Get involved with the exciting and engaging lectures, film screenings, workshops and
symposiums happening at the Bagwell Center for the Study of Markets and Economic Opportunity
in the Coles College of Business.
Spring 2026 Lectures
Jonathan Looney
Speaker: Jonathan Looney Director of Business Development, Sallie Mae
Date: February 11, 2026
Lecture 1: “Smart Money Management/Understanding Credit” Time: 10:10 am - 11:00 am Location: Prillaman Hall, 1105
Understanding how credit works and building a responsible credit history early on is essential to building a strong credit score. This session will review the five primary factors considered in your credit score and discuss best practices for building and managing credit. You’ll learn more about FICO® Scores, credit cards, and credit reports.
Lecture 2: “Understanding the Costs of Student Loan Borrowing and the recent changes to the Federal Loan programs” Time: 11:15 am - 12:05 pm Location: Prillaman Hall, 1105
Before borrowing student loans, it’s important for you to understand how they work. Learn more about interest rates, the impact of interest on your borrowed loan amount, and important strategies to reduce your student loan balance. And learn how the recent changes to the Federal Loan programs may impact your plans for financing your graduate or professional degree.
Speaker: Samuel Gregg Political economist, author, and President at American Institute for Economic Research
(AIER).
Date: February 23, 2026
Lecture 1: “Why Free Trade Matters for America's Future” Time: 9:05 am - 9:55 am Location: Student Center, 181
As global markets face rising pressures from economic nationalist sentiments, Samuel
Gregg, president of the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER), will speak
about free trade as an essential requirement for America's future prosperity, and
liberty.
In his address, Gregg will explore how free trade not only drives economic growth
but also strengthens the United States place in a dangerous world. Drawing upon history
and economic theory, he will argue that an America which embraces free trade will
be better positioned for dynamic economic growth and its capacity to prevail in its
geopolitical contest with China.
Lecture 2: “Economist and American Revolutionary: Adam Smith and 1776 ” Time: 11:15 am - 12:00 pm Location: Student Center, 181
2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the publication of two texts that changed the
world: The Declaration of Independence and Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations.
In his address, Gregg will explore the relationship between these two texts. He will also examine Adam Smith's analysis of the economic forces driving the split between Britain and its colonies, and his suggestions about how to solve the crisis. He will argue that it is his economic analysis that makes Smith’s insights into the American crisis truly revolutionary.
In his lecture, Grover Norquist outlines the central argument of his book: that the modern Republican and conservative coalition is fundamentally a “Leave Us Alone” coalition. He asserts that what unifies these groups is a shared desire for the government to minimize interference in key areas of their lives—particularly their money, their guns, and their personal freedoms.
Norquist contrasts this with what he describes as the Democratic coalition, which
he characterizes as more fractious because it consists of groups that seek government
engagement, resources, or regulation to achieve their goals. According to Norquist,
this structural difference explains why conservatives tend to unify more easily around
smaller government principles, while Democrats face more internal tension among constituencies
competing for government action.
Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2026 Time: 9:05 am Location: Convocation Center, 2016
Description: This powerful historical drama follows William Wilberforce, a British politician driven by faith and moral conviction to end the transatlantic slave trade. The film traces his decades-long struggle against political opposition and entrenched economic interests, highlighting his alliance with reformers and his perseverance through illness and setbacks. Culminating in the passage of the Slave Trade Act of 1807, Amazing Grace celebrates one of history’s most significant victories for human dignity and justice.
