Featuring Alexis Hart, Animal Wellbeing Data Analyst, Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens:
It Takes a Zoo: Building a Culture of Animal Wellbeing.
February 11 at 6:30 PM
Featuring Dr. Chau Kelly, UNF: Death by Misadventure: Environment, Health, and Development in Colonial East Africa.
March 11 at 6:30 PM
Featuring Lucas Meers, Director, JU Sea Turtle Program: Protecting Ponte Vedra's Sea Turtles.
April 8 at 6:30 PM
Featuring Dr. Ashley Johnson (JU), Dr. Daniel Mccarthy (JU), and Trey Ford, Strategic
Partnerships & Programming St. Johns RIVERKEEPER: Vertical Oyster Gardens.
Science on Tap-JAX is a monthly science speaker series creating deeper conversation
and understanding of topics relevant to the Jacksonville community. This collaborative
effort between Jacksonville University, the University of North Florida and the St.
Johns Riverkeeper grew out of the March for Science and occurs monthly on the second
Wednesday of every month from September to May, except for December.
SEE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR COMPLETE DETAILS ON THE SERIES: @SCIENCEONTAPJAXwww.facebook.com/ScienceonTapJax
Highlighted Event
5th Annual Festival of the Arts
A Vocal Arts Showcase
Thursday, April 23 at 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
SCIENCE GREEN
Explore booths featuring 2D and 3D artwork available for purchase from students, faculty,
staff, and alumni.
Welcome to the Veridian: Arts & Sciences Event Series of the Linda Berry Stein College
of Arts & Sciences
Featuring Alexis Hart, Animal Wellbeing Data Analyst, Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens:
It Takes a Zoo: Building a Culture of Animal Wellbeing.
February 11 at 6:30 PM
Featuring Dr. Chau Kelly, UNF: Death by Misadventure: Environment, Health, and Development in Colonial East Africa.
March 11 at 6:30 PM
Featuring Lucas Meers, Director, JU Sea Turtle Program: Protecting Ponte Vedra's Sea Turtles.
April 8 at 6:30 PM
Featuring Dr. Ashley Johnson (JU), Dr. Daniel Mccarthy (JU), and Trey Ford, Strategic
Partnerships & Programming St. Johns RIVERKEEPER: Vertical Oyster Gardens.
Science on Tap-JAX is a monthly science speaker series creating deeper conversation
and understanding of topics relevant to the Jacksonville community. This collaborative
effort between Jacksonville University, the University of North Florida and the St.
Johns Riverkeeper grew out of the March for Science and occurs monthly on the second
Wednesday of every month from September to May, except for December. SEE OUR FACEBOOK
PAGE FOR COMPLETE DETAILS ON THE SERIES: @SCIENCEONTAPJAXwww.facebook.com/ScienceonTapJax
Tea at the Terry
Friday, January 16 at 1:00 PM
TERRY CONCERT HALL
In partnership with the City of Jacksonville Senior Services Division, the Ritz Chamber
Players perform a sampling of works from Freedom and Liberationfor our senior community as part of the Art and Mental Wellbeing program.
In tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, the Ritz Chamber Players recreate
Coretta Scott King's pioneering Freedom Concerts. Drawing on her training as an opera
singer, Mrs. King created a unique format that wove together storytelling, poetry,
freedom songs, spirituals, and classical pieces to tell the story of the Civil Rights
Movement. Our tribute evening captures this powerful format as we trace the arc from
Montgomery to Washington, from struggle to triumph.
Faculty Biennial
November 20 through January 21
ALEXANDER BREST GALLERY
A variety of media and styles from the Fine Arts Faculty of Jacksonville University
come together in the Biennial showcase.
A variety of media and styles from the Fine Arts Faculty of Jacksonville University
come together in the Biennial showcase. The exhibition includes illustration, print,
photography, ceramics, sculpture, and computer-generated works.
Career Conversations Series
This event has been canceled.
