Distinguished Faculty Lecture

Distinguished Faculty Picture with staff member and Ruby lal

Ruby Lal posing with a faculty member and award

The Distinguished Faculty Lecture Committee is a standing committee of the Faculty Council. Its chair is the chair-elect of the Council. Its members include past distinguished faculty lecturers.

The charge of the committee is to administer the Distinguished Faculty Lecture Series initiated and supported by the Office of the President. Its responsibilities include:

Seeking nominations for the lecturer from among the faculty of the university
Evaluating nominations and making a recommendation to the Faculty Council
In cooperation with the Office of the President, inviting the elected lecturer and arranging for the time and place of the lecture. The chair of the committee introduces the lecturer

The John F. Morgan Sr. Distinguished Faculty Lecture - April 23, 2026

2026 Honoree

Ben Lopman, professor of epidemiology at Rollins School of Public Health, will present the 2026 John F. Morgan, Sr. Distinguished Faculty Lecture on Thursday, April 23.

Lopman’s research focuses on vaccines for enteric and respiratory pathogens, with particular emphasis on diarrheal diseases caused by rotavirus and norovirus. His work integrates field studies, statistical analysis and dynamic mathematical modeling to address policy-relevant public health questions. He is the principal investigator on multiple grants from the NIH, NSF, CDC, WHO and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and has authored more than 300 peer-reviewed publications.

Lopman will speak on “The Infectious Diseases We Choose” during his lecture on Thursday, April 23, at 5 p.m. in Convocation Hall, Room 208. A reception will follow in Room 210.

The annual lectureship honors the exceptional contributions of Emory faculty members and provides an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate excellence in scholarship and service.

Read the Full Story