Each year, the College of Arts & Sciences’ Tanner Talks Series brings distinguished scholars, writers, artists, innovators, and notable figures to Utah State University. Endowed by the O.C. Tanner Foundation, the visits in this series foster campus-wide dialogue on timely and interdisciplinary themes at the intersection of the humanities, arts, and sciences.
For 2026-27, the Tanner Talks will center on the theme “A Celebration of the Humanities, Arts, and Sciences.” This year’s theme will explore how the humanities inspire, shape, and collaborate with the natural, mathematical, and social sciences, technology, and art. Events should showcase the humanities as a connecting force that can foster dialogue across these disciplines.
Faculty from any department in the College and from any campus are welcome and encouraged to apply! Faculty are strongly encouraged to form interdisciplinary teams to develop proposals that bring prominent speakers to campus for multi-day visits that demonstrate meaningful engagement with our faculty, students, staff, and community.
Each visit sponsored by the Tanner Talks must include:
- A public talk accessible to general audiences
- Meaningful engagement with students (including graduate students where applicable). This should include multiple of the following:
- Class visits with instruction, workshop, or discussion
- Hands-on workshops/experiential learning opportunities
- Student-centric meals
- Opportunities for one-on-one or group mentorship
- Meaningful engagement with faculty and staff
- Hands-on workshops/seminars/trainings
- Faculty and staff-centric meals
- Opportunities for one-on-one or group mentorship/discussion
- Interview(s) with UPR and other USU media in advance and during visit
Proposals may be for individual speakers or for a series of speakers in Fall 2026 and Spring 2027. The proposal must be interdisciplinary in nature and address the above theme in some form. See below for instructions.
Applications are due March 2.
Instructions
Individual Speaker proposals (2-3 pages) should include:
- A lead faculty member that serves as a “host” and supporting faculty’s names
- Faculty are strongly encouraged to form interdisciplinary teams
- Staff may assist in proposal development, but faculty must serve as hosts
- Speaker’s name and affiliation(s)
- Speaker’s contact information
- Brief (500 word) rationale for bringing the speaker to campus
- Detailed list of events fitting with the above requirements
- Possible dates (These should be discussed with the speaker but not promised)
- Funding collaborators (required)*
- Preliminary budget (not to exceed $3000 from the Tanner Talks) Individual speakers’ fees may not exceed $2000 of this budget.
Speaker Series (2-4 speakers) proposals (3-4 pages) should include
- A lead faculty member that serves as a “host” and supporting faculty’s names
- Faculty are strongly encouraged to form interdisciplinary teams
- Staff may assist in proposal development, but faculty must serve as hosts
- Title for the series
- Speakers’ names and affiliations (if applicable)
- Speakers’ contact information
- Rationale for bringing the speakers to campus (1,500 words max)
- Detailed list of events fitting with the above requirements
- Possible dates (These should be discussed with the speaker but not promised)
- Funding collaborators (required)*
- Preliminary budget (not to exceed $8,000 from the Tanner Talks) Individual speakers’ fees should not exceed $2000/speaker.
*Funding Collaborators: To maximize the Tanner Talks Series budget and to ensure the events reach a wide campus and community audience, funding collaborators are required. The Tanner Talks Committee Chair can help direct you to possible contributors. Preliminary proposals should identify at least one possible funding collaborator. Other colleges, departments, and college units as well as community organizations are all possible collaborators.
Questions? Contact Associate Dean & Committee Chair Julia Gossard (Julia.Gossard@usu.edu)
Timeline for Tanner Talks Proposals
| January | Dean’s Office Solicits Preliminary Proposals for AY 26-27 |
|---|---|
| March 2 by 5:00PM | Preliminary Proposals due |
| March | Tanner Talks Committee Review & Interviews with Faculty |
| April 15 | Notifications Sent to Faculty |
| May | Tanner Talks are finalized and scheduled for AY 26-27 |
Responsibilities of Tanner Talks Faculty Hosts
By applying, those faculty listed as lead faculty agree to serve as “hosts” for the events outlined in the application. The following details the responsibilities of faculty hosts and the Dean’s Office in planning and executing Tanner Talks:
Faculty Host(s)
The success of individual Tanner Talks is a shared responsibility with the majority sitting with the faculty hosts. This is a large service assignment. As a faculty host, each member agrees to proactively encourage participation in Tanner events among their colleagues, students, and larger community. Additionally, faculty are expected to:
- Communicate with the invited speakers regarding speaker fees, activities to perform, and available potential dates.
- Work with the Dean’s Office to coordinate all travel (host may need to provide transportation to the speaker both to/from SLC Airport and locally).
- Work with their departmental business assistant to reserve room(s) for activities.
- Arrange the speakers’ schedule while they are here.
- Explain the expectations of the visit to the speaker.
- Work with the ArtSci Communications Team to design marketing materials at least 6 weeks in advance of the visit.
- Promote the visit by hanging posters, drafting emails to circulate, circulating those emails, inviting colleagues, etc.
- Responsible for finding and securing co-sponsors.
- Responsible for staying within the approved budget.
- Check out and use the Tanner Talk’s P-card from the Dean’s Office for meals and purchases, keeping and turning in receipts.
- Provide a spoken introduction to the event(s).
- Take pictures of the event for publicity and reporting purposes. Share these pictures with the Tanner Talks chair. You can also coordinate with the Marketing & Communications team to take these photos, if their schedule allows.
- Provide a report to the Tanner Talks Committee after the event.
Dean's Office Staff
- Makes travel and lodging arrangements for speakers.
- Staff will work directly with visitors to arrange this, keeping in budget. We will try to honor visitors’ wishes.
- Makes catering orders (if applicable).
- Enhances marketing led by faculty host including social media.
- Adds event(s) to USU events calendar using information provided by host.
- Arranges payments negotiated by host for speakers’ fees.