Public Lectures

SVSU brings to campus and the region a variety of speakers addressing topics like history, science, culture and the arts. All lectures are free and open to the public. Lectures during the fall 2026 semester include: 

• Thomas and Hilda Rush Distinguished Lectureship: Thursday, Sept. 24, 6 p.m., Rhea Miller Recital Hall — Marcia Ditmyer, SVSU professor of public health, will present “From Dormancy to Delivery: Trust, Growth and the Alignment of Systems.”
• Dow Visiting Scholar: Monday, Oct. 5, 1 p.m., Roberta Allen Reading Room in SVSU’s Zahnow Library — Daniel Wirls, professor of political science at UC Santa Cruz, will present “Nuclear Weapons, the Constitution, and Presidential Power.”
• Wickson-Nickless Distinguished Lectureship in Business: Tuesday, Oct. 13, 6:30 p.m., Rhea Miller Recital Hall — “tech humanist” Kate O’Neill will present “AI Analytics and the Human.”
• Dow Visiting Scholar: Thursday, Oct. 15, 6:30 p.m., Wirt Public Library, Bay City — John Mauk, fiction writer and scholar, will offer a lecture and reading. Co-sponsored by the Bay County Library system.
• Raana Akbar Memorial Lecture on Islam & Culture: Thursday, Nov. 5, 6 p.m., Ott Auditorium (Gilbertson Hall) — Feryal Salem, associate professor of Arabic and Islamic studies, American Islamic College, will speak on “The Art of the Soul: Islamic Architecture, Beauty and Spiritual Formation in Islamic Civilization.”

Musical Performances

Each year, SVSU hosts a variety of musical artists, including those invited through the popular Rhea Miller Concert Series. These concerts feature outstanding performances by nationally and internationally acclaimed musical artists. These concerts are free and open to the public thanks to a generous gift from Rhea E. Miller, a longtime friend of the University. 

For more information on the Rhea Miller Concert Series and other performances presented by the SVSU Department of Music, visit svsu.edu/musicdepartment.

• Rhea Miller Concert Series presents Gracie Potter, trombone: Friday, Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m., Rhea Miller Recital Hall. Potter is the principal trombonist at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and has performed with Orchestras across the United States and in London.
• SVSU Choirs present ICONS: A Pop/Rock Tribute: Wednesday, Oct. 21, 7:30 p.m., Malcolm Field Theatre for the Performing Arts.
• Rhea Miller Concert series presents José Ramón Méndez, Piano: Friday, Nov. 20, 7:30 p.m., Rhea Miller Recital Hall. Hailed as one of the most exciting Spanish pianists of today, Mendéz has held faculty positions at institutions throughout the United States and currently serves as associate professor of piano at Oberlin College and Conservatory.
• SVSU Choirs present a Holiday Gala: Wednesday, Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m. Rhea Miller Recital Hall.

Theatrical Performances

The SVSU Department of Theatre will present three live productions in the fall 2026 semester:

• “What the Constitution Means to Me” by Heidi Schreck: Wednesday, Sept. 30-Saturday, Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 4, 3:00 p.m., Malcolm Field Theatre for Performing Arts —Playwright Heidi Schreck resurrects her teenage self in order to trace the profound relationship between four generations of women and the founding document that shaped their lives. Directed by Tommy Wedge, associate professor of theatre.
• “A Trip to the Moon” by Tracy Wells: Wednesday, Oct. 18-Friday, Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 17, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 18, 3 p.m., SVSU Black Box Theatre (Curtiss Hall 180) — Set in the summer of 1969, around the time of the moon landing, this vignette-style play is composed of eight scenes, each named after an iconic song from 1969.
• “No Exit” by Jean Paul Sartre: Wednesday, Nov. 18-Saturday, Nov. 21, 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 22, 2026, 3 p.m., Malcolm Field Theatre for Performing Arts — Two women and one man are locked up together for eternity in one hideous room in hell, subjected to the shame of having all sins exposed.

All tickets can be purchased online or at the Box Office for $15 each; there is no charge for SVSU students. For more information, visit svsu.edu/theatre/showschedule/.

University Art Gallery Exhibitions

Exhibitions and receptions are held in the University Art Gallery/Arbury Fine Arts Center. For more information, visit svsu.edu/artgallery.