REID AUDITORIUM
From Science to Strategy: Building a Career in Sustainability and Impact, Featuring
Meaghan Atkinson, Environmental Executive and Vice President of Operations, Crowley
Maritime
How can a science degree lead to global impact? Environmental leader Meaghan Atkinson
shares her path from the classroom to leading sustainability and safety initiatives
worldwide, offering insights on career flexibility, purpose-driven leadership, and
finding opportunity in unexpected places. The one-hour event will feature a 30-minute
presentation followed by open Q&A.
Science and Engineering Lecture Series
Thursday, January 29 at 12:30 PM
REID 105
Lights, Camera, Reaction! Using Time-Resolved Spectroscopy to Uncover the Mysteries
of Light-Induced Chemical Reactions Rachel Weiss, Florida State University
Shapeshifters
January 29 through March 4
Opening Reception: Thursday, January 29 at 5:00 PM
Shapeshifters, the embodiment of change, lives eternally in the form of the landscape and mortally
in the form of the artist. In the way that geology fossilizes the past into a current
existence, so too does the artist synthesize experience and knowledge into new objects;
both entities are constantly, imperceptibly in motion. In this exhibition, I consider
what it means to shapeshift in my practice, presenting a new body of work that expands
upon a multi-year exploration of paper as material for representing geology. Performers
activate a sculptural blanket of rocks, the paper scraps of that sculpture become
collage, and collage is bent and layered, expanding back into space. I ask the viewer
to substitute the material transformations for natural vicissitudes of formation and
erosion, deconstructing the apparent permanency of the rock. Making becomes a way
of freeing myself from the bounds of human time as I attune to the beauty and detail
that can only be achieved over the span of millions of years. In the present, I sit
with the past to create a future, knowing that, like the land, I can shapeshift.
Restless Earth
January 29 through March 4
Opening Reception: Thursday, January 29 at 5:00 PM
Restless Earthdisrupts traditional notions of landscape photography using multiple frames and fractured
views, providing an opportunity for reflection on symbiotic relationships and systems.
Through the integration of text in multiple forms, and the incorporation of found
objects and materials, relationships are forged between personal, cultural and natural
histories. Warpinski is particularly interested in unfolding the complex and messy
patterns of our species' impacts on the environment, and our ongoing renegotiation
of its value to all forms of life.
President Trump and Executive Power: Too Far or Historical Artifact?
Dr. Matthew Corrigan, Professor of Political Science. Rick Mullaney, Director of the
Haskell Institute of Public Policy, Associate Dean Courtney Barclay of the Jacksonville
University School of Law and Collin Schumock, Assistant Professor and Lead Researcher
of the JU Public Policy Institute
President Trump has amassed or attempted to amass tremendous political power under
auspices of the Presidency of the United States. Is this phenomenon a by-product of
historical developments or is his presidency truly different in regard to making the
office of president the most powerful institution in the United States government?
Science and Engineering Lecture Series
Thursday, February 5 at 12:30 PM
REID 105
The Wonders of Whale Sharks: Unlocking the Mysteries of the World’s Biggest Fish Al
Dove
Ellis Harr/Humanities and Careers
Career Readiness Workshop
Thursday, February 5 at 3:30 PM
GOODING BUILDING
Join us for a career readiness workshop with Board of Trustees member and alumnus,
Ellis Harr, '16.
Join us for a career readiness workshop with Board of Trustees member and alumnus,
Ellis Harr, '16. Harr earned a double degree in international business and English.
He is the CFO of Schoolinks, a college and career readiness platform that partners
with schools to engage students throughout the process of self-discovery, career education
and college planning. Harr will join us for an informal workshop on how to best position
and market yourself for career success. With his background in business and humanities,
and his work in the career readiness industry, he is uniquely positioned to offer
JU students insight on how one can plan studies, choose internships, and boost skills
on a resume. Join us for light refreshments and practical conversation. For more information
or accommodation, contact Dr. Julie Brannon, jbranno@ju.edu.
A celebration of Black culture and history through song, dance, visual art, spoken
word, and more. This concert will feature RiverTones choir, Seaside Steppers, and
other fine arts ensembles.
