College of Education and Behavioral Sciences News

Western Kentucky University President Timothy C. Caboni has announced #1 International and New York Times bestselling author and neuroscientist Dr. Lisa Genova as the speaker for the university’s fall 2024 Presidential Speaker Series event. Dr. Genova will deliver a keynote speech, How We Remember and Why We Forget, exploring the intricacies of our ability to remember, why we forget and what we can all do to protect our memories. Her presentation will begin at 7:00 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, October 15 in WKU’s Van Meter Auditorium.

President Caboni noted that Dr. Genova’s presentation will appeal to members of the WKU community as well as individuals across the Bowling Green region. “Lisa Genova’s insightful exploration of the human mind and her powerful storytelling resonate universally, making her participation in the WKU Presidential Speaker Series a compelling experience for all audiences,” he said. “Her ability to intertwine science and personal narratives offers something for everyone, sparking curiosity, empathy and a deeper understanding of the shared human condition.”

Dr. Genova, who holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University, is the bestselling author of the novels Still Alice, Left Neglected, Love Anthony, Inside the O’Briens and Every Note Played. Still Alice was adapted into a film starring Julianne Moore, Alec Baldwin, Kristen Stewart, Kate Bosworth and Hunter Parrish and earned Moore the 2015 Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of protagonist Alice Howland. Film adaptations of Inside the O’Briens, Every Note Played and Left Neglected are currently in development. Dr. Genova’s first work of nonfiction, Remember: the Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting, published in 2021, was an instant New York Times bestseller.

In 2015, Dr. Genova was recognized as one of the Top 50 Influencers in Aging by Next Avenue. She has appeared on Live with Kelly and Ryan, the TODAY Show, CNN, PBS Newshour, Dr. Oz and NPR, and has been featured in the PBS special, Build a Better Memory Through Science.

Her first TED Talk, “What You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer’s,” has garnered over eight million views. Her latest TED Talk, “How Memory Works – and Why Forgetting is Totally OK,” was the sixth most-watched TED Talk of 2021.

Dr. Genova is the recipient of numerous accolades, including the Pell Center Prize for Story in the Public Square for “distinguished storytelling that has enriched the public dialogue,” the Sargent and Eunice Shriver Profiles in Dignity Award, the Global Genes RARE Champions of Hope Award, and the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Media Award for “informing the public about treatment and ongoing research in medical illness. She also serves on the advisory boards for The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement, HFC (Hilarity for Charity) and Compassionate Care ALS.

First offered in 2023, the WKU Presidential Speaker Series brings to campus influential voices from diverse fields of study including science, arts, technology and public policy. When announcing the series last September, President Caboni noted that the perspective offered by each speaker will complement students’ classroom experiences and contribute to thought-provoking dialogue on campus and intellectual growth in the community. The inaugural event took place in October 2023 and featured renowned marine geologist and deep-sea explorer, Dr. Robert Ballard, best known for discovering the wreck of the Titanic in 1985.

Dr. Genova’s presentation is open to WKU students, faculty, staff and the public. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m. Seating is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. No photography or recording of any kind is permitted during the presentation. For more information about the Presidential Speaker Series, visit www.wku.edu/presidentialspeakerseries. For more information about Lisa Genova, visit www.lisagenova.com.

Contact: Jace Lux, (270) 745-4295

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Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.