Al Roker, weather forecaster and journalist known for his work on the Today Show, will speak virtually at Ohio University on March 2 at 7:30 p.m. as a presenter with the Kennedy Lecture Series.
The Kennedy Lecture Series was established in 1962 by a donation from Edwin and Ruth Kennedy, longtime supporters of OU. Since then, OU has brought one or two speakers to campus per year through the series.
In the past, the Kennedy Lecture Series has hosted speakers including Gloria Steinem, Anita Hill and Cory Richards.
“Our speakers are people that we think highly of, that we believe have some ideas or have done things that are important,” Judith Rhue, chair of the Kennedy Lecture Series Committee, said. “We're thrilled to have Al Roker coming.”
The planning process for inviting a speaker usually begins in the spring, about a year before the intended date of the event. Members of the committee begin considering potential speakers based on overall interest, scheduling ease and speaker fees.
The committee was drawn to Roker because of the diversity of his successes.
“We think that Al Roker has a lot to offer in terms of his experiences, his work in television, (and) his writing,” Rhue said. “He's done charity work. He's produced shows. He is really active.”
The Kennedy Lecture Series Committee also collaborates with OU Event Services to connect with the speakers and arrange logistical details, such as scheduling and payment.
Last spring, when the committee decided to invite Roker to speak, their planning was riddled with uncertainty—the pandemic had just begun to alter life and committee members were unsure how long COVID-19 would be present.
“We didn't know if he'd be remote or, maybe by spring, in person,” Rhue said.
Due to the current state of the pandemic, the decision was made to host the event virtually, through TeamsLive.
Eddith Dashiell, director of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, will be moderating the event. She attributes her ability to serve in this role to the connections she has.
“It’s who you know,” Dashiell said. “(I) have friends who serve on the Kennedy Lecture Series Committee and they know my background in the School of Journalism. They made the connection between the School of Journalism and having Al Roker come to speak. So I was excited about that.”
To prepare, Dashiell has been reading articles and books about Roker and fact-checking her own memory, too. She began following Roker when he first started appearing on the Today Show.
Dashiell hopes that the virtual nature of the event will expand the breadth of participation from the OU community.
“There are going to be all kinds of people across the country who would have loved to see Al Roker, but wouldn't make the drive to Athens,” Dashiell said. “So, I think having something virtual will give him an opportunity to reach … a more diverse group of people.”
Jilly Anderson, a senior studying war and peace studies and political science, plans on attending the virtual event. Anderson is a fan of Roker and remembers viewing the Today Show frequently when she was younger.
At Roker’s event, Anderson hopes to learn from Roker’s experiences about what it was like to be a successful Black man, especially one during the 70s and 80s. She sees the lecture as an educational opportunity for all, especially those looking to pursue a career in media.
“I for sure think other OU community members should go if they have the chance,” Anderson said in a message. “I think (Roker) will be able to talk about his experience in the media and on a major news show, which I know would be really valuable information for those who are looking to go into that field.”
