NEWS
PAST, PRESENT, PLUS
Yearlong 250+ at American initiative empowers the AU community to shape a ‘more perfect union’
Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, CAS/BA ’74, MA ’76, once received a letter with a chilling petition: He should be fired because “America’s greatest strength is its ability to forget.”
Speaking to a packed audience at American University’s Katzen Arts Center on March 4, the double Eagle offered a sharp rebuttal to that sentiment. To Bunch, the Smithsonian is more than a collection of artifacts; it is the “glue” of the nation — a place driven by the honesty and integrity required to grapple with our most difficult moments.
“I believe so strongly that Americans should not be afraid of our history,” Bunch said. “In some ways, you can run as far as you want, but you can’t escape history.”
As the first African American and the first historian to lead the Smithsonian — overseeing 21 museums, the National Zoo and 155 million objects — Bunch understands that facing the past is the only way to move forward. His visit served as a cornerstone of the university’s 250+ at American initiative, a yearlong effort to confront the complexities of the American story.
The initiative is designed to be more than a retrospective — it is a strategic roadmap for the future.
“As the American university in the nation’s capital, we felt it was especially appropriate for us to help lead reflections on where we’ve been, where we are, and where we can go from here,” said AU President Jonathan R. Alger. The plus sign in the initiative’s name, Alger added, reflects his optimism about the resilience of our democracy and the work that remains to “form a more perfect union.”
That vision came to life throughout the spring semester across 39 community programs. These events featured a diverse array of alumni and thought leaders, including The Athletic columnist David Aldridge, SOC-CAS/BA ’87; “Baldwin: A Love Story” author
Lonnie G. Bunch III, CAS/BA ’74, MA ’76
Top: Renée Fleming, renowned soprano and World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador for Arts and Health, spoke as part of American University’s 250+ at American initiative. Leſt and above: Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III joined AU President Jonathan R. Alger for a conversation on history, democracy, and the American story.
“ I believe so strongly that Americans should not be afraid of our history.” — Lonnie G. Bunch III
Nicholas Boggs, CAS/MFA ’09; and Dow Jones CEO and Wall Street Journal publisher Almar Latour, SOC/MA ’96, HON ’25.
The initiative also showcased high-impact faculty scholarship and featured programs cosponsored by the Kennedy Political Union, including lectures by First Amendment activist Mary Beth Tinker and Schuyler Bailar, the first openly transgender male athlete in NCAA Division I.
Additionally, AU’s Sine Institute of Policy and Politics hosted dialogues with 250+ at American fellows and distinguished lecturers, such as Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, poet Kwame Alexander, and Voto Latino Co-Founder and CEO María Teresa Kumar. — By Adrienne Frank
Visit
american.edu/250plus for more details. AMERICAN UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON COLLEGE OF LAW 17
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