Love Crush
LiterARTure — Breaking the Mold: Influencers in Art and Literature Series
We will turn the page on Love Crush and learn about the entanglement of desire bound
in letters, books and hidden in archives with A.S. Byatt’s 1990 Booker Prize winner
of the same name.
Lovers, rivalry and the possessed have nothing on the greatest enmity of the 20th
century, that of Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. As a love letter to two giants who
changed the way we look at art, we will analyze these icons and their fascination
with the female form in paintings and sculptures. We will turn the page on Love Crush
and learn about the entanglement of desire bound in letters, books and hidden in archives
with A.S. Byatt’s 1990 Booker Prize winner of the same name. Gripping. Intense. How
much more can you handle?
9th Annual Walter Visiting Writer Series
Featuring Mat Johnson
Wednesday, February 11 at 6:00 PM
RIVER HOUSE
The series highlights writers of various genres and eclectic styles.
Through the generosity of Ralph and Anina Walter, the School of Fine Arts & Humanities
can invite a nationally renowned author to campus each year. The series highlights
writers of various genres and eclectic styles, including recent visitors Eula Biss
(nonfiction), Dan Chaon (fiction) and Erin Belieu (poetry). The apex of each year’s
visit is the public reading, which will include a catered reception, a reading from
the featured author, a brief Q&A session and a book signing to follow (copies will
be available for sale at the event).
Science and Engineering Lecture Series
Tau Beyond Microtubules: New Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration, Featuring Dr. Alejandra
Alonso, Professor of Neuroscience, City University of New York, Graduate Center and
College of Staten Island
Join Dr. Alejandra Alonso as she speaks about neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer's,
where plaques of beta-amyloid and tau tangles disrupt neurons. She explains tau's
vital role in stabilizing microtubules, how pathological tau can spread prion-like
toxicity via phosphorylation, and emerging insights into tau's functions in signaling,
transcription, and protein synthesis.
Dolphinium Records Valentine's Day Jam
Thursday, February 12 at 7:00 PM
CANTINA RIO
Join Dolphinium Records for a Valentine's Day Jam at Cantina Rio.
Join Dolphinium Records for a Valentine's Day Jam at Cantina Rio. Student performances
include solo and DR House Band lineups. Also featuring Jason Perry on PA systems and
live music mixing.
Jurassic Park
On-The-Big-Screen Series Talk Start, Dr. Chris Corbo and Dr. Bill Penwell
Talk Start: Friday, February 13 at 6:30 PM
Movie Screening: 7:00 PM
TERRY CONCERT HALL
On-The-Big-Screen Series Talk Start, Dr. Chris Corbo and Dr. Bill Penwell
Step back to 1993 and explore how the genetic science imagined in Jurassic Park the
movie compares to what is possible today. Prior to our movie screening, Corbo and
Penwell will trace the evolution of genetics from early DNA research to CRISPR/Cas9,
examining scientific advances, ethical challenges, and how far we have come since
fiction first met possibility. Join us for the biology, the dinosaurs and the movie
excitement of Jurassic Park.
A Democracy that…Listens??
Philosophy Slam Instructor Jeremiah Carter, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
This presentation is an exhibition in the study of African American autobiography
and memoir, examining James Weldon Johnson’s (Jacksonville native son) wide-ranging
career through a central question that moves across his novel, poems, editorials,
and public leadership, yet becomes most visible after engaging Along this Way (1933),
his autobiography: how does a democracy learn to listen? Drawing on his early experiences
in Jacksonville, his later work for the New York Age, and his national investigations
for the NAACP, I argue that Johnson developed a philosophy of public listening that
rivals his better-known literary achievements. Across his fiction, poetry, essays,
journalism, and memoir, Johnson treated sound—voices, songs, and collective declarations—as
a means of shaping understanding in moments of public strain. He explored how auditory
experience could repair misinformation, strengthen communal insight, and foster a
more alert civic imagination. Taken together, Johnson’s body of work reveals a creator
who understood listening as both an artistic practice and a cornerstone of democratic
life.
