Special Events 2021-2022
2021-2022 Distinguished Humanities Lecturer: Jon Grinspan '02
Jon Grinspan is Curator of Political History at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. He is the author of the award-winning The Virgin Vote: How Young Americans Made Democracy Social, Politics Personal, and Voting Popular in the 19th Century. He recently published his second book The Age of Acrimony: How Americans Fought to Fix Their Democracy, 1865-1915. He frequently contributes to the New York Times, and has been featured in The New Yorker, the Washington Post, and elsewhere. He lives in Washington, D.C.
Virtual Lecture • Tuesday, March 15, 2022 • 7 pm
This talk will be held virtually and is open to the public, but registration is required. Registration will be available closer to the date
2021-2022 Distinguished Visiting Scientist: Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd '02
Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd is a leading international expert in weather and climate and is the Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Georgia. Dr. Shepherd was the 2013 President of American Meteorological Society (AMS), the nation’s largest and oldest professional/science society in the atmospheric and related sciences. Dr. Shepherd serves as Director of the University of Georgia’s (UGA) Atmospheric Sciences Program and Full Professor in the Department of Geography where he was a previous Associate Department Head. Dr. Shepherd also holds a joint appointment in the College of Engineering and is the Associated Director for Climate and Outreach in its Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems (IRIS).
Virtual Lecture • Thursday, April 14, 2022 • 7 pm
This talk will be held virtually and is open to the public, but registration is required. Registration will be available closer to the date
Past Events and Lectures at FCS
2021-2022 Distinguished Visiting Justice Leader: Tiffany Jewell
Live virtual talk and Q&A with Tiffany Jewell, a Black biracial writer, twin sister, first generation American, cisgender mama, anti-bias antiracist (ABAR) educator, and consultant. She is the author of the #1 New York Times and #1 Indie Bestseller, This Book Is Anti-Racist, a book for young folks and everyone to wake up, take action, and do the work of becoming antiracist. Tiffany is currently working on multiple book projects for readers of all ages.
October 14, 2021
2020-2021 Distinguished Humanities Lecturer: James Ijames
James Ijames is an award-winning Philadelphia-based playwright, director, performer, and educator. Ijames discussed his work, including his play Fat Ham, being premiered in digital form at the Wilma Theater this spring and described as a "contemporary adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, set on a pig farm in the American South, that explores big issues (like toxic masculinity and cycles of violence) with a light touch."
April 22, 2021
2020-2021 Distinguished Visiting Scientist: Dr. Robin Hopkins
Live virtual talk and Q&A with Dr. Robin Hopkins, an evolutionary biologist with a deep background in botany, ecology, plant-pollinator relationships, and the dynamics of natural selection and speciation. Dr. Hopkins is the John Loeb Associate Professor of Natural Sciences and Associate Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University.
April 7, 2021
2020-2021 Distinguished Visiting Justice Leader: André Robert Lee
Live virtual Q&A with André Robert Lee, director of Virtually Free, a documentary exploring an unlikely Richmond partnership and its effort to transform the justice system and stop mass incarceration
October 27, 2020
2019-2020 Distinguished Visiting Humanities Speaker: Daniel Immerwahr '98
Author and associate professor at Northwestern University, specializing in 20th-century U.S. history within a global context. His recent book, How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States, described by the New York Times as “wry, readable, and often astonishing.”
Virtual Visit - spring 2020
2019-2020 Distinguished Visiting Scientist: Helen White
Haverford College Associate Professor whose work as a geochemist has focused on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in a collaborative project that examined what happened chemically to the oil and to the dispersants used in the aftermath of the disaster.
Virtual Visit - spring 2020
A Night Out in the Classroom 2019
A special opportunity for parents and guardians to become Friends’ Central students for just one night. With plenty of offerings from Microscopy and the Science of Browning to Islamic Architecture and Quaker Schools & Climate Change, this year's program was A Night Out to remember.
November 25, 2019
2019-2020 Distinguished Visiting Justice Leader: Dr. Steven Larson
Dr. Steven Larson, subject of the HBO documentary Clínica de Migrantes, is Co-Founder and Executive Director of Puentes de Salud, a nonprofit organization that promotes the health and wellness of Philadelphia’s rapidly growing Latinx immigrant population.
October 29, 2019
Friends' Central and Children's Book World hosted author Raina Telgemeier, New York Times bestselling author of Smile
October 16, 2019
Winged Wonders Monarch Butterfly Program
A Free science program for Children ages 2 1/2 to 6 and their families, held at the Lower School
September 22, 2019
2018-2019 Distinguished Visiting Scientist: Rebecca Saxe
Cognitive neuroscientist and professor in the MIT Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Dr. Saxe will share her research. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
April 15, 2019
Kwame Alexander and Friends - The Versify Tour
Friends' Central and Children's Book World hosted Kwame Alexander - poet, educator, New York Times bestselling author of 21 books, and recipient of the 2015 Newbery Medal - and authors/illustrators from his new publishing imprint, Versify. Kwame and his authors and illustrators presented a performance unlike any other!
April 5, 2019
2018-2019 Distinguished Visiting Humanities Lecturer: Daniel Torday
Author and Associate Professor and Director of Creative Writing at Bryn Mawr College, Daniel Torday spoke about his latest book Boomer1: A Novel .
March 13, 2019
Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg: Raising Children & Adolescents Who are Prepared to Thrive in a Challenging World
Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, professor of pediatric medicine at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, shared his research on fostering resilience in young people, translating the best of what is known from research and practice into practical approaches for parents.
January 17, 2019
A Night Out in the Classroom 2018
With classes ranging from Microscopy and Yoga to Shakespeare and Gender, A Night Out gave the FCS community a chance to travel back in time and be a Friends' Central student for an evening. The evening began with a keynote by Head of School Craig N. Sellers, followed by a unique 45-minute class taught by an outstanding FCS teacher.
November 19, 2018
2018-2019 Distinguished Visiting Justice Leader: Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha
Co-Sponsored by Lankenau Hospital
Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, whose research exposed the Flint water crisis, is a pediatrician, professor, public health advocate, and author of What the Eyes Don’t See: A Story of Crisis, Resistance, and Hope in an American City.
October 30, 2018
Friends' Central and Children's Book World hosted An Evening with Sarah J. Maas
#1 New York Times bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series and A Court of Thorns and Roses series Sarah J. Maas visited Friends' Central to discuss her new book CatWoman: SoulStealer
August 7, 2018
The 2018 Education Forum for Families with Intellectually Curious Students
April 15, 2018
2017-2018 Distinguished Visiting Scientist: Douglas Emlen
Author and evolutionary biologist
April 11, 2018
Philadelphia Area Independent School Fair
April 10, 2018
An Evening with Chill Moody & Hardwork Movement
February 22, 2018
Friends' Central and Children's Book World hosted author & activist Marley Dias
February 3, 2018
Friends' Central and Children's Book World hosted author Kate DiCamillo
Newbery Award-winning author of Flora & Ulysses and The Tale of Despereaux
October 15, 2017
Screenagers Movie Screening and Parent Program
October 5, 2017
An Afternoon with Sarah J. Maas
#1 New York Times bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series and A Court of Thorns and Roses series
September 16, 2017
2016-2017 Distinguished Humanities Lecturer: Elizabeth Milroy
Art Historian and author
"Inventing Public Parks: Frederick Law Olmsted & Philadelphia's Green Places"
January 11, 2017
2016-2017 Distinguished Visiting Scientist: Janna Levin
Artist and author
April 5, 2017
Friends' Central and Children's Book World hosted
Chris Colfer, Golden Globe-winning actor & author
July 13, 2017