“To see the other side, to defend another people, not despite your tradition but because of it, is the heart of pluralism.”
-Eboo Patel
Each October, GCU has an expert in their field visit campus to give a public talk to the university. This annual series, known as the “Blue & Gold Invited Talk,” brings together students, faculty, staff, and alumni to expand our perspectives and learn from a leading expert in a contemporary field.
This year, GCU is excited to welcome Eboo Patel, the Founder and President of Interfaith America, the leading interfaith organization in the U.S., as our guest speaker for the Blue and Gold Invited Talk!
Mr. Patel, named “one of America’s best leaders” by U.S. News & World Report, is a widely acclaimed civic leader who believes that religious diversity is an essential and inspiring dimension of American democracy.
Under his leadership, Interfaith America has worked with governments, universities, private companies, and civic organizations to make faith a bridge of cooperation rather than a barrier of division.
Mr. Patel served on President Obama’s Inaugural Faith Council, has given hundreds of keynote addresses, and has written five books, including “We Need to Build: Fieldnotes for Diverse Democracy” published in May 2022. He is an Ashoka Fellow and holds a doctorate in the sociology of religion from Oxford University, where he studied on a Rhodes scholarship.
While the event is open to the public, the first 75 students, faculty and staff to register and attend will receive a copy of Mr. Patel’s latest book. To attend the talk, taking place on Tuesday, October 25th at 5 p.m. in the Casino, please RSVP at: bit.ly/blueandgoldinvitedtalk. See you there!