Adapting to Career Changes
Wednesday, February 18 at 12:30 PM
STEAM INSTITUTE RM 137
Erik Henderson, JU geography alumnus '00, will discuss how to maintain a consistent
career path through changing and sometimes disruptive employment opportunities.
The Rarest of the Rare: Fire Ecology, Longterm Demography, and Conservation of the
Endangered Plants of the Lake Wales Ridge in Central Florida
Featuring Sterling Heron, postdoc at Archbold Biological Station
Fire drives regeneration in ecosystems worldwide, especially in Florida’s fire-dependent
scrub habitat. Research at Archbold Biological Station reveals how rare Lake Wales
Ridge plants such as Florida Ziziphus and perforate reindeer lichen have evolved with
fire. These findings guide conservation practices including prescribed burns and reintroductions
to sustain Florida’s rarest species.
Rodgers, Hart & Hammerstein: A Jacksonville Symphony and JU Vocal Arts Collaboration
- Off campus
Friday, February 20 at 11:00 AM and 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 21 at 7:30 PM
JACOBY SYMPHONY HALL / JACKSONVILLE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
From the golden age of Broadway to the silver screen, the timeless collaborations
of Richard Rodgers’ music with the lyrics of Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein have
shaped the soundtrack of American musical theater. Join the Jacksonville Symphony,
dazzling guest vocalists, the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus and the JU choirs for an
evening of unforgettable melodies, from the romantic charm of "My Funny Valentine"
and "Bewitched" to the sweeping grandeur of "Some Enchanted Evening" and "You’ll Never
Walk Alone." Experience the songs that have captivated generations—brought to life
in symphonic splendor. This romantic comedy is filled with laughter, heartache and
the power of eternal love. Please register for tickets at my.jaxsymphony.org/rodgers-hart-hammerstein
First Coast Wind Symphony
Composer Concert: Dr. Timothy Mahr
Saturday, February 21 at 7:30 PM
TERRY CONCERT HALL
The First Coast Wind Symphony presents music by prominent guest composer and educator
Dr. Timothy Mahr, conducting his own works.
Licensed by Music Theatre International, Godspell weaves the story of a small group
of individuals who help Jesus Christ tell different parables through games, storytelling,
and comedic timing. The musical was conceived and originally directed by John-Michael
Tebelak with music and new lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. Godspell brings to the stage
messages of kindness, tolerance, and love.
Science and Engineering Lecture Series
Thursday, March 5 at 7:30 PM
REID AUDITORIUM
Divergent Vaccinia Virus Infection Kinetics Between Human and African Green Monkey
Cells. Featuring Dr. Greg Brennan, Associate Dean of Research and Basic Science at
LMU College of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Brennan studies how viruses change over time to survive the body's defenses and
move between species. His work focuses on how certain viruses, like vaccinia, evolve
to outsmart the immune system. His lab uses genetic and protein analysis to understand
why some hosts are more vulnerable than others.
Experience the power of the human voice at the 8th annual SpringSing! Featuring our
most promising vocal talents, this showcase will take you on a journey through classic
choral works, jazz, musical theater, and commercial music. Join us for a night of
vocal excellence as our dedicated students share their hard-earned passion and talent.
Do not miss this must-see event.
Science and Engineering Lecture Series
Thursday, March 12 at 12:30 PM
REID 105
Interfacial Engineering of Two-Dimensional Materials for Heterogeneous Integrations
Sidong Lei, Georgia State University
The Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestras (JSYO) is a premier program in Northeast
Florida offering young musicians aged 7 to 21 the opportunity to develop their artistic
skills through six structured ensemble experiences: four strings ensembles and two
full orchestras. Recitals are a wonderful opportunity for JSYO students of all levels
to showcase their work and talent as soloists, offering inspiring performances for
the Jacksonville community. Join us for their first Sole Recitals.
Bold City Brass
Bill Prince Tribute Concert
This event has been canceled.
TERRY CONCERT HALL
A tribute concert to Bill Prince, a consummate musician, composer, arranger, and music
educator.
