The Lectures and Libations series was first started by Shepherd University faculty prior to the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to bring engaging, faculty-led discussions to a laid-back community setting. Now relaunched as part of the Lifelong Learning program in partnership with Shepherd faculty, the series offers accessible, thought-provoking presentations that help strengthen connections between the University and the broader local community.
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Fall 2026
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250 Years of Independence: An Exploration of the History, Memory, and Meaning
Thursday, September 17
5-7 PM
Location: Alma Bea Restaurant (202 E. Washington St., Shepherdstown)
Cost: Free to the public
No Registration Required
Shepherd University is excited to kick off a new season of “Lectures and Libations” with a panel discussion on the meaning and legacy of America 250 led by Dr. Ben Bankhurst with guests. This July the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Beyond its primary function of stating the end of British rule in the former colonies, the Declaration also served as a statement of principles for the new nation. Generations of Americans have looked to the anniversary of the declaration’s signing and adoption to make sense, in their time and place, of our founding manifesto. The panel brings together historians and public scholars to explore how Americans have remembered, commemorated, and debated the Revolution from the eighteenth century to the present. Panelists will discuss the WV250 initiative, examine the evolving history of Revolutionary commemorations in public institutions and museums, and consider the Revolution’s enduring meaning and legacy. The conversation will address how the nation’s founding continues to shape civic identity, historical memory, and public life today.
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The Interdisciplinary Imagination: How Scholars Write, Create, and Explore Across Disciplines
Thursday, November 19
5-7 PM
Location: The Study Hall Sports Pub (126 E. German St., Shepherdstown)
Cost: Free to the public
No Registration Required
Join us for an engaging evening of ideas and conversation at Lectures and Libations, featuring Shepherd University faculty Dr. Matt Kushin, Dr. Jeff Groff, and Dr. Larry Daily (Professor Emeritus). This session explores how scholars extend their work beyond their primary fields into new forms of writing, research, and creative expression.
Through brief, TED-style talks, each speaker will share their own interdisciplinary journey of publishing outside their discipline. Dr. Kushin (communications) will discuss his award-winning novel Beware the Smart Kids and the core lessons on happiness the book teaches, Dr. Groff (natural and physical sciences) will reflect on his experiences that led to writing The Rocinante in Wonderland: A Yellowstone Story, and Dr. Daily (psychology) will explore how the discipline of psychology and his career at Shepherd informed the process of writing high fantasy.
The evening will conclude with a panel discussion and audience Q&A. Open to the SU community and the public, this Lectures and Libations event offers a welcoming space to connect, learn, and explore the possibilities that emerge when curiosity leads beyond disciplinary boundaries.