Category: Craig W. Barton Speaker Series

Lt. Gen. (Ret.) H.R. McMaster, 25th U.S. national security advisor, will speak at the 2026 Craig W. Barton Speaker Series at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 8 at Miller Concert Hall in Duerksen Fine Arts Center. Free general admission tickets are available now.

McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for 34 years before retiring as a lieutenant general in June 2018. His military awards include the Silver Star Medal, the Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster and the Purple Heart.

McMaster has authored three New York Times bestselling books. “Dereliction of Duty: Lyndon Johnson, Robert McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Lies that Led to Vietnam” and “Battlegrounds: The Fight to Defend the Free World” examine the most critical foreign policy and national security challenges that the United States has faced. His latest book, “At War with Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House,” recollects his time serving under President Trump’s first administration.

The Craig W. Barton Speaker Series is an annual Wichita State event established to expose students and the community to differing points of view and encourage critical thinking and conversation. Previous speakers include Robert Gates, 22nd United States secretary of defense (2006-2011); Cody Keenan, former White House director of speechwriting for President Barack Obama; and Norah O’Donnell, former anchor for the CBS Evening News and “60 Minutes” contributor.

Lt. Gen. (Ret.) H.R. McMaster, 25th U.S. national security advisor, will speak at the 2026 Craig W. Barton Speaker Series at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 8 at Miller Concert Hall in Duerksen Fine Arts Center. Free general admission tickets are available now.

Additionally, an exclusive student event with McMaster will be held earlier in the day at 3:30 p.m. April 8 in 261 Rhatigan Student Center, Olive Room. RSVP to meet McMaster.

McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for 34 years before retiring as a lieutenant general in June 2018. His military awards include the Silver Star Medal, the Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster and the Purple Heart.

The Craig W. Barton Speaker Series is an annual Wichita State event established to expose students and the community to differing points of view and encourage critical thinking and conversation. Previous speakers include Robert Gates, 22nd United States secretary of defense (2006-2011); Cody Keenan, former White House director of speechwriting for President Barack Obama; and Norah O’Donnell, former anchor for the CBS Evening News and “60 Minutes” contributor.

The Wichita State University Craig W. Barton Speaker Series cordially invites you to save the date for an evening with Lieutenant General (Ret.) H.R. McMaster, 25th U.S. national security advisor, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 8 at Miller Concert Hall in Duerksen Fine Arts Center.

Additionally, an exclusive student event with McMaster will be held at 3 p.m. April 8 in 264 Rhatigan Student Center, Spencer Room. RSVPs for the student event and your free general admission ticket for the main event will open March 4.

The Craig W. Barton Speaker Series is an annual event established to expose students and the community to differing points of view and encourage critical thinking and conversation.

The Wichita State University Craig W. Barton Speaker Series cordially invites you to save the date for an evening with Lieutenant General (Ret.) H.R. McMaster, 25th U.S. national security advisor, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at Miller Concert Hall in Duerksen Fine Arts Center.

RSVPs for your free general admission ticket will be available on March 4.

The Craig W. Barton Speaker Series is an annual event established to expose students and the community to differing points of view and encourage critical thinking and conversation.

The Craig W. Barton Speaker Series is an annual event established to expose students and the community to differing points of view and encourage critical thinking and conversation.

The 2025 event did not take place as planned, but to help shape future Barton Speaker Series events, take a moment to complete this brief survey. The survey closes at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, April 23.

The previously scheduled Barton Speaker Series event at Wichita State featuring Ben Stein has been canceled. Stein informed the university last week of his need to cancel due to personal circumstances.

Stein, an economist, lawyer, actor and prolific author, was set to headline the speaker series and visit campus for other events March 11.

Tickets to the event were free.

“We wish Ben well and hope there may be an opportunity to collaborate in the future,” President Rick Muma said.

Stay tuned later this year to wichita.edu/bartonseries for news of the 2026 Barton series speaker.