The Bold City Brass presents a tribute concert to Bill Prince, a consummate musician,
composer, arranger, and music educator who has been a major force in the Jacksonville
and national music scene for over five decades. The concert will honor his life, his
music, and his contributions to American music.
School of Fine Arts & Humanities, Annual Thesis Exhibition & Film Screening
The graduating seniors in the School of Fine Arts & Humanities will exhibit their
senior thesis projects in this annual exhibition. A variety of media will be represented,
including 2D artworks, design displays with commercial applications, 3D sculptural
representations and installations, animated shorts and film productions.
Students will perform songs from their 2025 compellation album, with copies of the
vinyl 12” record for sale. Performance includes solo and DR House Band lineups. Also
featuring Jason Perry on PA systems and live music mixing.
In Anne Washburn’s dark, funny Mr. Burns, a Post- Electric Play, a group of survivors
gathers after a global collapse to keep memory alive by retelling an episode of The
Simpsons. Over time, their story transforms into myth and ritual, exploring themes
of memory, survival, pop culture, storytelling, and the human need for connection.
This inventive, haunting, and hopeful piece reimagines how art endures when the lights
go out.
Vaughan Williams Toward the Unknown Region: A Jacksonville Symphony and JU Vocal Arts
Collaboration
Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28 at 7:30 PM
JACOBY SYMPHONY HALL / JACKSONVILLE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
Giordano Bellincampi leads a program rich in sweeping landscapes and deep emotional
resonance. Vaughan Williams’ Toward the Unknown Region soars with adventurous choral
harmonies, performed by the Jacksonville Symphony , it's Chorus & the JU choirs, while
Barber’s Violin Concerto, performed by Concertmaster Adelya Nartadjieva, balances
tender lyricism with fiery brilliance. The evening concludes with Mendelssohn’s Scottish
Symphony, a dramatic and evocative masterpiece inspired by Scotland’s rugged beauty.
Please register for tickets at my.jaxsymphony.org/barber-mendelssohn
Science and Engineering Lecture Series
Thursday, April 2 at 12:30 PM
REID 105
What Students Don’t See: How Microstructure and Processing Control Material Properties
Eray Erzi, Jacksonville University
An American movie about revenge and redemption directed by Ryan Coogler. Set in 1932
in the Mississippi Delta, criminal twin brothers try to leave their troubled lives
behind by returning to their hometown of Clarksdale to start again, only to be confronted
by supernatural evil. Watch with us and find out if the brothers succeed.
Economic Mobility
Philosophy Slam
Tuesday, April 7 at 7:30 PM
RIVER HOUSE
Dr. Parves Ahmed, Chief of Analytics of Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan's Administration
On leave from the University of North Florida where Dr. Ahmed has been a professor
of accounting and finance for three decades, Dr. Ahmed will present a lively discussion
on Economic Mobility, what it is, how to get it and more importantly how to keep it.
Economic Mobility indicates we are not doomed to stay in an economic caste system
for our entire lives and that one can shape their economic journey.
Anne Remembered
LiterARTure — Breaking the Mold: Influencers in Art and Literature Series
Why pair contemporary artists Felix Droese, Jack Lahav, Keith Mayersohn, Gerhard Richter,
Rebecca Horn and Maya Lin? Each have been inspired by the profound writing of Anne
Frank’s diary. With the latest book, Ruth Franklin’s The Many Lives of Anne Frank,
we take a new look at the young Jewish girl whose diary has captivated millions, and
the different ways that artists have been inspired by her story. Its themes of memory,
resilience and hope continue to elevate her special legacy. Please register for tickets
at www.searchingforidentity.org/literarture
The Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestras (JSYO) is a premier program in Northeast
Florida offering young musicians aged 7 to 21 the opportunity to develop their artistic
skills through six structured ensemble experiences: four strings ensembles and two
full orchestras. Recitals are a wonderful opportunity for JSYO students of all levels
to showcase their work and talent as soloists, offering inspiring performances for
the Jacksonville community. Join us for the second Sole Recitals.
