The Kurtz Seminar series was endowed by the late Myra Berman Kurtz '66 and her husband, Dr. Stuart Kurtz, to present speakers at Goucher College who will inspire undergraduate students to pursue careers in a variety of fields.

Speakers

2025

Ellen Bass ’68

A Chancellor Emerita of the Academy of American Poets

Bass founded poetry workshops at Salinas Valley State Prison and the Santa Cruz, California jails, and teaches in the MFA writing program at Pacific University.

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2024

The Myra Berman Kurtz ’66 Seminar Celebrates Women’s History Month

Wednesday, March 6, 5 p.m.

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2023

Dalia Mogahed

Director of Research, Institute for Social Policy and Understanding

Dalia Mogahed is an American researcher and thought leader specializing in Muslim issues. She serves as the Director of Research at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU) in Washington, D.C.

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Dr. Sofia Teferi ’93

Chief of Pediatrics, Georgetown University Hospital

Dr. Sofia Teferi is a pediatrician with MedStar Health and an assistant professor at Georgetown University Hospital. After graduating from medical school, she worked as a community physician in an underserved health center, serving as a Virginia county’s only pediatrician. She has served as the Chief of Pediatrics at a community hospital and has volunteered on mission trips to Ethiopia and Peru.

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2019

Human Nature (Documentary Screening)

Screening of the documentary Human Nature, followed by a discussion with Dr. Rodolphe Barrangou, a speaker in the film. (Fall 2019)

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Dr. Victoria Niklas ’82

Vice President of Innovation and Communication, Prolacta Bioscience

Dr. Victoria Niklas ’82 Presented a lecture titled “Feeding the Most Fragile, Why Human Milk Is the Perfect Food.” (Spring 2019) 

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2018

Angela J. Davis

Professor of Law, American University’s Washington College of Law

Angela J. Davis presented a talk titled “Criminal Justice Reform: The Path Forward.”

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2017

Nomi Fuchs-Montgomery

Deputy Director, Evidence and Innovation for the Family Planning strategy at the Gates Foundation

View event details for Nomi Fuchs-Montgomery

2016

Jesse J. Holland M.F.A. ’12

Author, Associated Press correspondent, and alumnus trustee

Jesse J. Holland M.F.A. ’12 discussed his new book, The Invisibles: The Untold Story of African American Slaves in the White House.

View event details for Jesse J. Holland M.F.A. ’12

2015

Dr. Janice Gabrilove ’73

James F. Holland Professor of Medicine and Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Dr. Janice Gabrilove ’73 presented a talk titled “Harnessing Inspired Imagination: Moving Beyond Nancy Drew and Iolanthe.”

2014

Betty Medsger

Head of the journalism education program, San Francisco State University, founding member of Investigative Reporters and Editors, and author of The Burglary: The Discovery of J. Edgar Hoover’s Secret FBI.

2013

Dr. Annette Perez-Delboy ’91

Assistant Clinical Professor, Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Director, Labor & Delivery and Maternal-Fetal Medicine Operations, Columbia University Medical Center

2012

Rabbi Eugene Korn

American director of the Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation in Israel

2011

Rochelle L. Millen

Wittenberg University Professor of Religion

2010

Robert H. Phelps

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist with The New York Times and The Boston Globe

2009

Ethan Nadelmann

Founder and executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance

2008

Judy Lewent ’70

Chief Financial Officer, Merck & Co., Inc.

If you have any questions about the Kurtz Seminar or speaker suggestions, please contact the President’s Office.