• “Three Years Later …,” Shaun Bangert: Aug. 24-Sept. 19 — Bangert’s photographic and installation work explores questions of identity and perceived realities after trauma. Reception: Thursday, Sept. 10. 6, 4-6 p.m.
• “Rabbit Weaving: Complex Threads of Making,” Kristy Deetz: Sept. 28-Oct. 22 —This interdisciplinary traveling exhibition features industrial jacquard weavings based on Kristy Deetz’ “Through the Veil” and “Holidays Unfolding” painting series. Closing reception: Thursday, Oct. 22, 4-6 p.m.
• “Alienation and Desire: A Lexicon of Looking,” Mille Guldbeck: Nov. 2-Nov. 19 — Guldbeck’s work explores, through observation and contemplation, the dichotomies of the experience of nature for the artist as maker opposed to the perceptions of nature by the viewer. Closing reception: Thursday, Nov.19, 4-6 p.m., with a lecture at 3 p.m.
• Fall BFA Exhibition: Nov. 30-Dec. 12 — Bachelor of Fine Arts candidates present capstone projects in graphic design, sculpture and painting. Reception: Thursday, Dec. 10, 4-6 p.m.

For more information about upcoming events at SVSU, visit svsu.edu/calendar.

The award was presented during SVSU's student teacher orientation on August 10.

Cripe was nominated for the award by a student teacher who worked in her classroom. The nominator wrote: “My host teacher, Mrs. Cripe, exemplifies excellence in teaching in every possible way. Having had the privilege of being both her third-grade student and her student teacher, I’ve been able to see her impact from multiple perspectives, and it is nothing short of remarkable. Mrs. Cripe is the kindest teacher I have ever met, consistently creating a classroom environment rooted in warmth, safety, and genuine care. She goes to great lengths to ensure every student succeeds, meeting each learner where they are and guiding them forward with patience and intentionality.”

The Harold W. Peterson Award was established in 1985 with a gift from Dr. H. W. Peterson, the founding dean of the SVSU College of Education. Peterson served as dean from 1968-1982 and continued as a faculty member until his retirement in 1985. The award is intended to honor an elementary or secondary teacher for excellence in teaching who is currently employed in Bay, Midland, Saginaw or Tuscola counties and who best exemplifies the spirit and goals of the award.

The proposed research station will be the first university-operated research station on Lake Huron. The multipurpose facility will support academic activities for SVSU students, educational activities for K-12 students and research opportunities for citizen scientists.

SVSU already engages in extensive water research in the Saginaw Bay watershed. The proposed Lake Huron Environmental Research Station will expand opportunities for the university to collaborate with local, state and federal partners, including public health departments, Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and others. Research and educational programs will focus on freshwater ecosystems within Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron and the surrounding watershed.

The Saginaw Community Foundation committed the first gift to the research station earlier this year. The gift was made from Carl H., Jr. and Sandra Werth Fund held by SCF. SVSU will recognize the gift by naming the Carl and Sandra Werth Mesocosm Laboratory in their honor. This lab will contain an experimental water enclosure to simulate natural ecosystems in a controlled environment.

“With the Lake Huron Environmental Science Research Station, Saginaw Valley State University will continue to advance academic rigor, community enrichment and collaborative partnerships that benefit the Great Lakes Bay Region and beyond. The Saginaw Community Foundation is proud to support this important endeavor,” said Reneé Johnston, SCF president.  

The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation awarded a grant in the amount of $750,000 to support the research station.

“The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation is proud to support the Lake Huron Environmental Science Research Station at Saginaw Valley State University. This initiative strengthens the scientific vitality of our region, expands opportunities for students, and deepens our shared understanding of the Great Lakes ecosystem that sustains our communities,” said Ruth Doan, Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation board president. “We value SVSU’s commitment to rigorous research and public service, and we are confident that this station will advance knowledge for the benefit of Michigan today and for generations to come.”

The Charles J. Strosacker Foundation has made a gift of $75,000 to support the initiative, and the Bay Area Community Foundation has granted SVSU $20,000 from the Community Initiative Fund to support the project.

SVSU will commit University resources of $2.5 million from capital project reserves and has received federal funding for the project. Fundraising efforts are ongoing to support construction and programming for the Lake Huron Environmental Science Research Station.

SVSU plans to proceed with groundbreaking following construction approval by the Michigan legislature.