Join us for a celebration of the vocal arts as our talented vocal students take the
stage for their final concert. Inspired by the ancient round celebrating the arrival
of summer, this concert will feature a vibrant and diverse program spanning centuries
and genres.
5th Annual Festival of the Arts
Thursday, April 23 at 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
SCIENCE GREEN
Explore booths featuring 2D and 3D artwork available for purchase from students, faculty,
staff, and alumni.
Explore booths featuring 2D and 3D artwork available for purchase from students, faculty,
staff, and alumni. Art demonstrations such as throwing on the wheel and creating cyanotype
photography will be ongoing for observing and participating plus exclusive merch from
the Alexander Brest Gallery and copies of the award-winning Aquarian magazine will
be on sale.
Spring Dance Concert
Thursday, April 23 and Friday, April 24 at 7:30 PM
For this series of performances, Jacksonville University Dance will push the boundaries
of contemporary choreography with original works produced by our senior class. Join
us for a concert of cutting-edge choreography and electrifying dance not to be missed,
as we celebrate the Jacksonville University Dance graduating class of 2026.
Tea at the Terry
Friday, April 24 at 1:00 PM
TERRY CONCERT HALL
In partnership with the City of Jacksonville Senior Services Division, the Ritz Chamber
Players perform a sampling of works out of From Ashes to Beauty for our senior community
as part of the Art and Mental Wellbeing program.
Fiat Lux is an annual film festival that showcases imaginative and compelling work
of cinematic storytelling. This year’s festival spotlights student projects in Media
Art created within the most recent academic year. Each year, a jury of international
industry professionals selects the most successful works in every category for special
recognition through the Fiat Lux Awards.
Ritz Chamber Players - From Ashes to Beauty: Renewal and Transformation
Saturday, April 25 at 7:30 PM
TERRY CONCERT HALL
This concert explores how composers and musicians throughout history have transformed
tragedy into transcendence, creating works of stunning beauty from periods of cultural
trauma, personal loss, and social upheaval.
The most profound art often emerges from the deepest struggles. This concert explores
how composers and musicians throughout history have transformed tragedy into transcendence,
creating works of stunning beauty from periods of cultural trauma, personal loss,
and social upheaval. From Florence Price's work with its "evocative blue thirds that
directly bespeak African American heritage," to contemporary pieces that address modern
challenges with ancient wisdom, to Eastern European folk melodies preserved through
diaspora, these are the songs that prove resilience is not just about enduring—it
is about emerging with new vision, deeper compassion, and broader understanding.
The stars are shining brightly in the American artistic firmament under the leadership
of 19th century influencer Winslow Homer, painter and water colorist extraordinaire.
Included in his galaxy are Robert Henri, Frederick Remington, N.C. Wyeth, and Bo Bartlett.
We will analyze Homer’s works and see how his style paved the way for new avenues
of interpretation and storytelling in painting. Mark Twain’s Innocence Abroad will
provide his iconoclastic perspectives of world travel, prepping us for summer adventure.
His writing and wit still imprinting the success of best sellers today. Homer and
Twain, truly American Stars. How glorious is that? Please register for tickets at
www.searchingforidentity.org/literarture
Ritz Chamber Players Juneteenth/Black Music Month: Triumph & Jubilee
Our season culminates with a powerful celebration of freedom, resilience, and the
unbreakable human spirit. Triumph & Jubilee marks Juneteenth with a stirring evening
of music that embodies liberation in all its forms—from the jubilant spirituals that
celebrated emancipation to contemporary compositions that continue the ongoing journey
toward justice and equality. This is not just a concert; it is a jubilee—a time of
celebration, reflection, and renewed commitment to the work of freedom. Featuring
joyful, soul-stirring compositions that serve as anthems of progress, the evening
inspires unity and continued movement forward as we commemorate history while actively
shaping the future.
Stein College YouTube Channel
Visit the Linda Berry Stein College of Arts & Sciences archive YouTube channelto experience our past virtual Creative Arts Series events.For the latest updates and news, follow us on social media and email steincollege@ju.edu
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