these exemplary speakers and warmly invite all members of the Tulane community and the public to attend these free, intellectually driven events.