Students are cordially invited to an exclusive Q&A session with this year’s Craig W. Barton Speaker Series headliner, Ben Stein — economist, lawyer, actor and prolific author — at 2 p.m. March 11 in 209 Hubbard Hall. RSVP at wichita.edu/meetben.

Stein, a Yale Law School valedictorian, has worked as a speechwriter for former Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, authored more than 30 books on finance and law, and has become a key figure in exposing the junk bond scandal. Widely recognized for his iconic role in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and for hosting “Win Ben Stein’s Money,” Stein continues to speak on economics and politics.

The Craig W. Barton Speaker Series is an annual Wichita State event established to expose students and the community to differing points of view and encourage critical thinking and conversation. Previous speakers include Robert Gates, 22nd United States secretary of defense (2006-2011); Cody Keenan, former White House director of speechwriting for President Barack Obama; and Norah O’Donnell, former anchor for the CBS Evening News and “60 Minutes” contributor.

Update: This event has reached capacity. To be added to the waitlist, please email the Fine Arts Box Office inside Duerksen Fine Arts Center at fastickets@wichita.edu by 5 p.m. Thursday, March 6. Patrons on the waitlist will be notified by email if tickets become available.

Ben Stein, economist, lawyer, actor and prolific author, will speak at the 2025 Craig W. Barton Speaker Series event at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 11 at Miller Concert Hall in Duerksen Fine Arts Center. Seat reservations are required, and the event is free and open to the public.

Stein, a Yale Law School valedictorian, has worked as a speechwriter for Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, authored more than 30 books on finance and law, and has become a key figure in exposing the junk bond scandal. Widely recognized for his iconic role in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and for hosting “Win Ben Stein’s Money,” Stein continues to speak on economics and politics.

The Craig W. Barton Speaker Series is an annual Wichita State event established to expose students and the community to differing points of view and encourage critical thinking and conversation. Previous speakers include Robert Gates, 22nd United States secretary of defense (2006-2011), Cody Keenan, former White House director of speechwriting for President Barack Obama, and Norah O’Donnell, anchor for the CBS Evening News and “60 Minutes” contributor.

Ben Stein, economist, lawyer, actor and prolific author, will speak at the 2025 Craig W. Barton Speaker Series event at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 11 at Miller Concert Hall in Duerksen Fine Arts Center. Seat reservations are required, and the event is free and open to the public.

Stein, a Yale Law School valedictorian, has worked as a speechwriter for Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, authored more than 30 books on finance and law, and has become a key figure in exposing the junk bond scandal. Widely recognized for his iconic role in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and for hosting “Win Ben Stein’s Money,” Stein continues to speak on economics and politics.

The Craig W. Barton Speaker Series is an annual Wichita State event established to expose students and the community to differing points of view and encourage critical thinking and conversation. Previous speakers include Robert Gates, 22nd United States secretary of defense (2006-2011), Cody Keenan, former White House director of speechwriting for President Barack Obama, and Norah O’Donnell, anchor for the CBS Evening News and “60 Minutes” contributor.

Ben Stein, economist, lawyer, actor and prolific author, will speak at the 2025 Craig W. Barton Speaker Series event at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 11 at Miller Concert Hall in Duerksen Fine Arts Center. Seat reservations are required, and the event is free and open to the public.

Stein, a Yale Law School valedictorian, has worked as a speechwriter for Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, authored more than 30 books on finance and law, and has become a key figure in exposing the junk bond scandal. Widely recognized for his iconic role in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and for hosting “Win Ben Stein’s Money,” Stein continues to speak on economics and politics.

Stay tuned for more information on an exclusive Q&A for students at 2 p.m. March 11.

The Craig W. Barton Speaker Series is an annual Wichita State event established to expose students and the community to differing points of view and encourage critical thinking and conversation. Previous speakers include Robert Gates, 22nd United States secretary of defense (2006-2011), Cody Keenan, former White House director of speechwriting for President Barack Obama, and Norah O’Donnell, anchor for the CBS Evening News and “60 Minutes” contributor.