{"id":10583,"date":"2026-03-11T14:55:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T19:55:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/kierkegaard\/?page_id=10583"},"modified":"2026-03-11T14:59:38","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T19:59:38","slug":"julia-watkin-memorial-lectures","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/kierkegaard\/julia-watkin-memorial-lectures\/","title":{"rendered":"Julia Watkin Memorial Lectures"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
Julia Watkin Memorial Lectures<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The Julia Watkin Memorial Lecture Series was inaugurated in 2006 by the Hong Kierkegaard Library in memory of Julia Watkin (1944\u20132005), a distinguished and widely respected scholar in the field of S\u00f8ren Kierkegaard studies. Dr. Watkin was known for her rigorous scholarship, her generosity toward fellow researchers and students, and her lasting contributions to the international Kierkegaard community. The lecture series honors her legacy by inviting leading scholars to present new research and reflections on Kierkegaard\u2019s thought and its continuing significance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typically held once or twice each academic year, the Julia Watkin Memorial Lectures bring distinguished speakers from around the world to share their work with students, faculty, and the broader scholarly community. The lectures reflect the wide range of contemporary engagement with Kierkegaard\u2019s writings\u2014spanning philosophy, theology, literature, and cultural studies\u2014while fostering dialogue between established scholars, emerging researchers, and the public. Many lectures are recorded and made available online, helping extend the conversation beyond the campus and contributing to the ongoing global exchange in Kierkegaard studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find detailed information about speakers and topics (as well as links to recordings) below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fall 2025<\/strong>
\u201cIntroducing Kierkegaard\u2014and Encountering Ourselves\u201d \u2013 Recording forthcoming.
Speaker: Bruce Kirmmse, Professor Emeritus of History, Connecticut College \u2013 Recording<\/a>
More information here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spring 2025<\/strong>
\u201cWhere\u2019s the Archimedean Point? Kierkegaard on Existential Orientation in Life\u2019s Crises\u201d \u2013 Recording<\/a>
Speaker: Claudia Welz, Aarhus University, Denmark
More information here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fall 2024<\/strong>
\u201cThe Enigma of Adler\u2019s Revelation\u201d \u2013 Recording<\/a>
Speaker: Jon Stewart, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Slovakia
More information here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spring 2024<\/strong>
\u201cThe Kierkegaardian Text\u201d \u2013 Recording<\/a>
Speaker: Joakim Garff, S\u00f8ren Kierkegaard Research Centre, University of Copenhagen
More information here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fall 2023<\/strong>
\u201cThe Existential Need of Anxiety: Kierkegaard and the Current Mental Health Crisis\u201d \u2013 Recording<\/a>
Speaker: Ren\u00e9 Rosfort, S\u00f8ren Kierkegaard Research Centre, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
More information here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spring 2023<\/strong>
\u201cThought Projects and Imaginary Constructions: Kierkegaard\u2019s Experimenting Mind\u201d \u2013 Recording<\/a>
Speaker: Eleanor Helms, California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California
More information here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fall 2022<\/strong>
\u201cMy Walk with Kierkegaard: Agreements and Disagreements\u201d \u2013 Recording<\/a>
Speaker: Gordon Marino, Hong Kierkegaard Library, St. Olaf College, Minnesota
More information here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fall 2021<\/strong>
\u201cDare to Rejoice\u201d \u2013 Recording<\/a>
Speakers: Carson S. Webb, Piedmont University, and Gordon Marino, Hong Kierkegaard Library, St. Olaf College<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spring 2021<\/strong>
\u201cKierkegaard and Luther: What S\u00f8ren Kierkegaard Lauded, Lanced, Missed, and Misjudged of Martin Luther\u201d \u2013 Recording<\/a>
Speaker: David Coe, Concordia University, Minnesota<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fall 2020<\/strong>
\u201cThe Responsibility to Revolt: S\u00f8ren Kierkegaard and the Politics of Love\u201d \u2013 Recording<\/a>
Speaker: Jamie Aroosi, New York University, New York<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spring 2020<\/strong>
