Keynote address: "America at 250 — The Nation, The Founding, and The Ohio State University" Christopher Nichols, the Wayne Woodrow Hayes Chair in National Security Studies and professor of history.
In 2026, Professor Nichols serves as Faculty Chair and overall co-chair for Ohio State’s initiative for America 250, a series of events, programs and other activities to commemorate the USA's 250th (aka semi quincentennial). Professor Nichols will discuss the 250th along with its history and will detail all the exciting and high-impact areas that the university is working in and on related to the 250th.
The 2026 Conference theme is “Honoring the Past, Engaging the Future” in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The conference will open with a continental breakfast, followed by a keynote address and 16 breakout sessions focused on health, culture and retirement.