The University of Puget Sound is honored to announce that Mathew S. Nosanchuk, Lerner Family Associate Dean for Public Interest and Public Service Law at George Washington University, will deliver the upcoming Swope Endowed Lecture.
Nosanchuk will deliver the lecture at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 29, 2026, in Schneebeck Concert Hall. The Swope Endowed Lecture supports speakers, artists, and lecturers visiting Puget Sound to deepen engagement with issues related to faith, ethics, values, and religion in society.
“We’re incredibly excited to welcome Mathew S. Nosanchuk to Puget Sound for the Swope Endowed Lecture this fall,” said Chaplain Dave Wright ’96, who serves on the Lectures Committee. “His lifelong dedication to advancing civil rights, equity, and public service addresses crucial questions of justice, ethics, and responsibility in our society today.”
Nosanchuk will present his keynote address titled “Bending the Broken Arc: Reckoning, Responsibility, and Renewal.” A reception with light refreshments will follow the lecture. The event is free and open to the public.
Nosanchuk has dedicated his career to advancing civil rights, equity, and public service, working to make public interest legal careers accessible for the next generation. He is a Harry S. Truman Scholar and a graduate of both Stanford University and Stanford Law School. He has held senior advisory roles in several presidential administrations, including serving in the Department of Education under President Joe Biden and as President Barack Obama’s liaison to the American Jewish community. He has also held leadership positions at the U.S. Department of Justice, the State Department, the ACLU of Illinois, and on Capitol Hill. A recipient of the American Bar Association’s prestigious Stonewall Award and the Attorney General's Distinguished Service Award, Nosanchuk is a widely recognized advocate for marginalized communities whose commentary frequently appears in national media.
The Swope Endowed Lectures were created by Major Ianthe Swope in honor of her mother, Jane Hammer Swope, who graduated from Puget Sound in 1942. The Lectures Committee includes students, faculty, and staff who work to select and host at least one Swope Lecturer each semester.