\u201cKierkegaard\u2019s Critique of Nationalism Reconsidered\u201d \u2013 Recording<\/a>
Speaker: Thomas J. Millay, Baylor University, Texas<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fall 2019<\/strong>
\u201cKierkegaard on the Transformative Power of Art\u201d \u2013 Text<\/a>
Speaker: Antony Aumann, Northern Michigan University, Michigan<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spring 2019<\/strong>
\u201cWhat Makes Kierkegaard \u2018Biblical\u2019?\u201d \u2013 Recording<\/a>
Speaker: Carl Hughes, Texas Lutheran University, Texas<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fall 2018<\/strong>
\u201cCrashing Into One\u2019s Self: Decisive Encounters with the Wisdom of Kierkegaard & the Value of First Person Responses\u201d \u2013 Recording<\/a>
Speaker: Jamie Lorentzen, Hong Kierkegaard Library, St. Olaf College, Minnesota<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spring 2017<\/strong>
\u201cKierkegaard and Nature\u201d \u2013 Recording<\/a>
Speaker: Anthony Rudd, St. Olaf College, Minnesota<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spring 2016<\/strong>
\u201cKierkegaard on Narcissism and Self-Love\u201d \u2013 Recording<\/a>
Speaker: Sergia Hay, Pacific Lutheran University, Washington<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fall 2015<\/strong>
\u201cKierkegaard and His Reader\u201d \u2013 Recording<\/a>
Speaker: John Poling, Saint Mary\u2019s University, Minnesota<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fall 2014<\/strong>
\u201cKierkegaard Crumbs: \u2018For to be in Existence is Always a Bit Inconvenient\u2019\u201d \u2013 Recording<\/a>
Speaker: David Cain, University of Mary Washington, Virginia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fall 2013<\/strong>
\u201cS\u00f8ren Kierkegaard: In the Wake of the Flying Geese\u201d \u2013 Recording<\/a>
Speaker: Rune Engebretsen, Kierkegaard House Foundation<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fall 2012<\/strong>
\u201cInherited Sin: Kierkegaard on Guilt Against Generations\u201d
Speaker: Ronald Green, Dartmouth College, New Hampshire<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fall 2011<\/strong>
\u201cKierkegaard and the Subjectivity in Being the Truth\u201d
Speaker: Poul L\u00fcbcke<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fall 2010<\/strong>
\u201cKierkegaard\u2019s Fear and Trembling: The Poetry of Suffering\u201d
Speaker: Vanessa Rumble, Boston College, Massachusetts<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fall 2009<\/strong>
\u201cBonhoeffer to His Fianc\u00e9e: \u2018Take a Strong Dose of Kierkegaard!\u2019\u201d
Speaker: Andrew Burgess, University of New Mexico, New Mexico<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fall 2008<\/strong>
\u201cPoetry, History, and Humanity: A Historian Reads Kierkegaard\u201d
Speaker: Bruce Kirmmse, S\u00f8ren Kierkegaard Research Centre, C\u00f8penhagen<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fall 2007<\/strong>
\u201cKierkegaard: Father of Existentialism or Critic of Existentialism\u201d
Speaker: Stephan Evans, Baylor University, Texas<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fall 2006<\/strong>
\u201c\u2018With the Help of Ideals\u2014Against Illusions: For Eternity!\u2019 Kierkegaard\u2019s Critique of Christendom\u201d
Speaker: Robert Perkins, Stetson University, Florida<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Julia Watkin Memorial Lectures The Julia Watkin Memorial Lecture Series was inaugurated in 2006 by the Hong Kierkegaard Library in memory of Julia Watkin (1944\u20132005), a distinguished and widely respected […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9151,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10583","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/kierkegaard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10583","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/kierkegaard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/kierkegaard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/kierkegaard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9151"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/kierkegaard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10583"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/kierkegaard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10583\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10587,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/kierkegaard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10583\/revisions\/10587"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/kierkegaard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10583"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}