Calendar of Events
The Northern Arizona University Institute for Public and Professional Ethics in Leadership is committed to engaging students, faculty, staff, and community partners in meaningful discussions about ethics and practice in applying ethics. We value our partnerships across campus and are pleased to serve as a central location for promoting the many ethics-related activities and programs in northern Arizona.
Recent Events
Jeff Downard studies the foundations of experimental methods of inquiry and applies these methods to the study of the healthy evolution of moral and legal principles in modern societies. He also looks to improve transparency and trust in the private and public sectors for the sake of addressing problems of structural injustice.
Michael Lynch talked about the three challenges that face the value of truth: knowledge polarization, intellectual arrogance, and disinformation. He is currently working on a book on truth in politics, trying to figure out if there is such a thing, and if there is, how we might discover it.
The First Annual Ethics Bowl
The Murdoch Summit on Equal Responsivity
Last Academic Year
Immigration at the Southern Border Accordion Closed
On April 20, the Honors College hosted, “Immigration at the Southern Border” Challenges, Obstacles, and Optimism” with Laura Tuell, Firmwide Pro Bono Partner at the law firm of Jones Day.
Medical Apartheid and Race Accordion Closed
On April 19, NAU’s Martin-Springer Institute hosted a conversation with Harriet A. Washington, medical ethicist, entitled Medical Apartheid and Race. Topics included the historical mistreatment of people of color in medical experimentation and testing.
Ethics and Transformational Leadership Accordion Closed
On March 30 the Institute hosted a panel on “Ethics and Transformational Leadership” as part of The W. A. Franke College of Business Leadership Week. Panelists included Institute Faculty Affiliates Charn McAllister (Assistant Professor of Management), Meredith Heller (Senior Lecturer of Women’s and Gender Studies), and Julie Piering (Chair of the Department of Philosophy). Josh Mackey, NAU alumnus and current NAU Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer was the fourth panelist. Professor Eric Yordy moderated the discussion.
Ethics and Public Policy Accordion Closed
On March 28, Professor Irasema Coronado, Director of the School of Transborder Studies at Arizona State University, spoke on ethics and public policy, especially cross-border policies. Professor Coronado is an expert on human rights on the U.S.-Mexico border and her current research focuses on the impact of the deportation process on families and children.
You and Your Data: Becoming a Digital Citizen Accordion Closed
On Wednesday, March 9, the Honors College hosted “You and Your Data: Becoming a Digital Citizen” with panelists Dr. Bertrand Cambou (Professor of Applied Physics and Materials Science, NAU), Gregg Davis (CEO at Alagen, LLC), Dr. Paul Flikkema (Gumerman Professor of Honors and Professor of Electrical Engineering, NAU), Dr. Jiun-Yi Tsai (Assistant Professor of Communication, NAU), and Michael Zimmer (Director of Information Technology, NAU).
Baffled by Book Banning? Censorship and the Case of Maus Accordion Closed
On Wednesday, February 23, 2022, the Department of Comparative Cultural Studies hosted a teach-in titled, “Baffled by Book Banning? Censorship and the Case of Maus.” Over 150 participants explored the ethics of banning literature in schools.
Importance of Building a Culture of Ethics in an Organization Accordion Closed
On February 15, 2022, Tim Pawlak, NAU alum and Director of Internal Controls and Ethics at General Dynamics Mission Systems spoke on the importance of building a culture of ethics in an organization. Mr. Pawlak has 19 years of experience in internal controls and corporate ethics, including more than 15 years developing and overseeing a comprehensive ethics program.
Build Bridges, Not Walls: A Journey to a World without Borders Accordion Closed
November 18, 2021: Journalist Todd Miller read from his book Build Bridges, Not Walls: A Journey to a World without Borders. In Build Bridges, Not Walls, he explores what happens to our collective humanity when the impulse to help one another is criminalized.
Everyday Ethics: Making Wise Choices in a Complex World Accordion Closed
November 12, 2021: Catharyn Baird, CEO and Founder of EthicsGame® and Professor of Business, Emerita, Regis University discussed ethical decision-making, and with a focus on asking “good questions” from four ethical perspectives: Rights/Responsibilities, Results, Relationships, and Reputation. Professor Baird is the author of Everyday Ethics: Making Wise Choices in a Complex World.
Online Contracts and Blockchain Issues Accordion Closed
On November 3, 2021, Frederik Gregaard, CEO of the Cardano Foundation and the NAU Department of Philosophy capstone seminar class, presented an online discussion related to online contracts and blockchain issues. Cardano is growing a blockchain ecosystem for smart contracts, which are a novel form of secure decentralized ledgers.
Estonia’s Blockchain-Based Ecosystem Accordion Closed
On November 1, 2021, Annett Numa, Digital Transformation Adviser for e-Estonia, presented on Estonia’s blockchain-based ecosystem. In the 25 years since it gained independence, Estonia has built an efficient, secure, and transparent blockchain-based ecosystem where 99% of governmental services are online. Named ‘the most advanced digital society in the world’ by Wired, other countries around the world are now looking to Estonia as a model.
Importance of Ethical Decision-Making Accordion Closed
On October 15, 2021, Mr. Richard Morrison spoke to an audience of approximately 100 students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members about the need to increase awareness about ethical issues in society today and the importance of ethical decision-making.
The COVER Model Accordion Closed
On September 23, 2021, Professor Eric Yordy presented the COVER model for ethical decision-making to participants in the Flagstaff Leadership Program as part of their Ethics Day.